Page 41 of Unrivaled

So, pregame nap time. Oops. “Did you pick this guy on purpose?” Grady hissed. He and Max had gone through the options together before settling on Chad. “He’s awful.”

“Armstrong?” Yeah, Max had definitely been asleep. “Are you calling me while you’re on a date?”

“I’m calling you to ask how I get out of it!” Leaving Tony on the patio was one thing. They were in a fancy restaurant. Grady couldn’t just walk out. Could he?

“It’s that bad?”

“He’s sent back everything he ordered,” Grady said. “He says it’s because if he keeps our server busy, she’ll pay more attention to us and we’ll get better service.”

For several seconds Max didn’t reply. Had he fallen asleep again? “Max?”

“I’m here,” Max said. “Sorry. The first five minutes after waking up aren’t my sharpest. Where are you? Dinner?”

“Yeah. I faked a bathroom break.”

Max’s laugh sounded invitingly sleepy. “A classic. Okay. First you’re going to find your server, explain what’s happening, and pay the bill. Make sure to tip.”

“I mean, obviously.” Grady didn’t want to be associated with Chad’s shitty behavior.

“Right. Then you’re going to go back to the table and say you’re sorry, but something urgent came up, you took care of the bill but you have to go. Don’t make up a story, don’t elaborate. I’ll call you in seven minutes so you can pretend it’s related to your emergency and ignore any questions while you leave. Got it?”

Grady exhaled. “Got it.”

He hung up.

It took almost five minutes to square things with Quinn, their server. “No hard feelings,” she assured him as she handed back his credit card. “He’s not the first asshole to try it.”

“Doesn’t mean you should have to deal with it.” Grady signed the receipt and added a big tip to make up for Chad’s assholery. “All right. I’m going to go make an emergency exit, I guess. Wish me luck.”

“Go Firebirds!”

Then he just had to lie to Chad. Fortunately Chad had been lying his ass off all night, so Grady didn’t feel guilty. He didn’t even have to put on a show of being contrite. Hewassorry—sorry he’d agreed to go on this date.

Grady put on his best apologetic “disappointing fans who want an autograph” face. “Hey, sorry to do this to you, but something urgent came up and I’ve gotta go. I let Quinn know to box up your order. She’s going to bring it by.” Paying the bill early had the bonus of getting Chad out of Quinn’s hair before he could pull any more stunts.

Chad’s mouth opened. Grady could tell he didn’t buy the line, but he didn’t want to risk questioning Grady and finding out for sure. His fragile ego probably couldn’t take it. “Wait, what? Is everything okay?”

Right on cue, Grady’s phone rang and he picked up. “Hey, sorry, I’m leaving the restaurant now.”

“I can’t believe youhung up on meafterwaking me up from my pregame nap,” Max whined. “Talk about ungrateful.”

“Uh-huh, probably about ten minutes?” Grady replied as he waved at Chad over his shoulder. He could not get out of here fast enough. “As soon as I can, I promise.”

“Good sell, though. Is this Chad? I knew I should’ve thrown a flag on this play when I saw his name.”

Grady took a step out the door and into the sweet air of freedom. “Some of my best friends are Chads.”

Max laughed. “Seriously, though, you owe me one for the get-out-of-date-free call. Don’t you know you’re supposed to set that up beforehand? Plus waking someone up during their pregame nap is bad luck.”

“Why’d you have your ringer on, then?”

“Even professional nappers make mistakes sometimes.”

“Anyway, you don’t need luck.” Grady unlocked his car and slid behind the wheel. The car picked up the phone call and transferred him to hands-free. “You play for the best team in the league.”

“Provided we all get enoughsleep,” Max agreed. “Which I’m currently not. So I think you can make it up to me.”

His voice still sounded rough with sleep, but now there was a deliberate innuendo to it. Grady swallowed as he put his car in gear. “What did you have in mind?”

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