Page 59 of Fair Play
“Athena,” I warn. “Don’t. You know Bodi will have a fit if he finds out something is going on.”
“But thereissomething going on. More than kissing.”
“What happens if I say yes?” I ask carefully.
She must sense that I’m serious because her tone softens. “That would make me super happy. Why don’t you sound happy? Because of Bodi?”
“Well, yeah. Not to mention the fact that Rome could get traded at any time. Or that he’ll be mad if you let on that youknow. I mean, everything is super new. We haven’t even had sex yet.” That’s partly true. Oral isn’t sex-sex, right? Probably a distinction I don’t want to delve into too deeply, but it works for this conversation.
“You haven’t done the deed?” She sounds both surprised and curious. “Any particular reason?”
“Because we’re never alone?” I laugh. “And last night he was just too sore.”
“Oh. Well, if you need a place to do it, you can come to my apartment when I’m at work.”
“I think we’ll figure it out,” I say quickly. “He wouldn’t want to involve you, and honestly, we’re trying to go slow.” Also true but not with regard to sex. The slow part is everything else. I have no doubt we’re going to be fucking like bunnies until Bodi gets back from this trip. I hope so anyway.
“Slow is better than rushing in,” she says. “And I won’t say anything. I promise.”
“Especially not to your mom or sister,” I say firmly. “Please don’t screw this up for us. There’s so much at stake.”
She sighs dramatically. “Fi-ine. I won’t. Geez. You take the fun out of everything.”
I laugh. “I have to go. We’ll talk soon.”
“Bye!”
I disconnect, gather my things, and walk into the diner. I’m early because I wanted to eat something but now I’m in search of Nita.
“Is Nita around?” I ask the daytime bartender, Greg.
“She’s in her office.” He motions with his head, and I hurry in that direction.
I knock on the door and wait for her to acknowledge me. She looks up with a smile. “Hey, Billie. What’s up?”
“Do you have a few minutes?”
“A few. Is anything wrong?”
“No, nothing like that.” I close the door behind me. “I have a project to do for school and I was hoping you could help me.”
“I can try—what’s the class?”
“Analyses of International Finance.”
Her eyes light up. “Ooh, one of my favorites! Hit me.”
I explain about the project. “So I would need some information on the finances of the diner, ballpark numbers are fine, and maybe a little help on how to research everything you’d have to do if you were actually going to expand the business into, say, Canada.”
“Toronto would be a great city for another restaurant,” she muses. “And the project sounds like fun. I’d love to help. Hell, I’d love to take the class for you. How about I do that and you run the restaurant?”
I know she’s joking, but for some reason, that excites me. “That would be awesome!” I say, chuckling. “Honestly, way more fun than school. I enjoy school but this semester is basically all projects and papers, and I’m floundering a little.”
“Why?”
“Well, mostly because I don’t know what I want to do with my very generic business degree. Do I want to stay in school and finish my MBA? Do I get an entry-level job somewhere, working nine to five, and starting the grind of the rest of my life at twenty-two?” I haven’t vocalized my trepidation about doing that before now and it feels like a huge relief to get it out.
“Have you talked to a counselor or any kind of recruiter about this?” she asks softly.
