A couple more steps in and I come face-to-face with the young star we drafted this year.
“Hey,” I greet him as he looks around like a deer caught in the headlights. “You good?”
“Yeah,” he says, “it’s just?—”
“Yeah, it’s a lot,” I tell him. “You let me know if you need anything.” I slap him on the shoulder, and he nods before walking to the side and going to hang with a couple of the other rookies. I look around to see if Kirby or Jaxon are here yet, and when I can’t see either of them, I head to the bar to grab a bottle of water. I put my hands on the bar and look over to see the bartender filling a drink. He holds up his hand to tell me one minute and I nod at the same time a girl comes up beside me. Her brown hair is down and wavy, she looks over at me and a smile fills her face. I inwardly groan out when she says, “Hi,” turning to face me. I can’t help but be drawn to her blue eyes that are so crystal clear, it’s mesmerizing, I immediately need to shut this down. “I’m—” She’s about to introduce herself.
“Listen,” I hold up my hand. “You’re wasting your time trying to do whatever it is you are trying to do. I’m not interested in anyone sucking my dick tonight.” I exhale and ignore the way her face seems to go white.
“Okay.” She looks around. “Thanks for letting me know,” she mumbles and walks away. “Asshole,” is the last thing I hear from her, and I don’t bother looking where she is going because the bartender comes over.
I order a bottle of water, and he reaches down and hands me a cold one. I’m taking a sip when I spot Jaxon and Kirby sitting at a table in the corner. I walk over to them, pulling out the empty chair beside Jaxon. “Hey,” I say, sitting down and then looking over at Ariella, who smiles at me. “How are you?” I ask her. The two of them have had me over for dinner once a week since the shit went down with Josephine.
“I’m good.” She smiles. “It’s good to get out of the house.” They have a one-year-old son named Jagger, who looks exactly like his father.
I then turn to face Kirby, who has his arm around his fiancée’s chair. “Hey.” I give Lexi a chin up. She and Ariella are best friends, and they are usually there when I get invited to dinner. “How is everybody?”
“Good,” Kirby replies and then looks at Lexi, who holds up her hand and calls to someone who is behind me.
“Kylie!” she shouts, and I am about to turn my head when I see Kirby stand up and smile, and then it feels like the chair is pulled out from under me. The woman who was at the bar not two minutes ago is now standing in front of him.
“Hey.” He gives her a hug and then looks at me. “Knox, meet my sister,” he says, and I feel like I’m being kicked in the stomach, “Kylie.” I am so screwed.
four
Kylie
I hug Kirby and only then do my eyes land on the asshole who was just at the bar. “Knox,” he says his name, “meet my sister, Kylie.” I can see his face turn an ashen white and the only thing I can think is good. “Kylie,” Kirby continues, “this is my teammate, Knox.”
He looks like he’s about to pass out. I think about fucking with him and asking him if he wants a blowjob but, instead, I smile and hold out my hand to him. That’s right, motherfucker, I’m his sister. “Hi,” I say, sugary-sweet, and he slowly extends his hand. I’m sure he’s in shock as much as I am. “Nice to meet you.” He blinks a couple of times before he swallows.
“Nice to meet you too,” he replies as he shakes my hand. I let it go before going over to bend and kiss Lexi on the cheek and then walk around the table to his side. I stop behind the douchebag’s chair, and I can smell his cologne as Jaxon gets up to give me a hug and then so does Ariella. Ugh, why does he have to smell good?
I walk around and pull out the chair beside Kirby, right in front of Knox. “Did you guys eat?” I ask the four of them, trying to ignore the eyes that can’t seem to stop staring at me. “I’m starving.”
“We just ordered a whole bunch of things,” Lexi answers. “I’ll share with you.”
“Sounds great,” I say, trying my best to make him see that his words didn’t sting. But sadly, they did. I was one-thousand-percent shocked when he said those words. I’ve never, ever had anyone say something so crass to me, and I’ve been with a slew of assholes over the years. I’ve had a type, and asshole was always at the top of the list.
“I want to hear all about the trip,” Ariella says, leaning into the table. “It feels like we haven’t seen you in forever.”
“It wasn’t forever,” I counter. “It was just the summer, and it was fabulous.” I try to make it sound like I had the best time, when in fact it was mediocre to say the least. I thought going back to Phoenix would be good to catch up with some of my old friends, but it wasn’t all it was hyped up to be. I spent a good chunk of it alone once Kirby and Lexi came back to LA. “I will tell you that working for the foundation and then going to work with Lexi’s shelter, it was busy.” I laugh. “It’s good to be back home, and dare I say, relaxing.” After Lexi got divorced from her husband, she took everything that she made from the divorce, which was a lot since she and her lawyer, Ryleigh, took him to the cleaners. She bought an old church to set it up as temporary shelter for people who leave their abusive relationship. It was supposed to be just a little safe haven, but it’s gotten so much attention that she now has a staff of twenty and donations just roll in.
“What do you do?” Knox asks and I think even he’s shocked those words came out of his mouth.
“I work for my brother,” I motion with my head toward Kirby, “building the foundation.”
“She does not work for me,” Kirby quickly refutes. “She’s half-owner or whatever you call it.”
I look at Knox, who motions with his head up and down as the food starts arriving at our table. “She is full of shit,” Lexi says, pointing to me. “She is the one who has been handling all the appointments and meeting with all these shelters and organizations that help aid and assist domestic abuse survivors and compiling a database on them and their needs.”
I grab a mini burger from the plate and put it on mine before I look up at the waitress. “Can I get a glass of Pinot Grigio?” She nods at me as she places the plates of grilled chicken and then grilled vegetables down.
“Ugh,” I groan, looking at it, “that plate looks so sad.” I look at Jaxon. “That must be for you.” He chuckles.
“Eating healthy isn’t sad,” Knox says, grabbing a piece of the grilled chicken, “it’s a lifestyle.”
I literally snort out loud and roll my eyes, thinking he has got to be the most obnoxious guy I think I’ve ever met. Unfortunately, he is also one of the hottest. His biceps are straining his sleeves and with the way he’s leaning in his chair now, his shirt’s even pulling at his chest. The ink on his arms makes my mouth water, and I suddenly glare at him.
