Page 151 of Off Season

I’ve been thinking that I want to ask Kamryn to officially move in with me. I haven’t broached the topic yet. Given the three straight months of public rejection I’veendured, I’m a little trigger-shy on asking, but I’m going to do it at the wedding. I’m hoping she’ll be a little swept up in the emotions of the day.

I’ve gradually made space for her in my bathroom and closet, but she hasn’t noticed yet. But since Kam misses nothing, she’s probably just ignoring it, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in me.

It’s also a touchy situation because of her sister. She’s not going to want to leave her, but Kam is almost thirty. It’s time for them to learn to live apart. She might disagree, but I’ll make strong arguments and hope for the best. Despite a few bumps here and there, we’ve been pretty good at the whole boyfriend and girlfriend thing for the past three months.

I run my hand up her leg. “I’ll miss you too. I could go on a panty raid and sneak into your hotel room in the middle of the night.”

She shakes her head. “Absolutely not. Tonight and tomorrow are all about Arizona. I don’t want to steal any thunder.”

“I suppose you’re right. We’re taking Layton out tonight, but he said to keep it tame.”

She rolls her eyes. “He’s such a wet blanket.”

I nod. “Totally.”

Just then her phone rings. She rolls over to look at it. “It’s Tanner.”

“Answer it on FaceTime. I’m sure he’d love to see us Full Monty.”

She smiles as she accepts the call and switches it to video before moving the phone so that both of our naked bodies are visible on the screen.

His face appears, and then he immediately turns away and groans in malcontent. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Cover up, you two.”

We laugh as we slide under the blankets, and Kam says, “You’ve been fucking my sister for most of the last year, except that time period where you shredded her heart into a million pieces like a ruthless piece of shit. We have the same body. I don’t turn you on just a little bit?”

Tanner, who is in a business suit and sitting in his office, scrunches his face in disgust. “Not one drop. Not so much as a stirring happening for me right now. You two look nothing alike from my perspective. She’s made of sugar and spice, and you’re the bacteria that sits on the surface of an undisturbed pond.”

I’m about to get angry and tear into him, but Kam lets out a laugh. “Holy shit. That was bizarrely descriptive. I feel like you’ve considered this before.”

He deadpans. “All the fucking time. I can’t believe I’m being saddled with managing your modeling career.”

She shrugs. “You didn’t have to say yes.”

He looks at me and raises one of his dark eyebrows. “Cruz begged me.”

I nod. “That’s true. I did.” He was occasionally helping Kam with endorsements over the past year, but when things exploded for her three months ago, she needed real representation. I told him he was the only person I trusted.

Despite the fact that Bailey and Tanner have been sleeping together once or twice a week for months as pure fuck buddies, things between Tanner and Kamryn remain ice-cold. Her outgoing personality annoys him, and his perceived treatment of her sister makes him public enemy number one to her, but they have an aligned interest in her career. She needs him to negotiate her contracts, and even though he doesn’t care for her, she’s bringing him a nice agent fee, though I think he’s doing it because I asked and because Bailey wants him to represent Kam.

Tanner looks down and starts flipping through papers. “Between you, Arizona, and Sulley, I’m drowning in all thisshit. I really need to find someone to head up my women’s division.”

My chin drops. “You still haven’t found anyone?” I know he’s been interviewing women for at least six months.

He sighs as he looks at me. “No. I’m steadfast on it being a woman. I just haven’t found the right one. I won’t hire the wrong one just to fill a spot. The job is too important for that.” Looking back down, he says, “Kamryn, I’ve been reviewing your new offer from Hubba Bubba.” Kam always chews grape Hubba Bubba gum on the field, and she did a small campaign for them last year. They now want her as their top spokesperson. “They want to photograph you at a vineyard.”

She nods. “Okay. That sounds fun. What’s the big deal?”

“The grape season in Napa Valley is basically over. You need to get out to California right away, as in next week, before all the grapes are gone.”

She shrugs. “That’s fine. Make sure you put in language to protect me in case of emergency. I want a termination clause completely at my discretion. You never know what could happen. You fucked over Arizona when you didn’t put that in her contract last year, and she got stuck on a two-month shoot she didn’t want to go to. You’re a shitty agent.”

He narrows his eyes at her. “I didn’t negotiate that contract for her, Miss Know It All. In fact, I heavily advised her to get counsel because of that clause, and she didn’t listen to me. And why do you know that term? Are you a fucking lawyer now?”

She doesn’t even flinch at the fact that he inadvertently hit the nail on the head. “No, but I’m smarter than you.” She mumbles, “It doesn’t take much.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “God help me. You’re a nightmare.” He grits out. “I will tighten up the wording in that paragraph. Anything else, princess?”

“Since you’re asking, I’d love it if you were to break up with my sister. We can try to avoid you shattering her heart again, which we both know is inevitable.”

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