Page 17 of High Notes & Hail Marys

He lets out a low whistle. “I could get you one’na my jerseys if you want, and you could sleep in that. Long as you promised not to wear nothin’ else underneath.”

Gabi blushes.

GoGo unhands you and sidles up to Gabi. Leans down to nudge her shoulder with one jacked upper arm. “Whaddya say, pretty lady? Some of us are going somewhere to watch the late game. Eat some food, have some drinks. Wanna come? We’ll see if I can turn you into a Cyclones fan. We can play trivia. Bet you win.”

Gabrielle makes a half-turn and looks at Sterling beseechingly. “Is that okay? I know you made us dinner reservations. I don’t want to be rude.”

“No, have fun.” Sterling wraps his arm around yours. “I got us a table at The Hedge. I figured you’d be hungry after the game. I didn’t ask. Is that okay?”

Just as you nod, Noemi speaks up. “Actually, Ster, I’m beat. I was thinking of grabbing a car back to the hotel to take a nap.”

Sterling looks more than a little disappointed, so you rib him. “Man, that sucks. I guess you’re gonna have to have dinner with meall by yourself.”

He smiles, wrinkling the corners of his eyes. “Oh, god. What a pity.”

You all walk out together, GoGo and Gabi practically joined at the hip, and Noemi walking alongside Sterling. She doesn’t say much, but she answers politely when you ask her questions. Your heart goes out to her: she seems like an introvert, and it must be a special kind of Hell being the sibling of one of the most famous people in the world. They seem close. You make it your personal mission in life to crack her shell.

Out back, GoGo hands Gabi into a G-Wagon. You have to struggle not to roll your eyes. Noemi gets into a Town Car, which is unmistakably part of Sterling’s fleet, after hugging her brother and telling you nicely that she’s glad to have met you.

Then you walk Sterling to your ride. He emits an impressed whistle.

“You actually take that thing out of the garage?” he asks.

You can’t help your grin. The ‘66 Chevelle two-seater is one of the few toys you’ve allowed yourself, but, man—it’s a nice one. Blood-red with brown, tufted interior, and you’ve made sure thatyour detailer washed, waxed, and shined it to a high gloss, every inch of paint and chrome gleaming in the afternoon sun.

You lead Sterling around to the passenger side, where you open his door for him and let him in.

“Such a gentleman,” he says.

“You dead-set on The Hedge?” you call, walking around the front of the car.

“Why?”

“It’s super high-profile. Influencers and wannabes everywhere. Fancy and expensive, but the food’s not even that good.”

Sterling shrugs. “My PA suggested it. I had no clue about the Miami hotspots.”

“I can show you better. I know a great little place. Very exclusive. Nothing flashy, but pretty damn comfortable. Best burgers in the city.”

The side of his mouth quirks. “It wouldn’t happen to be your condo, would it?”

“How did you guess?”

As you wind through the back roads behind the stadium, Sterling’s happy face goes pensive.

“Everything okay?” you ask.

“Yeah.” A beat. “Your teammate. GoGo. Is he a goodguy?”

You sigh. “He’s a fame-greedy pig. Kind of a loudmouth. Super talented, but knows it. Not my favorite person, honestly.”

Sterling frowns. “Gabi’s gonna be okay, though, right?”

You are looking ahead of you, watching carefully for the switchbacks between the various parking lots, and trying not to hit any of the security guards patrolling the area.

“I mean, I’d like to think so? He’s a player, but I guess that’s not a crime.”

Sterling nods. “I guess. Gabi’s only twenty-two. She’s been like a little sister to me, especially after spending so much time together on tour these last few months. I know she might not look like it, but she’s kind of naive. I don’t want her getting hurt.”

---