Page 58 of Fair Play
“Then why won’t you give us a chance?”
Because for once in my damn life I’m trying to do something…selfless? It’s not my M.O., but I want to be better. For myself but more for her.
“What if I get traded next week?” I ask instead.
“I don’t know,” she admits, resting her chin in her hands. “I don’t have all the answers, Rome. I just have how I feel. Only you can decide if I’m worth risking your heart again. I’m willing.”
God fucking dammit.
As I stare into her pretty blue eyes I already know I’m going to throw caution to the wind.
She’s special.
And I’m a million percent sure I’ll never find anyone like her again. There’s a huge chance she’s going to break my heart, but never touching her again, or hearing her laugh, or sitting across a breakfast table with her is unfathomable.
This time I take her hand without waiting. “We still have to keep things on the down low until the end of the season. You’re minimizing the thing with Bodi, but we both know it’s not going to be easy.”
Her eyes twinkle. “Wait—I feel like I missed a very important part of the conversation. Are we going to give this a try?”
I lean over and brush my lips across hers. “Yes.”
“Good thing you said yes. I really didn’t want to have to kick your ass before class.”
I don’t know whether to laugh or worry—because I have no doubt she would have.
And it’s kind of hot.
Chapter 21
Billie
It’shard to concentrate in class when I know my hot new boyfriend is at home. Well, he’s not actually. He’s with the team’s orthopedic surgeon finding out the extent of the groin injury and hopefully getting a treatment and rehab plan. Assuming he doesn’t need surgery. He doesn’t think so but I’m still worried.
Our breakfast conversation was confusing. We should… we shouldn’t… okay let’s do it anyway. Is that hormones talking? Were hormones responsible for the way we were all over each other last night? We didn’t even have intercourse—he was too sore—but I was no less satisfied. Hell, I was more satisfied than usual.
Which is why the finance of international corporations is boring as fuck today.
And now I have to do a big, complicated project on how current domestic businesses could have international appeal. Ugh. It’s a requirement to pass the class so I have no choice butI’m starting to wonder about getting a degree in business. There are so many things I want to do but can’t seem to zero in on anything.
“You should talk to Nita,” Athena tells me when I mention my frustration on the phone as I’m driving to work. She called to ask if Rome is really okay, and then my frustration with the assignment came up. “I bet she would let you feature the restaurant in your paper. Come up with a plan for taking it international. I mean, it doesn’t have to be global, but like, Canada or within certain resorts in the Caribbean or something.”
“Those are great ideas,” I say. “I just hate to bother her.”
“Trust me, she loves everything to do with business and finance. She’s the perfect person to talk to.”
“I’m on my way there now, so I’ll see if she has a few minutes.”
“All right.” She pauses. “And you’re sure Rome is okay?”
I chuckle. “He’s at the doctor. Do you want me to have him call you?”
“Are you going to talk to him before you get off work?”
“Sure. I talk to him all the time.” The words slip out just as I realize she set me up.
Shit.
“I see.” I can practically see her smirking. “Just how often is all the time?”
