Page 141 of Hit Me With Your Best Shot

“Sounds about right,” I say, grinning.

Austin’s eyes widen. “Did she tell you he spent half the night talking about his ‘crypto empire.’ I thought she was going to lose it.”

“She told me the same thing. I have no idea why she’s going to dinner with these dudes.” I shake my head. “Apparently, he called her ‘babe’ within five minutes of sitting down. Who does that?”

“It’s called Love Bombing and it’s a thing,” Austin informs me, fingers plucking at the tufts on Gio’s head.

I frown, shaking my head. “So basically, it’s manipulation with extra steps?”

“Pretty much,” she says, nodding. “Classic red flag behavior. Nova probably realized that right after he called her ‘babe.’”

“She did,” I say, chuckling. “She told me she almost walked out when he tried signing her up for his multi-level marketing scheme.”

“People are still signing up for those?”

Dang.

Austin’s laugh is warm and soft, her shoulders shaking justenough to make Gio lift his head and glare at me for disrupting his peace.

Austin nods. “I don’t think Nova falls for it because she’s naive. I think she’s just looking for someone to love her.”

That hits me square in the chest. I sit there, processing her words as Gio shifts on Austin’s lap, curling into a ball. “Yeah,” I say finally, my voice quieter now. “I know.”

“She told me a little about that,” Austin says gently. “How hard it’s been since your mom passed. How it feels like she’s been trying to fill a void.”

I glance away, my jaw tightening. “She doesn’t talk to me about that stuff. She just jokes around, acts like she’s fine.”

“She doesn’t want to worry you. You’re busy and she looks up to you even though you’re the same age,” Austin says softly, her fingers still stroking Gio. “But she’s trying, Gio. She’s putting herself out there, even if she picks the wrong guys sometimes. She just... wants to feel wanted.”

The knot in my chest tightens. “I hate that she feels like she has to do that. Like she has to chase after these idiots who don’t deserve her.”

“I think she’ll figure it out,” Austin says, her voice steady. “She’s smart. She’s just learning what she deserves—and that takes time.”

“She’s been through enough already. I just want her to be happy.”

Austin smiles at me, a warm, understanding look that makes me feel like I’m doing at least one thing right. For a moment, we sit there in the quiet, the weight of the conversation settling around us.

“Next time she goes on a date,” Austin snorts. “Maybe we should double-team it,” she says with a grin. “I’ll vet him, and you can glare at him from across the room.”

That is a great fucking idea. “I love it. In fact, we should take her phone and do the swiping for her.”

Austin bursts out laughing, shaking her head. “You thinkNova’s going to hand over her phone and let us play matchmaker? You’re bonkers.”

“No seriously. This is an amazing idea…”

“I have a question,” she says. “Why haven’t you ever set Nova up with one of your teammates? There are so many single guys on your team.”

I groan. “Now you sound like her.”

Austin’s eyes widen with delight. “Wait, she’s actually asked you to set her up with one of your teammates?”

“Teammates. Assistant coaches…” I admit, shaking my head humorously. “‘Gio, aren’t there any decent single guys on your team?’”

“And your answer is always no?” Austin asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course,” I say, shrugging.

“Why?”

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