Page 23 of What If I Hate You
“Warn you about who? Rivers?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “You’re failing me left and right here, bro.”
He lowers his phone to his lap and narrows his eyes. “How so?”
“First of all, you failed to tell me how relentless she is in the press room. Had I known she was going to rip me a new asshole over one bad night, I could’ve been better prepared to defend myself, and secondly, there’s no way you didn’t know she was coming with the team today.” I huff. “I mean a little heads up would’ve been nice, don’t you think?”
Ledger chuckles and pats my leg. “Sorry big guy. She’s always been nice to me in the press room. Very complimentary. And I did know she was coming today but watching you squirm is way more fun than warning you ahead of time.”
I slump back in my chair. “Fuck you, Dayne.”
He laughs. He fucking laughs. “I told Marlee you’d be a mess all morning. She owes me lunch.”
Dirty unrepentant asshole.
I scowl but let it go. Rivers is all business as she drops her bag beside the little cluster of women traveling with the team, already deep in conversation with Marlee, Layken, and Ella. I try not to stare, but I can’t help tracking the line of Blakely’s calves, the curve of her cheek when she laughs at something Marlee says. There’s a weird relief in seeing her like this. Off-duty and a little unguarded. Maybe she’s not a cyborg, after all.
I resort to my phone, check my email for any word from the vet clinic keeping Killer for a few days to make sure he’s got all he needs, check the latest league stats, and do an admirable job of pretending not to notice her until Harrison sidles up and nudges me with his elbow. “You gonna say hi, or just eye-fuck her into the TSA database?”
I flick my eyes up at Harrison, who’s rocking a designer suit that undoubtedly cost him more than I paid for my used car.
“If I wanted to talk to her, I’d talk to her,” I mutter.
“Sure,” he replies, not looking up. “But you don’t want to, because then you might have to admit she’s smarter, funnier, and objectively better looking than you.” He pauses and then shrugs with a shit-eating grin. “But hey, denial is a valid lifestyle. You do you, Teddy Bear.”
“Don’t call me Teddy Bear.”
Fuck. He’s right on all accounts.
“Aww.” Ledger, still smirking, cocks his head. “What’s the matter? You don’t want the big boss lady to see you’re just a big softie under all…this.” He gestures to my entire body.
My hands tighten around my phone, thumb accidentally mashing the screen so hard my team lineup disappears. “I just don’t need the aggravation. I’d like to get through this road series without becoming a meme again if I can help it.”
Harrison shrugs. “Then next time, maybe don’t pick a fight with someone who brings a bazooka to a water gun battle.”
Our boarding group finally gets called and the team jumps to their feet in perfect choreography. We move like a pack, even the rookies falling into the mix. We’re all on the plane tossing our bags into our seats when Blakely steps inside, her laptop held tightly to her chest and her tiny suitcase rolling in front of her.
“Rivers!” Griffin cheers as she slowly steps through the aisle. “Welcome to the team flight! You want an interview?”
She eyes Griffin’s outfit and raises a teasing brow. “You didn’t tell me this was a slumber party, Ollenberg. I would’ve dressed for the occasion.”
Hell, now she has me wondering what she would wear for a slumber party.
Matching sleep set?
Silky little negligée?
Does she sleep naked?
Wonder what she would look like in nothing but a Stars t-shirt with my name on the back.
“Oh, so you like my new pajama pants?” Griffin pulls at his newest pair of sleep pants that have sleeping cats all over them. “My brother loved them and sent them to me. He loves cats. I promised him I’d wear them just for him.”
Blakely’s head tilts and a sincere smile spreads across her lips.
Fuck. She’s pretty when she smiles.
Hell, she’s pretty even when she doesn’t smile.
