Page 57 of The Baller

“Dude, don’t put it there. You need the torch or the spider will get through.”

“What?”

My eyes flicked to Tanner, but he was muttering to Parker about how to defend their castle against monsters or whatever. If I wasn’t in a hurry, I’d have cracked a joke – Tanner and spiders didn’t mix, even if one was fictional and made of code.

I couldn’t be bothered to ask again. They were clearly suffering from selective hearing, and I’d also spotted Tanner’s over by the kitchen, in the baseball mitt we kept our keys in.

“Thanks for nothing. Tan, I’m taking yours. See you later,” I called back as I stepped into the elevator.

I doubt they’d even noticed I’d gone.

“Enjoy your make out sesh!” yelled Parker, as the doors slid shut.

I knew they could hear me. Dickheads.

Just like the couple of times we’d been running, Radley met me at our destination. While I’d prefer to pick her up, so it felt like a real date, I also knew she wasn’t ready for it. Until she was, we’d be taking two cars.

I drove through the Lions’ entrance for staff and players, and left names at the gate with security. It wasn’t unusual for visitors to come to the gate. During the season, any number of meetings were held all day long, and they’d pass through the visitors’ desk where they’d have to be signed in.

Today’s visit, however, had the potential for raising a number of questions I’d rather weren’t raised. The most pressing being, “Why is the President’s daughter working out in the New York Lions gym?”

As I wasn’t prepared to answer that just yet, I therefore handed over a series of alibis to the guys at the entrance, while also assuming they wouldn’t recognize her anyway. Therefore, my guest for today would be Elizabeth Bennett, plus a Mr. S.A.A. Merica and Associates.

It made Radley laugh when I told her, even if I was the recipient of another scowl from Jake. But as long as Radley laughed, I didn’t give a shit.

When they pulled up at the huge black Lions entrance, I was ready. I managed to open the back door before any of the agents had jumped out, and held my hand out for her to take.

“Hello.” She grinned up at me, her caramel eyes sparkling. It was miles away from the shy, nervous girl who’d met me at Asher’s a few weeks ago.

I soaked her in, committing every detail of her to memory, my eyes darting away from her lips to the rest of her face… the fast-fading freckles on her nose now winter was nearly here, the way her lashes fluttered as she held my gaze, the way the ends of her ponytail rested over her collar bone, but it was her smile that had my heart stopping for a second. She was so fucking beautiful, and if I stared at her any longer, my dick was going to start paying attention.

She’d long become the last thing I thought about every night and the first thing I thought about every morning, and my dick and brain were fully aware.

“Hello, yourself,” I replied, though I frowned when I realized something was missing. “Where’s your cap?”

She shrank into her shoulders, pulling a face that was fifty percent guilt, fifty percent amusement. “It’s enough that I’m here, isn’t it? Everyone will assume I’m a Lions fan.”

“I dunno.” I added a little head tilt as I leaned forward. “We like to have the point reinforced whenever possible.”

Her mouth dropped and a laugh burst out, though all I could focus on was the flash of her tongue resting behind her smile. Maybe this workout wasn’t a good idea. I’d need a cold shower at the end of it, for sure.

Two of the agents – Ethan and Meg – rounded the back of the Escalade. As Ethan rested his hand on the door to close it, I heard an order come through from Jake.

“Stick with Bookstore and Baller. Ava and I will be outside.”

My head snapped up from Radley to Jake, right as he drove off. “What did he call me?” I spun back to Ethan. “What did you call me?”

I liked Ethan, he seemed like a dependable type of person; the type of person you’d want protecting your life – alert, vigilant, always paying attention to his surroundings, without coming across as a dick. But I’d never seen him smile until now, or say more than two words to me – and he’d definitely never slapped me on the shoulder.

“Baller. It’s the name we have for you.”

“I have a name?’

He nodded. “Yeah. We use it for when you’re with Radley, for our service reports.”

“I’m in reports?”

“Yup,” he grinned.

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