Jessie grins because she knows exactly who my date is probably with. “Oh. Okay, well…the invite is for you and Seb, so maybe swing by beforehand and say hi. We’d love to see you.”
I smile back and nod. “I’ll tell him we should swing by.”
She gives me another quick hug and waves good-bye to my brother. When I turn back to face him, I am more than ready for the look of disbelief on his face. He crosses his arms over his wide chest and quirks an eyebrow. “Just one time, huh?”
“I didn’t come here to talk about my love life.”
“It’s alovelife now?” he retorts. “I thought it was a one-time thing. A mistake. I thought you didn’t associate with hockey players let alone have a love life with them.”
“Why are you leaving your very pregnant wife at home on your day off to sleep at your desk?” I demand, ignoring his questioning completely. “Why are you so tired? Jessie said you were downright perky when you got here—and then you crash?”
He knows where I am going with this. He knows I know the signs and the symptoms of prescription drug abuse. Euphoric highs and uncontrollable drowsiness and mood swings and withdrawal from social activities and…
“Relax, Shayne,” he spits out, annoyed. “I had a meeting with Avery this morning.”
“Avery Westwood?”
“Yup.” He’s frowning.
“About the endorsement?” I ask, and I know the answer before he gives it, because I can see the disappointment and anger on his face.
“About how he won’t be giving us one,” Trey explains, when I could already deduce. He reaches up and rubs the back of his neck. “His management doesn’t think it’s a good fit for his image.”
“Are you done now?” I ask, not even trying to hide the frustration in my voice. “Are you done trying to be friends with this asshole? Can you finally admit he’s a jerk?”
“He’s not in charge of his own life,” Trey counters, and it angers the fuck out of me. “You don’t know what it’s like to be the number one hockey player in the world. He’s not just an athlete; he’s a brand.”
“And he doesn’t think we’re good enough to be associated with hisbrand?” I question, and Trey kind of shrugs. “Then fuck him.”
He rubs his neck again. “Yeah. I guess fuck him. But in the meantime, I paid for the radio spots and bought the online media and I don’t have an endorsement to fill it.”
“We’ll find something,” I say, but I’m not convinced. I know nothing about marketing and advertising and I’m pretty sure that there’s nothing that can compete with what would have been an endorsement from the biggest athlete in town. “When do the ads start running?”
“Two weeks but creative is due next week.”
“Okay. Let me think about it,” I reply and walk over and give him a shove. “In the meantime go home and nap with your wife. Who misses you and is worried about you.”
“She called you?”
“Yeah, and she was almost in tears.”
“Pregnancy makes women weepy,” he explains and sighs. “Seriously, she cried over a cell phone commercial last night.”
“So suck it up and comfort her,” I demand with a smile. “Your sperm did this to her.”
“Please do not talk about my sperm,” he replies and shivers in disgust.
“If you stay out of my love life,” I counter and walk to the door, dragging him with me. I wait as he locks his office and we both start toward the exit.
“Shayne Augusta Beckford has a love life. With a hockey player.” Trey shakes his head as step out into the warm spring day. He glances up, shielding his eyes as he looks up at the sky.
“What are you looking for?”
“Falling locusts,” he jokes and turns to wink at me. “I mean clearly if you’re dating an NHL player the apocalypse is on its way.”
“Go home to your wife, butthead.” I roll my eyes but I’m laughing.
“After I drive your ass home,” he replies and grabs the back of my shirt like the annoying kid brother he is. “And will you please buy a damn car already.”
