Page 81 of Those Heartbreak Scars

He moans in my ear as he thrusts into me. Languorous strokes become urgent, and he reaches between my legs to rub my clit until I come for him. His own climax is triggered by my orgasm, and we fuck our way through it until we’re both spent.

His lips graze my sweat dampened nape. “You should come with me.”

“Oh, I definitely did.”

“No.” He tugs me around until I’m facing him. “You should come with me to Portugal. And to wherever else in Europe that I need to go. It’ll give you time to work out what you want to do.”

“But my job. And my rent. I have responsibilities.” And yet the idea of traveling around Europe with Gray is very appealing.

“I’ll hire you as my assistant. I’ll pay your rent and expenses while we are abroad.” He tips my chin and kisses me. “I don’t want to be apart from you. Not now.”

I don’t want to be away from him either. I was already dreading it. And I could use the time to work out my next move now that I’m truly done with school.

“Okay.”

Chapter Thirty

Gray

America sits beside me while we watch eighteen-year-old Diogo Costa make basket after basket. Seven feet tall and unstoppable, he has a very bright career ahead of him. The local crowd cheers, but that’s nothing compared to the fans that await him in the NBA.

He has what it takes to be a professional athlete. Natural talent in spades. But also the ethos that I’m looking for. He works hard in both the game and his family’s restaurant. He has a steady girlfriend and keeps off social media. There’s no gossip about drugs, booze, or misbehavior.

And he has what it takes to take Frontline Sports from a concept to a contender. It’ll take more than one athlete to build the company, of course. But signing Diogo Costa would be proof that it’s possible. That first brick is the most important.

My hands clasped between my legs, I chew the inside of my cheek. I’m not normally this nervous, but then I don’t usually have so much riding on signing a player as I do today. This isn’t just my career. This is my future, and I am grasping for the possibility with both hands.

I might only have one shot with this kid before the big agencies start to circle. One shot to get this company of mine off the ground before All-Star catches on to what I’m trying to do and makes my life difficult. I cannot fail at this.

America places her hand on my knee, stopping my rapid-fire bouncing. “You’re good at what you do. He’s going to sign.”

I cover her hand with my own as the tension vibrating inside me calms. Yes, there’s a lot riding on signing Diogo Costa and building up my own business. I’m dumping my life savings into getting Frontline Sports off the ground.

But I’m not the same person I was when I showed up to sign Mann. Fuck, I was a jerk to ask so much of America. And an idiot for not recognizing what I was throwing away. Thank God I came to my senses. “I’m so glad that you’re here with me.”

“Me too.” She smiles before turning her attention back to Diogo. “Talk me through what I’m watching.”

I lean in and announce the game for her like I’ve done since we became friends way back when she was in high school. Diogo makes an amazing shot and America beats me to the explanation while she cheers him on.

I’ve explained games to her before. She’s picked up a lot of knowledge about basketball. And hockey, football, golf… “You know what’s happening. You don’t need me to tell you.”

“I know.” She runs a strand of hair between her lips. “But I love it when you explain the things you’re passionate about to me in that deep, low voice. It makes me hot.”

I stare at this woman I always thought I knew. “But I started explaining sports to you when… you wanted to know all about baseball… that was when you were…”

“Fourteen.” She nods. “I know.”

Well, that’s awkward. I had no idea. Grateful for that, actually, considering the age gap between us. It’s nothing really, not now, but back then it was.

Still, I can’t believe I didn’t realize. She certainly recalled enough to be able to tell what was happening without me talkingher through it. “You seriously pretended you didn’t know the rules so…”

“We could be close. Yeah.” She leans forward, watching the game intently. “At first. And then it was too late to drop the ruse. You were with Indy. It would have been weird to tell you that I just liked the way your voice aroused me. So then I was stuck with you explaining things and stuck with the way that made me feel. It was a horrible time in my life, Gray. Do you have any idea how awkward it is being turned on by your best friend’s boyfriend? I hated that I wanted you and hated that I couldn’t have you.”

I gape at her. And here I am still explaining the game to her with no comprehension… “What you’re telling me is you’re wet right now?”

She pushes my chin up. “Close your mouth and concentrate. You can worry about the state of my panties later when we celebrate. Because he is going to sign. I have faith in you.”

She was distracting me. And it worked. I forgot to stress. I know sports. I know how to be an agent. I’m good at it.

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