Page 162 of Off Camera
We hang up, and I down the rest of my coffee. I throw on my polo and leggings, pairing them with high top sneakers and a white ribbon in my hair. I shove my laptop and second phone in my bag, adding a water bottle to the mix and a hat too.
Ninety minutes later, I’m parking at FedEx Field and jumping out of the car I bought last year. I wave hello to Bart, one of the security guards, and he tips an imaginary hat my way.
“Morning, Miss Avery,” he says. “What’s the prediction today?”
“Thunderhawks by fourteen.” I sling my bag over my shoulder and grin. “And you can tell my other half I said that.”
He laughs and swipes his keycard, giving me access to the tunnel. “If I see him, I’ll make sure to pass it along.”
With another wave, I head down the hall to the visitors’ media room. I stop to say hello to a couple of other Thunderhawks team members then set up my computer at one of the long tables next to our sideline reporter.
Just as I’m about to sit down, I notice another rubber duck in my chair. I laugh and pick it up, the wordyouwritten on the bottom. I take another picture and send it to Reid, adding a half dozen question marks to the message.
“Good morning,” Maven sings. She stands in the entryway of the room and throws a rubber duck my way. “I was told to give you this.”
“What the hell is going on?” I glance at the underside of the third one, frowning when I see the wordme.
“I don’t know. Reid said I had to give it to you or face the consequences. I do not need him hacking into my laptop. There are way too many incriminating photos on there.”
“Where is he?”
“He and Dallas disappeared a while ago, and they wouldn’t tell me where they were going. I love that the boys still have secrets.”
“You want to head to the field for a bit?”
“Sure.” She smiles and hugs me when I get close to her. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Because the NFL and NHL schedules are a pain in my ass.” I squeeze her tight. “Are you free for dinner this week? Emmy and June too.”
“I’d love that.” Maven tugs on my elbow and leads me down the hall. “How is your last season in the NFL going?”
I smile at her question. “Good. I love working for the Thunderhawks, but it’s time for a change.”
Switching leagues is the best thing for my relationship with Reid, too. We’re putting space between our personal and professional lives. He got promoted to head of marketing with the Titans, and when I transition to the NBA, I’m not the one responsible for filming social media content. It also gives us more free time, which is exactly what we need.
“I’m so proud of you. And I’m so happy my friends are together,” she gushes, and I laugh.
“Feels like yesterday I was wishing an anvil would fall on his head. Now look at me: I love that man too much.”
“And he loves you back. I’ve never seen a man so down bad. I swear he’s like a little puppy dog with you.”
“I haven’t dated someone who’s been—what the hell?” I stop short of the field. There’s another duck sitting on the fifty-yard line, and I charge toward it, the wordwillscribbled on the bottom.
I call Reid, tapping my foot while the phone rings.
“Hey, Ave,” he says, out of breath. “What’s up, baby?”
“What is going on with these ducks? Seriously. I’m afraid to know where else you’re hiding them.”
“Which one did you find?”
“Will. I have you, me, will and a question mark. Oh, for fuck’s sake. You want to have a threesome, don’t you? You could’ve just asked.”
“You know I don’t like to share.”
“Who is Will?” I ask. “Do I know a Will? Are you signing a Will? Arewesigning a Will?”
“Don’t know. Guess you’ll find out.”
