Page 8 of Unleashed

Rhonda sits across from Hadley and glances at me, worried. I smile back. Rhonda and I have a strange friendship. She had figured out I had feelings for Hadley but didn’t hate me for using her as a diversion. Even I hate myself for doing that.

“Greg Rodwell?”

I twist to see Val’s surprised face. Before I push out my chair, her arms swing around my neck from behind in a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Going crazy.” Her mint-green tweed jacket, maybe from Nordstrom, rubs against my chin. Val could dumpster dive and still be classy.

“Amos didn’t mention you were returning this soon.”

“Surprise.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here. We’ve missed you.”

“Not everyone,” Shasta grumbles.

Val squeezes my arm, telling me to ignore Shasta. I’m trying, but the bitch irks my every nerve.

Sylvie takes the chair across from me while Val takes her usual seat next to Brandon at the head of the table, throwing concerned glances at me.

Brandon checks his watch and says, “Amos is out of town, Crick is on vacation, and almost everyone is here. Let’s give another minute—”

“I’m here!”

That voice.

I swing my head just as a flurry of platinum hair and blue bounces into the conference room to the beat of her eager footsteps. Hadley’s sharp intake of air matches mine.

Simone stops at Brandon to say hello, oblivious to my presence. Shasta huffs as she crosses her arms and leans toward me to whisper, “Looks like your slutty stalker is here.”

There’s an airplane hangar of responses I want to give Shasta, but I can’t take my eyes off my ex.

Hadley grips my right arm and whispers, “I don’t know why she’s here. I swear. Don’t say anything to her in front of everyone.”

Glaring at Simone as she rounds the table, I answer, “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Simone lifts her gaze to see Hadley but then stops dead. The blood drains from her face as her eyes bug out of her skull. I cock an eyebrow, communicating more than a mere hello.

Sylvie asks, “What’s wrong, Simone?”

Remembering where she is, Simone blinks back to life and forces a smile as her gaze falls to the table. “Nothing.”

Sylvie says, “Rod’s back. Isn’t that awesome?”

Simone licks her lips and eyes the closest empty chair. “Uh, yep. Hello.”

Hadley digs her nails into my arm as I reply, “Yo.” I shake off Hadley’s claws, and she eases back into her chair.

Simone drops her purse on the table and removes her jacket before stumbling into the seat next to Audrey and across from Betsy, diagonal from me.

Across from Hadley, Rhonda sighs, and I hesitate before sending my attention to her. Her gaze falters when she looks up at me, going from me to the table and back to me again.

Brandon clears his throat, and I return to Simone, whose icy blue eyes stab me before she smiles at Hadley. “Good morning to all of you. I called this meeting because softball season begins in two weeks, with our first practice this Saturday afternoon at 1:30.”

Betsy gasps, “Already? I haven’t recovered from last season!” Yes, being the least valuable player is exhausting work.

Brandon nods, somewhat irritated at her for interrupting. I wish he’d fire her with actual fire. “I met with the other team managers to review rules, venue changes, and participating teams. There is a new team, an accounting firm, The Dividends.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously?”

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