Page 107 of Wild Catch
“I can recommend mine too,” Starr says, also panting like a dog in his thirty fifth minute of running. “He’s a cranky son of a gun, but he has ethics.”
“I don’t recommend mine,” Rivera adds with a laugh. “The old grump’s retiring any time soon, so I’ll be on the market for a new one too.”
Kaplan calls again. This time I let it ring for a good moment longer, click on the green button and when the faint sound of his tinny voice comes up, I hang up.
“Remind me never to incite your petty side.” Rivera clicks his tongue.
Petty? I snort. That falls short. I’m litigious, baby.
The reason Kaplan is calling non-stop is because he violated the non-disclosure clause of our contract and my lawyer has already reached out to him. I’m not just on the hunt for a new agent, but also for everything Kaplan owns or cares about. That’s what he gets after babbling my shit to the worst possible person.
I wonder if it would’ve made a difference at all if I’d been clearer with Kaplan about why I’m not close with my relatives, or if he would’ve betrayed me anyway. I’ve never wanted to run that risk with him or anyone in my life, but even that is all jumbled up.
Rose knows everything. Or almost everything. She doesn’t know about the scars that my tattoos cover up or about the claustrophobia and the panic attacks. But she knows more about my parents and my brother than I ever even told Kaplan. And even though she’s thankfully not involved with meandthere’s no contract binding us, she still hasn’t betrayed my confidence.
Kaplan has no excuse. I shouldn’t have had to tell him my whole sob story for him to uphold our contract.
“I’m still curious about something, though,” the pitcher mumbles, side-eying me. “You confirmed that you were planning a trade but now you’re staying. What about Rose, though?”
I tense and ask through gritted teeth, “What about her?”
“Is you dating her really a publicity stunt?”
Shit. I can feel all their eyes on me. Maybe even the whole gym’s attention.
It’s rest day before a home series and at least half of the team is taking it easy, training at home or joining in late. But for three days I’ve been the center of attention and I hate it. I can’t wait for someone else to do something ridiculous soon and hog all the limelight.
I huff hard enough for the lone strand of hair sticking to my face to fly. “Yeah…”
“What?”
“No way!”
“But you two look like, so in love.” Machado scrunches up his face in confusion. “Even my daughter asked me why can’t I have what you two have.”
I cringe. “We don’t have anything. It’s all an act.”
“My ass,” Starr declares boldly. “I recognize those slobbery looks on y’all’s faces because that’s the way I look at Hope myself.”
“Can confirm.” Rivera nods. “You look just as done for when you glance at Rose as Cade does with Hope.”
“I do not.” I frown at them in turns, but they’re just amused. “Seriously, I don’t. There’s nothing going on.”
“Let’s test it then.” Machado points to the opposite side.
We all turn right as Rose struts into the place with a smile that’s bigger and more blinding than the billboards at Times Square. My feet stumble and I have to catch myself by grabbing the handrails before I lose all my dental work. The jerks around me notice right away and start snickering like this is middle school.
“Good morning, Wildlings.” Rose puts her hands on her hips and I notice that she’s wearing some short leggings. Or shorts. I don’t know what they are, but they’re tight, above her knee, and show off her amazing hips. “I’ve been sent down by my boss to take some thirst traps. Who volunteers?”
“Me!” One of the guys by the weights rack raises his hand.
“No, me!”
“Pick me!”
“You guys, Kim has dibs,” Rivera says over the commotion.
But then one of our teammates fires back with, “No, he doesn’t. He’s not really Rosie’s boyfriend.”
