Page 37 of Truth or Tequila (Grand Slam 1)

Chapter Fifteen

sophie

Gary called me last night to invite me to New York with the team for the weekend. I didn’t want to go, but here I am this morning—on the team’s chartered plane—waiting for takeoff.

Most of the team’s filed by me on the way to their private area in the back of the plane, but I haven’t seen Seb yet. He texted me one more time after I left the clubhouse last night. I guess he got the hint when I didn’t text back. I haven’t heard from him since.

My conversation with Liza set off a warning bell in my head that I was losing objectivity where Seb’s concerned. I need him to leave me alone so I can get this job done and get the hell away from this team before I make any mistakes.

I’m thinking about how I can most efficiently do that when I see Seb walk onto the plane followed, as always, by Joe. Seb’s wearing jeans, a white, button-up dress shirt, and a blue, herringbone blazer. His hair’s a little damp and slicked back, like he just washed it. There’s one little curl that’s escaped onto his forehead. He has a pair of aviator sunglasses hanging from the front of his shirt. He looks like he should be walking down a runway in Milan. If I weren’t already sitting, I think I would faint just from looking at him.

After Seb hands his jacket to the flight attendant, he surveys the front cabin until he sees me. When his eyes lock with mine, I duck down behind the seat to hide from him—like a complete idiot. I grab earbuds out of my bag. Just as I get them in, I see Seb out of the corner of my eye, stopping at my seat. I’m desperately trying to ignore him by scrolling through the song library on my phone.

I act like I don’t hear him say my name twice. He finally taps my arm. I look up, acting surprised. “Oh, hey,” I say, taking an earbud out.

“Oh, hey,” he says, smiling. “I asked if I could sit with you.”

“Uh.” It’s all I can think to say. I’m usually a lot smoother than this, especially in business, but he’s got me so flustered.

He sits down. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Joe looks from him to me. He glares at me for a second before he heads to the back.

I start to put my earbud back in, but Seb catches my hand and lowers it. “You want to tell me what’s changed in the last twenty-four hours?”

“What? What do you mean?” I can’t hold his stare. “Nothing’s changed.”

“You’re a really bad liar.” I look up at him again. His eyes aren’t blinking.

“Look, Seb,” I say, taking a quick breath. “I told you the first day that I can’t have relationships with my clients—or their employees.”

“I’m trying to be your friend—nothing more.”

I raise my eyebrows and tilt my head. “You’re a really bad liar, too.”

He nods and laughs. “Yeah, I guess I am, but—”

My phone rings. It’s Roman. He tried to call me once already this morning. He worries if I don’t answer.

“Hold on,” I say to Seb as I put my earbud back in and answer. “Hey. I can’t talk long. I’m on a plane, getting ready to take off.”

“Are you with the team?”

“Yeah.”

“How’s that going?”

“Fine.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Sophia!” he yells. “Say the word pineapple if you’re being held against your will.”

“I’m not being held against my will,” I whisper. I hear Seb laugh beside me.

“Then do you want to maybe answer me with more than one word at a time?” Roman’s voice lowers when he’s getting concerned. It’s left his usual baritone range and is quickly falling deep into a bass. “And why are you whispering? And your voice sounds shaky? What’s wrong?”

---