“As soon as possible.”
“Can it wait?”
“If you want someone else to grab the chance, sure.”
I swear under my breath. “They’ll drop me?”
“They want the commercials to be ready to go when the season kicks off. Why are you hesitating? I thought you’d jump at the chance to star in a commercial.”
I don’t care about being a star. It’s the money I’m interested in. I grew up with nothing. I don’t plan to return to needing handouts. But my time as an NFL player is limited. I need to accumulate as much wealth as possible before my career is over.
“Can I think about it?”
“No, Gage, you cannot. I need to give them an answer today.”
“Fine. The answer is yes. I’ll be on the first plane to Steel City once we’re released from training camp.”
I hang up and shove the phone in my pocket.
“The first plane?” Addy asks and I whirl around. I didn’t hear her come outside.
I motion to the chairs on the deck. “Can we talk?”
Once we’re seated across from each other, I grasp her hands. “My shoe and sock sponsor asked me to do some commercials for them.”
Her eyes light up. “Congratulations!”
“There’s more.” I hesitate a few beats before explaining, “I thought I’d have a week after training camp ended to spend together before I need to report to the Seals.”
“But…”
“They want to shoot these commercials before I need to report for the regular season.”
Her beautiful eyes dull. “And thus, you’ll be on the first plane out of Smuggler’s Hideaway.”
“Why don’t you come with me?”
She jerks her hands from mine. “We’ve gone over this. I can’t leave the island. I can’t abandon my family.”
I understand her concern, but I can’t let her go. I love her. I want to spend all my time with her. I can’t be with her if she’s in Smuggler’s Hideaway full time.
I kneel before her. “I love you, songbird.”
Her mouth gapes open. “You love me?”
I smile. “How can I not? You’re beautiful, smart, loyal, and so talented it amazes me.”
Her cheeks darken. “I’m not amazing.”
“You are.” I squeeze her thighs. “Why else would Juliet Ash want to record one of your songs?”
She shrugs. “It’s a fluke. The rest of my music isn’t worthy of a big pop star.”
“Is that why you haven’t discussed the contracts with your lawyer yet?”
She glances away but I won’t let her hide from me. I pinch her chin and force her to meet my gaze. “Songbird?”
She sighs. “It’s scary. I’m no one and this lawyer works for the biggest names.”
