“The playboy thing shouldn’t be a big deal. You guys kissed. So what? I know it means a lot to you, but to someone who plays sports for a living, they have fans throwing themselves at him.”
“Are you a closet sports fan, Megan? I had no idea.”
“I’ve recently enjoyed following a soccer team from Spain. The men are delicious. Plus, the Women’s US soccer team is badass and it’s time I can watch one sport. Just one.” She laughed and the knot in my stomach loosened.
“Wow. I’m shocked. Does Ethan know?”
“No. Don’t tell him either. He’ll think I’m going too mainstream.” She crossed her eyes and flipped her hair over her shoulder before getting serious again. “Blue, why don’t you look him up online? Put your mind at ease.”
“Drug abuser? Why would Peter know that?”
“Who the hell is Peter?”
“Sorry, the brother. He knew Brigham’s reputation just by name. That must mean he’s really big.” I gulped. “Looking him up online seems like a huge invasion of privacy, right?”
“Sure, but, dude, you’re the one who is going to get hurt out of this. Not him. Not the uber-rich athlete living in a penthouse. I’m going for it.”
“What?” I asked, worried about what she meant. Megan could mean breaking into his condo or getting a tattoo. She was my wonderful, unpredictable friend.
“Googling him.”
“No!” I yelled, waiting to see if my thought would finish. Then doubt came in. Why shouldn’t I look him up? We went on a date. Mr. Alexandre warned me from him. Peter accused him of those things. I should know. “No, do it. You do it.”
“Okay. I’m getting my laptop. Pour yourself a drink, Blue.”
I obeyed. It wouldn’t be good news. I felt it in my bones. Things like this didn’t happen to me. The handsome man who brought flowers and had manners and kissed the thoughts out of me. The Moscato wouldn’t last long, so I poured half a glass and took a generous sip. Okay, three of them.
The sound of Megan typing on her computer carried over the speaker and I tensed, waiting for her to say something.Anything.My nerves were fried and she groaned, shaking her head before looking at the camera. “Dude, this guy is smoking hot. Like, what the hell?”
“I know.”
“There are pictures of him clubbing with tons of different women. Tons of them. All tall, busty brunettes.”
“The opposite of me,” I said, damn well accepting that truth from the get-go. “Anything about drugs?”
“Yeah. He was arrested a while ago for cocaine possession and attempting to sell it. Oh shit. There’s a tape out now saying he tried bribing cops? The dude got suspended for fifteen games and is still under investigation.”
I digested the information and separated it into categories in my mind. The women…that wasn’t great, but it didn’t matter. The drugs, though.His trouble with his job.He liked that I didn’t know he played baseball. He said as much. Was it because he wanted to hide the arrest from me?
Probably.
“Where you at, Blue? You’ve gone silent.”
“Heavy. This is heavy. He’s under investigation. Wow.” I finished the rest of the glass and remained silent.
“You want me to come over?”
“No. No.” I shook my head like she could see me, needing to figure out my plan. “I should go.”
“Blue, listen to me. You need a little fun in your life. We’ve both said it. Maybe he’s a decent guy who let fame get to him. Maybe not. But do you want to see him again?”
“That’s the question, hm?” I mumbled a goodbye and turned my phone off.
Do I want to see him again?
Chapter Ten
Brigham
