Page 28 of Beautiful Storm

“No, not at all. I’ve got my limits noted in my contract.” He smirks while I laugh.Good thinking. “I actually think it’s really cool that you’re here,” he continues, “directing this. I finally know someone famous.”

“Umm. Hello. It’s not nearly as cool as being the quarterback for one of the top teams in the NFL.”

Thomas attended the same high school as Luke and I did, but was the year above us. I first met him the day he almost knocked me out. I dropped to the ground and he came rushing over to make sure I was okay. We had a nice easy chat that day, and if he hadn't been teammates with Luke, we may have become friends. But it wasn’t meant to be. I’d vowed to stay away from the team.

Maybe I should have continued that vow all the way to now.

“Hardly,” Thomas says, releasing a breathy laugh. “I just throw a ball around. You’re the star. And I’ve got to say, it willbe nice having a familiar face around when they’re filming. I’m still a little on the fence as to whether or not I’m happy about the show.”

I internally wince, but at the same time, I like his honesty.

“That’s fair. From what I understand, they didn’t exactly give you much notice.”

“Oh, I knew weeks ago.” He waves off my concern. “But we should be focused on our game. The Super Bowl is in our sights. The last thing we need is a distraction.”

My nose scrunches.I’m the distraction. At least, the production is, and I’m officially the face of it. “I promise to try and be as discreet as possible during practice and on game days. The last thing we want to do is mess things up for you. But if we get this right, it could be amazing for the team. For exposure.”

Thomas’s eyes flash my way, and I curse myself for saying the wrong thing, until he smiles. “You’re right. From now on, I’m going to embrace it.”

“Oh yeah? Does that mean you’ll let us glimpse a bit of your life outside of these walls?” I tease, comically clenching my teeth so he knows that I’m joking.

Thomas huffs out a laugh before shaking his head. “No chance. But good try.”

Hayley stands up and waves as I scan the low-key bar we agreed to meet in after work. I smile apologetically, already running behind on my first day, but she just rolls her eyes, refusing to accept my concern.

“How was it seeing Luke again?” she asks the second I’m in earshot. “Was he an ass? A gorgeous ass but an ass all the same. Did you talk? Ooh, was there a heated moment? I bet—”

“Hayley!” I cut in. “I haven’t even sat down yet.”

“You’re right. God, who am I?” She shakes her head with an appalled look on her face, making me laugh.

“We need to find you some work,” I say as a joke, because she has way too much time on her hands.

“We really do.” She nods multiple times. “I’m starting to seek out drama elsewhere.”

“You’ve got an audition next week and I know you’re going to smash it,” I say, using her words. “After that, this won’t be an issue.”

“Yes, I’m good. Anyway, how was your first day at the stadium? Was Luke an ass?”

“Isn’t he always? Although, he wasn’t completely awful.”Until the end.“And that’s worse.”

“Definitely. It means he’s planning something diabolical.”

“He’s not a cartoon villain, Hayls.”God, I’m shortening her name now… am I becoming an Aussie?

“Ugh, I need drama.” Hayley groans before laughing. “Anyway, back to Luke. Let’s hope he gets on your good side because he is definitely made for TV. That man has charisma for days.”

“I don’t want to hear that.” I comically wince. If I could make the call to keep him out of the show altogether, I would.

“Sorry.” She laughs again. “But it’s true.”

“Why’d I have to go and have sex with him?” I groan and drop my head into my hands as I pretend to cry.

“Because he’s gorgeous. Maybe you should do it again.”

“What? No.” I giggle. “It’sLuke. Did we have mind-blowing sex? Yes. At least I did. But is he still at the top of my shit list? Also yes. And I can’t imagine that changing.”

“But it could be hotter with him all… ‘I hate you, but you're a goddess in bed.’” She puts on a deep gruff voice for Luke. “Andyou all ‘I hate you too, but harder…yes, there.’” Her pitch rises and I can’t help but laugh out loud.

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