After dragging my ass up out of bed and getting in a quick run at my building’s gym, I head into the office, faking a confidence that I’m currently lacking.
My morning is thankfully uneventful, giving me time to think about what the hell I’m going to do.
I have to tell someone. Apart from the fact that I don’t want to work with the creep, I’m not the only woman who works here. We have female athletic trainers and physicians. Not to mentionour social media manager is a young girl only a year out of college. I can’t knowingly put any of them through what I went through.
Everyone here is like my family. Vance doesn’t belong here.
I’m at the point of seriously considering putting names in a hat to decide who to talk to when someone knocks on my office door. My heart jolts until Paige calls out.
“It’s me.”
My shoulders drop as I relax, jumping up to let her in.
“Hey stranger. How are you?” I pull her into a warm hug before dragging her inside. I could use a friend right now, even if that friend is the daughter of the man I’m stressing over.
“I’m good. I stopped by to talk to Dad about the wedding but he’s not here. I’m guessing he’s in New York?”
“I actually have no idea. All I know is that he’s away on business.”
“Ooh, why so secretive?” She laughs and I laugh along with her, but it’s obviously lacking.
“So…the wedding?” I smile giddily, changing the subject so we don’t have to talk about her dad, and she waves me off.
“You know we’re only doing this for Isaac,” she says as she walks farther into the room, glancing out the window.
“I know. That’s not going to stop me from getting excited and treating you to the full bridesmaid service. I’m still a bridesmaid, right?”
Paige and Easton have been engaged for close to a year, despite the fact that neither one of them wanted to get married. Especially Paige. She did, however, want to adopt Isaac, and they concluded that getting married would make that process significantly easier. She asked me to be a bridesmaid months ago, but other than searching for a dress, which I only learned about from our hair stylist, I haven’t heard a thing since.
“Of course you’re still a bridesmaid.” She turns my way, smiling without her eyes, and I wait for thebut. “But…you may not want to be one when I tell you something.”
“Please tell me it’s hideous dresses. I can get behind that.” It’s highly unlikely since Paige used to be a fashion model. Still, the idea of that amuses me.
“It’s not hideous dresses.”
“Okay.”
“The wedding is in August.”
My eyes widen for the second time during this conversation. “August? During the preseason?” Easton had told me he didn’t think they’d have it until after the season, next year. A year from now.
“Just after,” Paige confirms and I bite back my shock. “We’ve decided to have it in between preseason and the first game. Easton doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it. He thought if we had it during the offseason, it would become bigger than it needs to be. And I tend to agree.”
“You’re not wrong. It also gets Easton out of planning because he’ll be too busy.”
“Actually, he wants to be involved in the planning. He just doesn’t want the guys to plan an epic Vegas-style bachelor party.”
I imagine Luke running wild with ideas and I nod with a laugh. “August is sounding like a great idea. I’m excited. Let me know if I can do anything.” My giddiness returns as I mentally start planning.
“That’s why I’m here. I’d love your help.”
“Of course. Anything you need.”
“Thank you. I know we’ve got a lot to do between now and then, but I’m ready to throw myself into it all. Now…spit it out.”
“What?”
“What’s going on with you? You’re enthusiastic, sure, but there’s something off about you. Your smiles aren’t reaching your eyes like they usually do.”
