Page 7 of The Wrong Move

She places her glass on the tray. “Don’t be a dick when you’re out tonight. Call if you need me.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’m going as a favor to Mason. I’ll be bored as fuck.”

She smiles, and it reminds me of the Charlotte I knew before she started working for the team.

I follow her to the door. “Did you visit for a reason?”

She turns, and for a moment, I see her vulnerable side. “Have you heard from BJ? He’s not answering my calls.”

“He doesn’t need to be lectured by you.”

Charlotte’s expression changes, leaving me confused.

“All right. Enjoy your night.”

An hour later,I’m walking into the ballroom decorated with red and black balloons—our old school colors. Flags with our school emblem are displayed on the stage. I look around at the same people gathering in the same groups and find Mason talking with Paige not far from the bar. I should walk out and text himI told you so, but he turns and waves before I do.

“Hey.”

“You made it.” He pats my back. Mason is dressed in a suit with a paisley pocket square, and Paige is in a long red evening gown, her blonde hair swept up off her bare shoulders.

“Smart casual, hey?”

He grins at me. “If I said it was formal, you wouldn’t have come.”

I huff out a laugh. “My fault for not reading the email thoroughly. It did make my job convincing security tougher than usual. He said you added my name to the list.”

“Looking out for you, bro.” He pats my back harder than before. “You remember Paige, right?”

I lean in and hug Paige. “Of course. How are you, Paige?”

“Great. It’s really good to see you both again.” I smile and turn to Mason. His beer glass is half full. “I’ll grab you both some more drinks?”

Making a mental note that Paige is holding a crystal champagne glass, I make my way to the bar and stop when a woman steps in front of me. She is my height in heels and looks directly into my eyes.

“Byron Hendricks. I missed your email response.” Jessica James’s expression is not joyful. She was prom queen and queen everything in high school—her best years. I haven’t heardanything about her since, which I’m happy about because she spent every day at school giving me hell.

“Sorry, Jess. It was in my spam. Mason convinced me it was okay to come.” She doesn’t smile. “I promise I won’t eat a thing, and I’m on the water, so…” I shrug. “I’m getting drinks for my friends.”

She presses a hand to my shoulder. “I guess it’s okay, then.” She straightens her back, full of authority. “I made sure there is plenty for everyone, so please enjoy yourself.” Her eyes lower and track over me before meeting my gaze again. “I heard you’re in the big time now. The first student from our school to make the NBA. You look fit,” she drawls.

“I was always fit, Jess.” I wink at her, then sidestep her and head toward the bar. I order drinks and a bottle of water, then gather the drinks with the bottle tucked under my arm. Before leaving, I catch the sound of a familiar laugh, and it stops me in my tracks. My chest constricts as my body remembers her.

At the other end of the bar, Giana Monroe talks with some friends. For a moment, I allow myself to watch her. She smiles, her brown eyes full of life. There was a time she smiled like that for me.

Long dark hair falls over her tanned bare shoulders. From here, I can see the way her full breasts fill out her dress and spill over somewhat.

My throat tightens. I thump my chest, not getting enough air to my lungs because I’m thrown back to a time when we were at school, and I’m remembering things I had pushed out of my mind.

The last time I saw her…

“Are you finished, Byron?”

A voice snaps me out of my daze. “Yeah, sure. How are you, Carter?”

“I’m good. And you?”

“Good, man. I’ll come and see you later.”

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