Page 70 of Tempting

“I put the word out you’d be open to a trade in the offseason, and quite a few teams were interested. Of those interested, three were willing to work within your salary specifications. One has a player I happen to know the Revolution would give their left nut for. Deacon has been trying to get him on the team since he came on as head coach, and it’s never worked out.” He pulls an envelope from his inside pocket and slides it across the table. My office sent this information via email, as well, but considering you won’t fucking answer me, I have no idea whether you looked at it.”

I take the envelope and fold it in half.

That email has been sitting unopened in my account for a few weeks.

So have the two that followed.

“Now it’s my turn to ask a question. Why the fuck did you have me go to the trouble of doing all this—and doing it quietly, which meant pulling all sorts of favors to get it done—if you had no intention of taking a trade?”

“I never said I wasn’t interested,” I answer, and Leo’s eyes bulge the fuck out of his head.

“Your actions say it, even if your voice is too fucking scared to say it, Sinclair.” Hunter leans back in his chair, but not Leo.

Leo grips the edge of the table as he glares. “What the fuck, man? I thought you might be looking for a trade, but I figured I was wrong because you’d tell me something like that. Way to man the fuck up, Nix.”

“Fuck you, Leo.”

“I’m on Leo’s side for once,” Hunter adds, and Leo’s head whips his way.

“For once? You’re my fucking agent too.”

Hunter shrugs. “Not here for you.” He turns my way. “You, however, I’d like an answer from you.”

“I don’t have an answer for you right now. My reasons for wanting the trade are still valid, I just don’t know that they’re enough,” I admit.

“What fucking reasons? Because you don’t like being a Sinclair?” Leo pushes, seriously pissed now. “News flash, brother. You’re going to be a Sinclair in Atlanta and Chicago too.”

Hunter fakes a ridiculous cough. “DC.” Then the fuck coughs again for good measure.

“Fine. You think they’ve never heard of Dad or Grandpa in DC, dude? You’re going to be a Sinclair no matter where you go.”

I push off the wall I’ve been leaning against and smack the damn envelope against the table. “I never said I didn’t want to be a Sinclair. I just wanted to consider being in a city that didn’t worship them.”

“That sounds past tense. Has something changed?” Hunter asks, sharp as ever.

“Yeah, he met a girl,” Leo tells him.

“Well fuck. That explains it all,” Hunter agrees and smiles.

Not all of it. But it makes a fucking difference.

Kenzie

Hey Nix. I’m on my way home from the office and was going to pick up takeout from West End. You want anything?

Nixon

You.

Kenzie

Good answer, Sinclair.

Nixon

I have a present for you.

Kenzie

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