Page 59 of Forever Wild

He lifts his middle finger as he takes a couple gulps of air.

“Worried about getting caught with someone, Lila?” he questions when he can breathe again.

“I would only worry about getting caught with someone if I were ashamed to be with them, JT,” she fires back.

They both sit there, glaring at each other well past the normal mark.

“Well…” I drawl. “This has been…awkward. I’m going to go…somewhere else.” I stand back up, heading for the kitchen to see if I can help Lori bring the cookies in for dessert before I have to leave for my flight in an hour.

Chapter twenty-nine

Bryn

“I know, it really has been a whirlwind romance.” I think about Jameson kissing me before I sprinted from the car, late for my flight home last night, and I feel a real smile crowd the fake one off my face.

“He’s truly the best. I’m just so glad I could convince him to take the lowball offer the marketing team put in front of him.” This is the fifth time today that I’ve had a conversation like this one, all strategically with or within the earshot of the company gossips.

As soon as my plane landed last night, I emailed the head of the Human Resources department, letting her know I needed to come in and speak with her first thing this morning. No way am I going to let Kyle win on a technicality. Then I got to work spreading the news. To be clear, I’m not lying; I really was the one who convinced Jameson to take the offer. Now, would I normally be so vocal about it? No, most certainly not. But fuck you, Kyle. Jameson is fully on board with the plan, so I have absolutely zero qualms about stealing Kyle’s thunder. Since Jameson hasn’t officially accepted the offer yet, Kyle hadn’t said anything to claim this victory as his. So, when I arrived at the office hours early this morning, it was only my version of the story that got spread. And, while today is a chaotic day at work, I’ve made sure to share my version of the story whenever possible.

Jameson’s chuckle reverberates from where I hold the phone to my ear. I had been updating him on Operation Fuck You, Kyle when Alex, the company’s biggest gossip, strolled by the bench where I’m eating my lunch. Luckily, I was prepared to get right to the good part.

“You’re conniving,” Jameson whispers in my ear.

“I know. It is hard to have to give up my place on the team, but it’s what’s best for the company!” I reply.

“Is it weird that I’m getting turned on right now?”

“Trust me, he’s hotter in person. There’s no doubt he’s going to make this campaign an absolute success, which is why it’s so ridiculous that Kyle thought he could get him for half of his usual rate. Thank God I was there to save the day.”

“Yeah, you and that fuckable mouth.”

“Well, anyway, I better let you go,” I say with forced cheerfulness, my legs clenching together at the thought of his cock in my mouth. “I’m sure you’ve got…things to take care of.”

I chuckle at his deep groan, hanging up the phone before either of us say something that will make it very clear I’m not casually talking to a work colleague.

Chapter thirty

Jameson

I’ve spent the last two weeks fully focused on my game. The tournament in the Bahamas last weekend was the last one until after the holidays, and I had to do well to guarantee a spot in the tournaments in the new year.

After spending a week practicing with my coach and JT down in the Bahamas before the tournament started, I was on top of my game all four days. It felt great to get my groove back, especially after I sank a chip on Sunday that clinched the win for me. I’m riding a high from the win for sure.

The only thing bringing me down is that Bryn’s not here. I know other athletes, “real athletes” as Lila would call them, who brag about or bemoan the post-game adrenaline that essentially begs your body to find someone to fuck and fuck hard.

It’s not quite as aggressive for golfers. Games are slower paced, and your adrenaline isn’t getting pumped through you from beginning to end. But, let me assure you, when you’re tied going into eighteen on Sunday and have to chip in your ball from ten yards off the green, your adrenal glands get the fuck to work.

And when your girl isn’t there to celebrate with you…well, it’s not preferable. Luckily, Bryn was watching from her hotel in Canada and FaceTimed me as soon as I hit the locker room.

I can still hear the way her voice dropped when my face filled her screen, her breath catching as she said, “Hey, sexy.”

Refusing to hang up with her beautiful face and miss out on the intoxicating effects of her presence, I took her with me during my entire post-round routine. Yes, even the press conference and the following interview with ESPN. Did Bryn spend almost an hour staring at the darkness of my pocket? Yes, yes she did. And, in hindsight, I see how she could’ve just watched me on TV and then called me back as soon as I was done, but I asked her to stay, and she did.

As I left the course, Bryn’s face remained on my phone, held directly in front of mine as my driver for the weekend headed to the hotel. She entertained me with her thoughts about the round, what I did well, what she thinks I could do better, Izzy’s thoughts on the various players’ attire. We talk essentially every night now, and we never miss a night before one of my rounds. I’m not superstitious enough to say she’s my good luck charm, but I do believe in routine, and lying in bed, talking with Bryn the night before a round, is by far the best part of my new routine.

Hell, she’s the best part of my life right now, something I’ve never felt about a woman before. Even when things with Alexis were good, golf was always my highlight. I lived for the tournaments, for spending time out on the course in Florida, working with my coach or my caddie. Now, I still enjoy playing, but I can’t wait to be done so I can talk to Bryn, even if it’s just sending her a text because I know she’s in meetings all day.

I don’t love her, of course not. It’s way too early to be throwing around phrases like that, but damn, it might be close. I’ve never felt like this with anyone else. It’s like my life is the tide, and she is the moon. No matter how far away she is, without even trying, she impacts every move I make, every thought I think.

---