“So, is she his boss too?” the bartender asks. “Because he hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off her all night either.”
He points in a different direction than I was looking, and I follow his outstretched finger to the far corner of the room. Reese’s back is to me, but her posture is tense, her shoulders lifted nearly to her ears as she speaks to someone.
I vaguely recognize the guy. If I’m remembering correctly, he was introduced earlier today as the newest assistant to the commissioner. I couldn’t tell you his name if my life depended on it, but he’s younger than me. In his thirties, if I had to guess.
To be frank, I don’t care to knowanythingabout him other than why Reese is so nervous speaking to him.
“Thank you,” I say to the bartender, throwing a twenty in his tip jar before taking the wineglass in one hand and my bourbon in the other.
Pushing off the bar, I’m quick to cross the room.
“Monty! My guy!” Seattle’s field manager swings an arm over my shoulder, stopping me in place. “You are...” He stumbles over his words. “Coming out with us.”
“No, Bill. I’m not.”
“You never come out with us. We’re in Vegas!”
I slip out from under his arm, continuing to cross the room. “That’s because I’m too old for that shit.”
“I’m older than you!”
“Exactly!” I call over my shoulder.
Another one of the coaches steps in front of me, blocking my path. “Montgomery. Monty,” he says, drawing out my nickname.
“Yeah?” My tone is exasperated as I look past him to check on Reese. They’re still standing in the same spot. She seems just as uncomfortable as she did before. He’s got a smile I’d like to knock off his face.
“I gotta ask you something.”
I close my eyes in frustration. I’ve been hiding in the corner of the bar for the past few hours. He couldn’t have asked me then?
“Yep?”
He leans in closer, his voice low. “Arthur’s granddaughter.” As soon as those two words are out of his mouth, I feel every muscle in my body tense, wary to hear what else he’s going to add on to them. “What’s her name again?”
My jaw is tight as I speak through my teeth. “Reese.”
“Reese! That’s right. What’s her story?”
“What do you mean, what’s her story? She’s the new owner of the team and acting president. She took over for Arthur after last season.”
He laughs. “No, I don’t care about any of that. Is she single?”
“Seriously?” I blow past him, maybe hitting his shoulder with mine as I do. “Stay away from her,” is my only answer.
“Geez, Monty. Sensitive topic, I guess.”
Finally, I reach her, and I can feel the tension radiating off her body as I approach from behind. I put both our glasses in one of my hands, using my other to palm her mid-back. It’s an appropriate spot that no one here, especially someone who works in the commissioner’s office, would think twice about.
From behind, I bend down close to her ear. “You okay?”
Her nod is a bit stiff, but the rest of her seems to relax a bit.
Reaching around her, I steal her empty glass, setting it on a nearby table before slipping the new one into her hand.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
I’m typically one to introduce myself when someone is standing nearby, but for whatever reason, fuck this guy.
