She lets out a sigh. “I wish I had a man who’d kick someone in the balls for me,” she says wistfully.
I roll my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
She shrugs her shoulder and grins. “But that’s why I’m your bestie!”
What can I say? She’s right.
It’s brutally hot out, so I wait inside for Lucas. Instead of making him get out to come get me, I walk out when I see him pull up in his convertible. Given the heat and humidity, the top isn’t down and I open the passenger door before he can climb out his side.
“Hi!” I say, as I slam the door.
“Hi, yourself,” he says with his patented charming grin. But it’s his eyes, the warm look in them, that he seems to save just for me.
I lean over and he meets me halfway. Our lips lock and the feel of his kiss after a mere three days is everything I need. I lean back slowly and touch my mouth. “My gloss is gone.”
“My girl doesn’t need makeup.”
Though I blush, it might be the nicest compliment I’ve ever received. And him calling me his girl? Butterflies take flight in my stomach.
“Ready to deal with the jackass?” he asks.
I laugh. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We drive over to the museum to the sound of Hozier playing on the radio. I’m not worried about seeing Adam because I’m not alone, and if he’s smart and wants a feather in his cap by running the Thunder Anniversary Collection, he’ll behave. Lucas is my insurance that I won’t have a problem.
We enter the museum and walk together to the room where the display is located. The sign we’d ordered looks perfect above the doorway, and I step inside to find the history of the Thunder surrounding me. Team memorabilia that I’d had on my list but am now seeing in person brings a proud lump to my throat. Throwback helmets, uniforms, jerseys, and balls, signed and unsigned. Mint silver coins, autographed photographs, trophies, Funko Pops of star players, and so much more.
“I did a fabulous job, right?”
I turn to face Adam and feel Lucas’s hand against my back. “I think the items I had sent over speak for themselves,” I tell him in my most annoyed voice.
“Isn’t that just like her? Taking credit when I did all the work.” Adam slides his hands into his front pockets.
I grind my back teeth. “I’m going to check out each case and we can get going,” I tell Lucas. The sooner I view everything in the room, the faster I can get away from Adam.
He’s on his best behavior so far, which is never saying much, but I’ll take it.
Although the memorabilia are about the team, I can’t help but feel it’s my family’s legacy. My great-uncle Paul owned the team first and because he has no children, he groomed my dad for the position of president. Uncle Paul now travels the world with his partner, Lou, and checks in often. And, as it turns out, he has a family, the Prescotts, who are also well-known in sports.
“Ahem. Are you paying attention?” Adam asks, interrupting my thoughts about my interesting family tree. “I was saying that I strategically placed things to encourage people to circle the room counterclockwise and exit through that door.” He points across the room to another exit door.
“That should work,” I say.
Since Lucas hasn’t left my side, I’m aware when his phone buzzes in his pants pocket. We’d shut our ringers before we entered the museum. He pulls the cell out, looks at the screen, and groans. “I need to take this.”
“Go ahead. I’m fine.”
He shoots Adam a pointed look. “I’ll be right over there and watching you.” As he accepts the call, he tips his head and strides over to the far corner of the room.
“I still can’t believe you need your Neanderthal boyfriend to come see me,” Adam grouses.
I raise my eyebrows. “I’m here to see the exhibit, not you,” I remind him.
“Why are you always such a bitch? You weren’t like this when we were together.”
“Because we weren’t together all that long and you didn’t show your true colors until I turned down your proposal. Which, by the way, is the best thing I’ve ever done.”
At the reminder, his face turns a mottled shade of red. “You cunt.” He raises a hand as if to slap me, and before I can take him out by the balls, as Kaylee suggested, Lucas grasps Adam’s wrist and yanks it behind his back.
