Page 16 of Play the Last Track
“No. He needs a fake girlfriend to help show the team he can be dependable again. To show he’s in a stable relationship and therefore stable in his home life. He’s in a contract year. If hedoesn’t prove it to them, they’re going to release him.” Ivy nods like I should have known all this, and it should make sense to me. “That’s where you come in. You’d be his fake girlfriend, help him show the team he’s fine, and then at the end of the season, after he signs his contract, you guys can break up.”
“That’s insane.”
Ivy giggles. “That’s what Flynn said.”
“Seriously, though, a fake girlfriend? That kind of stuff is romance novel worthy. It doesn’t happen in real life,” I say.
“Apparently, it does. Justin and Hailey. Tom and Zendaya. Kylie and Tim—”
“No way. Absolutely not. There is no way that Kylie and Timothée are faking it.” I cuddle my wine close to my chest and shake my head furiously. “Their chemistry is unmatched.”
“Well, apparently it’s how they started, but now they’re the real thing.” Ivy nods. “I agree. I love them together.”
“He’s so cute. And she deserves a guy like him. The love loudly kind.” I sigh, ignoring the dull stabbing pain in my chest.
“Agreed.” She holds up her glass, and I clink mine against it. She takes a sip and eyes me over the rim. “Please. Will you please agree to help Flynn?”
I close my eyes and lean back into the couch cushions. Agree to help him? What does that even mean? I don’t want a front row seat to his flirting with other women. I’ve had one and I hated it. And, I don’t want to get sucked back into his web of charm, that sexual pull.
“I can’t, Ives. It’s too … it’s just not a good idea.”
“Okay,” Ivy says, taking a deep breath. She leans over to set her wine glass on the coffee table before taking mine from my hands and placing it down next to hers. She sits up on her knees and takesmy hands in hers. “I know whatever happened between the two of you in Italy rattled you—”
Railed me, more like.
“—but I am begging you to consider it. You can get out of your parents’ house while also still saving money. You will be around the corner from me, and we can hang out, like,all the time, and you can come to all the games with me. Even the ones I was going to travel to this year. Plus, Flynn is like a brother to Scott. I know he doesn’t show his emotions all the time, but he would be devastated if Flynn got released.”
“Your boyfriend is a giant, soft teddy bear. I hope you know that.” I sigh and look at Ivy. She’s using her best puppy dog eyes and practically begging me with her expression.
“Urgh, fine,” I groan. “I will talk to him. Only talk. I am not agreeing to anything—”
“Thank you, thank you,thank you,” Ivy squeals, falling forward and onto me for a hug. I laugh and wrap my arms around her.
“You have to promise me that next time we go away, I can sit next to you on the flight.”
She grins. “Deal.”
“Really? That’s going to fly with the big guy?”
“I’ll bribe him with airplane sex. Easy.”
I scrunch up my nose, laughing. “Gross.”
***
The front of Flynn’s brownstone is so clean. Where Ivy’s house is covered in vines and weathered bricks, Flynn’s is so … new.There’s no greenery climbing the walls or big trees casting shadows acrossthe brick. The garden is bare, and the stony path beneath my feet is too white.
I clutch the strap of my bag as I make my way to the front door and once again, try to convince myself this is the right thing to do. Ivy made some good points. I do need to get out of my parents’ house if I am going to have a chance at figuring out what the hell I want to do with my life. And, yes, it would be nice to be closer to her rather than across town. And, obviously, the box seats to every home game would also be a bonus.
For the briefest of moments, I imagine the look on Grant’s face if he found out I was sitting in a box for the season. If he saw me at the games, on the field before and after, mingling with the players. Would he be jealous? Would he be mad?
I suck in a sharp breath and stop myself from taking another step. I shake my head and squeeze my eyes shut, saying the same mantra over and over in my head that I have been for months.
He didn’t care then, and he won’t care now. I want nothing to do with him, even if he’s changed his mind.
I say it once, twice, and a third time for good measure before allowing myself to continue on. My point was, I could see this as a chance to get myself back on my feet. If I’m not at home with the constant questions on what I’m doing or if I’ve decided, then maybe I just might have enough room to figure out whatever it is Idowant.
And, I could save some proper money. I don’t regret walking away from my relationship with Grant. It was for the best. But in doing so, I walked away with nothing, and there was no way I was planning to grovel back, asking for my share of anything in that house.
