Page 42 of Vital Blindside

“Thank you for giving me just the ammunition I need the next time he tries to rile me up. I want to say that I owe you one now, but I actually made Tyler call you today in hopes of sooomehow prying a favour of sorts out of you.”

My interest piques. “Oh? Gracie Bateman asking little old me for a favour? This must be good.”

She laughs. “Well, actually, it’s more of a plea than a favour.”

“Well, come on. I’m not getting any younger.” Quite the opposite, really.

“You know, with my birthday party coming up this weekend and me turning thirty and all, I was really hoping that I would get to meet this Scarlett woman. For personal reasons, obviously,” she rushes out, breathless by the end of her ramble.

“Personal reasons?” I chuckle. The only thing personal in that request was in regards to my own personal life. There’s only one person who would have gushed to my friends all about my relationship—or lack thereof—with Scarlett, and he is in for a hefty water gun soaking once I get home today. “Let me guess. Cooper?”

A beat of silence before a burst of Gracie’s voice scrapes my eardrum. “Maybe. But that doesn’t matter! What matters is that you bring her to my party. I promise not to bombard her or scare her away. Just imagine how much fun she’ll have on a private yacht, on the Pacific Ocean, under the delicious rays of the summer sun.”

I run a hand over the top of my head and swallow the knot in my throat. Would I want Scarlett to come meet my friends? Absolutely. But Cooper is already my plus one, and bringing the both of them together smells a lot like a set-up. Do I want to put them in a position where they can really get to know each other? Where Cooper can start building a relationship with someone who might not be around long term?

“It’s not as simple as that, Gray. Cooper will be there.”

She scoffs. “And what’s so bad about that? From what he told Maddox, he seems to really like her.”

Ah, so it was gossip with Oakley and Ava’s oldest spawn, then. That can only mean that his parents have quite the rundown as well.

“I don’t want him building a bond with anyone I’m not sure will be here for a long time. The last thing he needs is to feel any form of abandonment again like he did with Beth. It wouldn’t be good for him,” I say. My words hang uncomfortably in the silence that follows.

Gracie softens her voice. “Those are all valid points, Adam. But what about you? Are you just supposed to be alone forever?”

I flinch. “I would prefer not to be. But Cooper comes first. You know that.”

“I know this is more Ava’s domain and we don’t really talk much about this sort of thing, but Adam, if you feel something for this woman, you owe it to yourself to explore that. Cooper wants you to be happy. We all do.”

My stomach folds in on itself. I’ve lost the ability to pretend that I don’t have feelings for Scarlett. If even my twelve-year-old son can see it, it’s too obvious that I do.

“Having feelings and actually exploring those feelings are completely different ball games.”

She sighs, sounding reluctant. “Just invite her to the party. Cooper will be busy with the kids, and it’ll be the perfect opportunity to spend more time with her in a non-intimate setting.”

“Okay.” I give in. My pulse quickens at the possibility of spending time with Scarlett. “I’ll invite her. But I’m not promising anything. She could already have plans.”

Gracie squeals. “Oh my gosh, yay! I’ll add her to the guest list just in case.”

There’s a knock on my office door that has it opening the tiniest bit. I look down at the watch on my wrist and frown at the time. Nobody should still be here.

“Hey, Gray. I gotta go. I’ll keep you posted, okay?”

“Sounds good. Take care, Adam. Love you!”

“Love you too,” I reply before hanging up and locking my phone screen. The door pushes open completely, and I go rigid when I see a mess of red curls.

Oh fuck.

16

SCARLETT

I’m heading home, nearly at the doors, when Willow comes busting into the arena. She looks around in a panic, her eyes wide and fearful. As soon as she sees me, she pivots on a pair of old, frayed sneakers and runs in my direction.

She’s a blur of tight black curls when she crashes into me and wraps her arms around my middle in a surprising hug. My muscles freeze before thawing, allowing me to hug her back.

“Willow?”

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