“Not to mention the studio. You weren’t supposed to put yourself indanger.”
She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t like I meant to run into a jagged piece ofwood.”
“Youmeantto go to a crimescene.”
“When you put it that way, it sounds horrible. Let’s work on your version of the truth before Aaron callsback.”
It was April’s turn to roll her eyes. “There are financial penalties to breaking yourcontract.”
“I’m not worried about themoney.”
“How about your career? You worried about that?Hmm?”
Maia knew all the clauses in her contract, both the written and unwritten ones. If she played by the rules, other parts would come her way. If she was hard to work with or earned a reputation as a party girl, she’d be dropped. “I am. Today was a one-time opportunity to playhooky.”
April studied her for a moment before she headed for the door. “For what it’s worth, I’d play hooky for a guy who looked like that, too.” She shut the door behind her, and Maia was left alone with herthoughts.
As great as London’s physique was—and it was great, like, really great—his body wasn’t the thing she liked the most. She liked that he’d thought through their date, given meaning to their time together, tried and succeeded at being romantic. There was no way he could have known Ed Sheeran was on her playlist, and yet he’d chosen that music for her. And then there was the whole symbolism of the fifty-yard line. He’d gone deep for the meaning behind their picnic and come up a winner in her book. She dropped into the fluffy pillows, too overcome with the giddiness inside to keep herselfup.
After replaying the whole day—twice—she allowed herself to think of the next step. The problem they were going to face would be falling too fast into a relationship. Parts of London were as familiar as the lines on her palm; others waited to be discovered. They needed to take their time and goslow.
Her phone buzzed a text. She dove to retrieve it from her purse, biting her lips at the sting in her thigh. She rolled over with a groan, holding the screen above herface.
Is it too soon to text? I thought it probably was, but I’m home and I brushed my teeth and I was shutting off the lights and thought maybe you’d beup.
She giggled.I’mup.
Whew. What are you doingtomorrow?
Traveling.She added a frowny faceemoji.
Harsh.
You knowit.
When are you comingback?
She pulled a pillow under her head.I’ll have to askApril.
I’ll askher.
Maia’s eyebrows about jumped off her forehead. She rolled to the side, looking for the bottle of Advil on the nightstand. Keeping on top of the pain was so much easier than catching up to it. She swallowed two pills, dry, and her phonebuzzed.
Groan. It will beforever.
Sorry! I don’t set the schedule.She worked to access the bandage. She was supposed to change the dressing tonight before she went tobed.
I get that—Titans rule my calendar during theseason.
An ice cube of worry worked its way down her back. Their lives were so full. By the time she was done with the majority of her promotional tour, he’d be playing ball. Hypothetically, she could follow him from game to game or meet him in Texas when he was home. Her limbs grew heavy with the weight of it all. She rubbed her eyes. Things would look easier in the morning. She was tired and sore and neededsleep.
Her phone chirped and Aaron’s face appeared. Fighting the panic that now had her wide awake, she typed:Boss man is calling. Gotta go,before clicking over. “Aaron! It’s good to hear from you.” She forced her voice into controlled cheerfulness. She was supposed to be sick, so too much enthusiasm would be a signal something wasoff.
“You too, Maia. I was beginning to worry when your assistant insisted you were napping into theevening.”
Aaron could have been the voice for Darth Vader, minus the creepy breathing. That would have made talking on the phone with him way weird. “No need to worry. My throat is already feelinggreat.”
“I’m glad. You don’t soundsick.”
