Page 3 of Taming Drew

“What happened?” She asks, with that concerned-mom look.

“I got into a bar fight.” I cringe. It’s going to be all over social media because some patrons got all or most of it on their damn phones.

She leans down and slides her hand under my elbow. “Let’s get you onto the bed.”

I almost make a comment about getting her into bed and remember which family she’s involved with. Don’t want to piss off the Campbells. And some of the cousins are bigger and meaner than me. I stretch my neck.

“Drew?”

“Yeah. Sorry. Kind of rung my bell.”

Her pretty eyes scrutinize my swelling face. “You’ve got a bruise on your jaw, and there’s a cut on your temple. Anywhere else?” She hands me an ice pack for my jaw.

“My ribs hurt like a bitch, and my head feels like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”

“Okay. I’m going to give you a neuro exam.”

She asks me questions, and I answer, but as the words come out, I forget the question. Mia seems content with my answers. She shines a bright light into each of my eyes. “Ouch. You’re making my head pound more.”

Mia completes her exam and ends with a nod. “Your exam is normal, but you probably have a mild concussion. I’m going to get an x-ray of your ribs.”

I adjust myself on the exam bed. “Ouch. Fuck, my head hurts.”

She frowns, offering the same expression my mother used to give me when I did something stupid. “I’m sure it does. Are you nauseous?”

“Yeah. But that could be the booze.”

“How much did you have to drink?”

“Um. A pitcher and a half of beer. Maybe two. I feel pretty sober now. Adrenaline is a marvelous thing.”

“Okay. When was your last concussion?”

I stare at the pretty redhead.

“Drew? Your last concussion?”

“Oh. Um. Seven years, I guess. Junior year in college. I’ve been pretty lucky in the pros.”

“That’s good. Do you want me to notify anyone?”

I blow out a big breath. It’s not like I’ve got a family or a girlfriend. Just rip off the Band-Aid. Better call Lily before she hears about it from someone else. She’s a brilliant agent, but she doesn’t like to put up with my shit, and she’s warned me. She is going to be pissed again. This is my third. No, fourth bar fight in the last five months. She scolded me last time, and I hear her in my head. ‘Stop drinking, carousing, and fighting. The Mustangs won’t take much more from you’.“Can you call Lily and tell her I’m here?”

Mia nods.Lily is one of Mia’s friends.It will be easier coming from her.Mia pulls her cellphone from her pocket and steps out of the room.

CHAPTERTWO

CHLOE

Istand in the lunchroom at Glenwood Elite Sports and Talent Management, chatting with Lily Campbell, my boss. Lily is an adorable dark brown-haired pixie and managing partner. She’d hired me when I was laid off three years before. She was a godsend to me and my daughter, becoming one of my best friends and, through her, giving me the chance to meet so many wonderful women. I take my buzzing phone out of my pocket. “Jillian, again.” My direct supervisor, Jillian, is out on maternity leave, leaving me to handle overseeing the accounts.

Lily touches my arm. “I appreciate you handling the Accounting Department. How many times has she texted you today?”

“A dozen times. Luckily, this time she said she’s about to deliver, so she’ll be busy for a while. I can’t wait to see photos of the new baby.”

Lily beams. “Me, too. I love babies.” The phone in her pocket buzzes. She wrinkles her nose as she reads it and groans. “It’s Phoebe’s school.” Phoebe is Lily’s young daughter, close in age to my own. She steps away, and I throw my lunch remnants in the trash.

“Hey Chloe?”

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