Page 34 of Penalties and Proposals

Noah glaces at the other woman with disdain. “Willa, meet Cecilia. My ex-girlfriend.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to notice that his words do not please this woman. Cecilia bristles, then points to the bird pin. “What is that?”

“It’s a lucky charm,” Noah says, going one step further and wrapping an arm around me. “Willa gave it to me at breakfast.”

Cecilia’s blue eyes widen at the mention of breakfast. Noah and I know we’re pretty much a PG-13 couple, but she doesn’t. It’s also this very moment that I put two and two together and realize who she is. “Wait, you’re Cecilia Grazer, aren’t you?”

She puffs up with pride, and I feel a little heat leave the air now that she’s been recognized. Bless her little peacocky heart.

“I saw one of your films, I think it was calledTowniesor something like that?” I mean, I did see it, but I think I was forced. To be honest, she’s not my favorite actress and isn’t someone who’ll be nominated for an Academy Award anytime soon, but I digress.

Cecilia’s face twists with irritation. “It was calledCity Girls.”

“Ah.” It’s fine. I wanted to poke at her, and I did.

“So, Cecilia was just leaving,“ Noah begins, but apparently she doesn’t get the memo.

“Noah, can we have a drink tonight? I’d love to meet you and have some …” She looks me up and down. “One-on-one time.”

It’s my turn to bristle. “Did you really just ask him out for a drink?”

She rolls her eyes. “I did. Why is it your business?”

I take a moment to pull my hair up into a bun on top of my head. “It’s not, but I think it’s plebian of you.”

Beside me, Noah grunts, stifling a laugh. In front of me, World War Cecilia looks like she’s about to have a conniption.

“Plebian?” she nearly shouts, looking at me like I have ten heads and all of my hair is made of snakes. “What does that even mean?”

My jaw goes slack as Noah steps in. “Cecilia, Travis told me you were trying to get in touch for tickets. This is my fault, I should have called. Thanks for your support, but I don’t have time to hang out while you’re here.”

I feel Noah’s hand wrap around mine. Solidly. I like it.

Cecilia sees it, too. Her eyes bounce down and take in our intertwined fingers, his thumb caressing the top of my hand, and then she slowly pulls them back up as she looks at Noah, then over to me, and back to Noah again.

“Seriously?” she hisses. “Who even is she, Noah, besides a girl who needs to brush her hair?”

Noah starts to defend me, but I’m feeling my oats. I fight the twerk of my lips and the urge to burst out laughing. “You’re going to attack my hair?”

Cecilia looks perplexed. I don’t know, but I’m guessing she’s not had anyone hold their ground with her before. I think she’s combusting. “What I mean is that you don’t fit in. Here. In Noah’s world.”

I pull my hand away from Noah’s grasp, much to my chagrin, only to cross my arms haughtily so I can look down mynose at her and do it well, too. “Considering I’m here forAthletic Edgeand have been working in the sports industry for almost ten years now, you’d think I’d have a grip on how to handle myself …” Hoisting my hands in the air, I throw up some air quotes, continuing, “In Noah’s world.”

Her eyes narrow as she looks at me, stepping closer. “Oh, so you work in the sports industry?” She points to my camera. “I’m not an expert, but if you are a photographer and you’re taking photos of him for a magazine and you’re under contract, isn’t it bad form to date your subject?”

Huh. Well, she’s got me there. I have no poker face, so the moment she sees she’s got me, this sweet little angel of a human goes in for the kill.

“Fab. So you are here working and this,” she says, pointing a skinny little manicured finger at the both of us, “is for sure not something that should be happening.”

Someone calls her name from the side and she turns, waving to them. “Be right there.” Turning back around, she grins at us, a little too pleased with herself. “Well, this has been enlightening. Enjoy your night.”

With that, she turns literally on her heel and stomps away.

With a shudder, I turn to face Noah. “Wow. She’s a lovely thing. I don’t know why you two split up.”

Noah takes my other hand, clutching it tightly, and pulls me to him. “I’m so sorry, Willa, I was not prepared for her to show up here.”

Of course, I know and understand that he had no clue she was going to appear like vapors in the arena, but still. Her threat? It’s feeling pretty real.

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