Page 108 of Vegas Heat

Gabby doesn’t have classes Thursday or Friday, so she’s at the stadium bright and early, and I just finished my workout and a quick shower on Friday morning when Troy told me to pay a visit to Joanie’s office.

The interns are all sitting at the round table, and Gabby is talking. I watch for a beat while she finishes what she says.

“I think StrongFitKids would best fit under Fan Experience if you’d like me to focus on that department next week.” Her eyes drift to me at the conclusion of her sentence. Joanie turns around to see who Gabby is looking at, too.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I say, stepping into the office, “but Troy said your team got back to you with the blueprints?”

“Right,” she says. She turns to the interns. “I love that idea, Gabby. I’d like to put you and Chloe on that for next week along with Corporate Sponsorships because I think SFK really fits both. Justin and Brian in Broadcast, Chase and Mackenzie in…” She pauses as she runs down a list. “How about Game Operations? Excuse me for one minute.” She turns back to me as I wonder what other departments the interns work in, but then I realize it doesn’t matter. The fact is that she’ll be working with Chloe on something and not Spongebob, so that’s something.

Joanie pats Gabby’s shoulder as she stands, and I see a bond between the two. Troy has confirmed that he’s dating Joanie, and from over here, it looks like Gabby approves and accepts that relationship.

I’m happy for her. I know how her relationship is with her mother based on the things she confessed to me, so to see her have a positive female authority in her life can only be a good thing. I think of my own mother and what an impact she’s had on my life, and I can’t imagine not talking to her nearly everyday. But Gabby seemed almost happy not to be talking to her mom—like the very thought of it stresses her out.

There’s still a lot of mystery where all that is concerned, I guess.

“Come on over,” Joanie says to me, and I meet her at her desk. She hands me a portfolio, and I take a look at the preliminary sketches of the kids’ play area. “No ball pit, as requested, and an entire trampoline area with bouncy platforms between each station of the circuit.”

I’m sure Gabby is gloating from her chair over at the round table with the other interns, but I force my focus on the paper in Joanie’s hands. “This is incredible, Joanie. Thank you.” I study it for a few beats.

“Can I see?” Gabby asks, standing from her chair.

Joanie nods. “I think it’s important to get your feedback, too.”

Gabby moves in beside me, and I can smell the vanilla in her hair.

My dick wakes up this close to her. He strains against my zipper.

Goddamn, I miss her.

“Looks good to me,” she says softly. “I love the trampolines.”

She walks away and sits beside that jackass once again, and I suck in a breath and snap a photo of the blueprints. “I’ll send these to Kaylee and Carla for any last-minute feedback but I think it’s going to be a green light from SFK.”

“Excellent,” she says with a nod. “I’ll wait to hear from you before sending it up to the next level. Is there anything else?”

I glance over at Gabby, and she’s got her head bent toward Spongebob in conversation.

I clear my throat. “No, that’s all. Thanks again.” I’m not sure if Gabby is supposed to shadow me for the rest of the day, but I take the opportunity while she’s busy in a meeting to head back to my office to get a little more work done.

And then I bolt the fuck out of the stadium before she gets the chance to come find me.

Troy was still at the stadium when I left, working away at all things baseball management, and I’m sure he would’ve liked me to stop in and touch base regarding teambuilding, but we have time.

It may be a big stadium, but today it felt like it wasn’t quite big enough for both Gabby and me.

Troy wasn’t home this morning when I woke up, and I’ve started to notice he rarely spends the night at the house. He’s around here and there, but he must either be sleeping at Joanie’s place or at the club—either that or he’s out late, comes home for a few hours, and leaves again before the rest of the house is awake.

I talk to my mom once I’m back in the car. I keep it quick and leave out the details about how I’m feeling, but it always helps to hear her voice even if it’s just for a quick check in.

I call Kaylee next.

“Did you look at the blueprints?” I ask when she answers. My ulterior motive is to get her to invite me over. I’d invite myself, but that’s not really my style.

“I glanced real quick but Ellie’s nanny is sick today so we’re all just winging it and Hailey won’t stop climbing the goddamn couch and I just got them down for naps and I’m about to take one myself.”

“Sorry for bothering you,” I say.

“Why would this be different than any other time? You’re always bothering me,” she teases, and I laugh.

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