Page 81 of Mad Rivals
I twist my lips as I pretend to think it over. “What about accommodations?”
“I don’t love the idea of you living out of a hotel, but Oliver has some resources for home rentals if it comes to that. My initial thought was getting you a hotel at first, allowing you to get your feet under you, and then you can decide how much time you think you’ll need. We could rent a place for a month or for theyear, and then you’ll have a home base for when you’re going back and forth. VBC would pick up the cost, obviously.”
I refrain from mentioning that I in fact already have accommodations in town. Instead, I say, “That’s fine. Let’s start with a hotel and go from there.”
“So you’ll do it?” he asks.
Fuck yeah I’ll do it. I think about adding Clem to my list of demands, but she’s happy here.
I don’t know how happy she’ll be staying with my parents while I’m not there, but she’s going on a date with Lance tonight, and I’ll be commuting back and forth anyway.
We’ll still see each other plenty.
Instead of saying any of that, I say, “If it’s what you need me to do, then that’s what I’ll do.”
He tilts his head as he studies me, and then he nods. “Fine. I’ll need you to work out details today for what your schedule will look like based on your SCS timelines, and I’ll need you in California by Tuesday.”
Hell, I can be there tonight if that’s what he wants. I nod. “I’ll get started on it now.” I move to stand, but his voice stills me.
“One more thing, Kennedy.”
I glance up at my father.
“The Bradley boy,” he says, and my heart stutters in my chest. “Stay away from him. He’s nothing but trouble.”
I press my lips together and nod. I can’t find it in me to reply with words because I don’t want to tell a lie.
But the very last thing I plan to do is stay away from the Bradley boy.
CHAPTER 33: Kennedy Van Buren
The Best Luck
I work my ass off all morning to come up with some sort of travel schedule that might work around SCS, but the fact that the person I’ll need to touch base with the most on the project will essentially be my roommate makes things a bit easier.
I text Clem before lunchtime.
Me:I’ve got big news. Can you do lunch?
Clem:If I couldn’t, I’d cancel just to hear your big news.
My heart warms. She really is the best friend.
We make a plan to meet at twelve, and we head down to our favorite sandwich shop. After we order and we find a table, she finally asks, “When are you planning to spill this news, VB?”
I laugh. “My dad wants me spending more time in the LA office.”
Her jaw drops. “So you’ll be an hour away from the pro football star who just moved there?”
“Forty minutes with light traffic,” I correct, and she grins. “But since he basically told me I’m staying with him when I’m in town, it’ll be inches.”
“You really have the best luck out of anyone I know, you know that? First the hot football star bumps into you at Starbucks, and now you’ll be taking his inches in as his roommate.”
My cheeks flush, but I laugh. “All nine of them.”
“Nine? Jeez Louise, Kenny. That’s…”
“Big,” I say dreamily.
