Page 52 of Mase
I hold my hand up and cut him off. “I get the point.”
“Since when are there thirty kids in a soccer game?” Shaw asks.
Reed’s attention slices to our friend, his stare filled with venom. “Since I became head coach.”
Shaw scrunches up his nose. “Meh, Mase could bring in a bigger crowd than you, and how the hell did a kids’ soccer game become labeled as professional? Isn’t it classed as pee-wee or something?”
Reed’s spine straightens. “I’m producing prospective professional soccer players. It’s a big thing in Europe.” He waves his hand around the garden.
Shaw and I burst into fits of laughter that have Reed scowling in our direction.
“Ree-Ree, I need you!” Eleanor squeals, making my ears ring with her high-pitched voice.
“Oh please, God no. Shaw?” Reed questions, with panic coating his face. The poor guy’s chest is already heaving. How the hell a cute-as-fuck little three-year-old can have this effect on him, I’ll never understand.
“Eleanor, stop!” Shaw’s firm voice stops Eleanor in her tracks. “Go back inside to mamma.” He points in the direction of the house.
Her bottom lip quivers, and I step forward and kneel to her level. “Eleanor, honey. Your mamma needs help with Bubbles. Can you go inside and take care of her? She’s a little sick and needs to rest.”
Shaw’s eyes dart to Reed’s, and he mouths,Sick?
“Okay, Mase.” She nods and steels her shoulders, her bottom lip still quivering and making her look all the more adorable.
“That’s a big girl. There’s ice cream in the freezer. Tell your mamma.”
“I will!” She runs off toward the mansion with an excited squeal, and you wouldn’t know that seconds ago she was having a meltdown.
“Thank fuck. My child social battery has died.” Reed drops down on the couch dramatically, then grabs his beer and proceeds to chug it, making my lip twitch.
Reed rolls his head toward me. “I can’t stay here tonight; you realize that, don’t you?”
I search his face. Why the hell would I want him to stay here?
“I booked us the house next door. It has been cleaned to my specification. They filled the refrigerator with my organic shit, and I don’t have to endure Eleanor for the rest of the night,” Reed says, uncaring that her father is right next to him.
“Now that we know you’re okay, I’m going to book us a hotel near Disney.” Shaw smiles broadly.
Reed shudders. “Better you than me.”
“Well”—I shift in my chair—“I was going to ask you guys to help me with something.”
They both sit forward, eyes narrowed, and I sit straighter, explaining my plan.
We’ve spent the last hour discussing what I have planned for Summer, and now I’m on to my next plan.
“So you know I went looking at potential property to expand STORM Enterprises?” I tell the guys.
“Not more work. Not yet,” Reed grumbles.
I give him a swift kick. “Shut the fuck up and listen.”
“Go on,” Shaw says, eyeing me closely. The excitement is already sparking in his eyes; he always did love a challenge.
“Well, I didn’t find anything. But Trav here”—I slap Trav’s shoulder—“has the perfect business idea, along with a location.” Shaw glances at the kid, and I can see what he’s thinking. He’s already dismissing him. Well, screw that. Everyone deserves a chance, and my protective streak has come out for him tenfold. Besides, this kid has potential in waves. “I’ve looked his plan over, and I’m telling you now, we’re going to be interested.” I squeeze Trav’s shoulder with pride.
“Who else is going to work over here? Because I’m not moving to Los Angeles; I have a soccer club to run.” Reed crosses his arms over his chest, and I swear he’s pouting.
“What about Isaac?”
