From here, I could tell she smelled like citrus and sugar. Nina was pressed against my front, but I couldn’t even catch the smell of her hair products when Brittney’s scent overpowered me. Aburst of bright and sweet, like you could get your daily wakeup rush from her skin. Like I could lick her and my tastebuds would explode from the sensation.
Why am I thinking about her skin?
Nina pressed the button for the fifteenth floor, and the elevator jostled us up. My fingers brushed against Brittney’s hand, and a literal electric shock passed through our skin. I swore I heard heryip, and I hissed at the surprise sensation. But there was nowhere for us to move our hands. The shock didn’t stop either—it was like I was touching a live wire that I shouldn’t be. I glanced to my peripheral, knowing I wasn’t the only one feeling this, and I spotted Brittney biting her bottom lip.
Was I hurting her?This didn’t feel like pain for me, but I’d never felt a sensation like this before. I had touched plenty of people before and haven’t felt like I was getting shocked back to life like a medical drama show.
I opened my mouth to ask Brittney if she was okay, words I never thought I’d speak to her, but someone else cleared their throat, and I turned to see Daya shooting me daggers.
I struggled to move my hands to my pockets to avoid any further problems.
The elevator glided to a stop and then the doors slid open, revealing a sleek hallway with floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the art district. Nina led the group and Marcello flanked the back, his hands busy holding two cameras again.
I was definitely about to get punked.
Nina stopped the group in the hallway and if it wasn’t for the way she was clutching her iPad and notebook combo, I’d think the day was finally coming to an end.
“Alright! Given both of your contract signings were…unconventional, we’ll be putting you both up in team housing in this fabulous building.”
I had to be neighbors with Brittney. No way.
“And given the animosity between the two of you, Tashi, the GM, and the owners think it’d be best if you two lived together.”
You have got to be—
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Bee
“Everyone does realize we’re grown adults, right?” I announced, a ticking time bomb in the hallway while Nina rushed to unlock the apartment I was to share with Nola.
“We’ve been pretty patient with everything today Nina, but you’ve absolutely lost your mind,” Daya reprimanded with a familiarity I had still yet to piece together. But my nosy observance could wait, because, for once, I agreed with someone associated with Nola.
The apartment Nina led us into was more like a townhome with a set of stairs set by the back wall, and more floor to ceiling windows that had a stellar view of the ocean. Everything here was beautiful—sleek, light floors, amazing appliances—but Nola Young was in every view, my peripheral, my front, my back; in the way of every perspective.
There was no way I had to live with her.
“We’re already playing together, what’s the point in living together, too?” Nola demanded.
“Would you like me to read the texts from the owners group? There was a live feed during the press conference.” Nina stood.
She cleared her throat. “Is this the first time they’ve ever spoken to each other? Are their elbows fighting for space on the table? Did Brittney just roll her eyes in front of everyone? I can’t tell if they want to eat each other up or bite each other’s heads off.”
Oh dear God.
“Well that last one was obviously Allison,” Nola mumbled, from where she stood at the windows.
I didn’t know what I was thinking when I’d told Allison what I said to Nola that caused her turnover. I’d never explicitly told anyone about our draft night. Insinuated, yes, because at the end of the day I could never keep my own secrets. But that night was something I wanted to keep close to my chest so no one ever got the whole story. Sacred, spiritual, only mine to have.
And then I went and told someone who has a bigger mouth than me. Amazing!
“What exactly is stopping us from leasing our own apartments? Free will exists,” I interrupted.
“There was an explicit team bonding clause in your contract. Unfortunately, for you, living together is the bonding.”
“Of course it is.” I nodded as if I understood.
“For how long?” Daya inquired, and I glanced over quick enough to see her and Nola making eyes at each other. There’s no way they were actually considering this, right? We hadn’t hit the deadline yet for trades so Nola still had time to high tail it out of here and go to another team who would pay her the big bucks.
