Page 285 of Heartache Duet

He licks his lips, his eyes still questioning.

“And I’ll give you an advance.”

“What?”

I nod. “To buy your girl her dream ring.”

“What?”

“And pay off your student loans.”

“What?”

“And a house for you and Amy.”

“What?”

I laugh. “Didn’t Ava tell you?”

“What?”

“I’m kind of rich now.”

“What?”

“Say something else.”

“No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“You don’t want to be my agent?”

“Connor,” he deadpans, his hands going to his head. “My mind is blowing up right now. I can’t even comprehend the fact that youwantme to be your agent, let alone the fact that you’re somehow rich enough to—wait, did you take money from someone, because the NCAA—”

“No,” I cut in. “It’s a long story, but trust me, I can do what I’m offering and not feel a dent.”

“Fuck you.”

I laugh. “So?”

“It would be a loan?”

“No, it would an advance on whatever you make off of me.”

“What if I can’t make it happen?”

“Then you’re screwed,” I joke. Then add, more seriously, “You’ll make it happen, bro. I don’t know many people in this world who have more perseverance than you.”

He stares up at the moon again, cracking his knuckles.

“So?” I ask. “What do you say? You want to take on some nobody from Florida as your first client?”

He turns to me, a puff of breath leaving him. “Okay.”

I smile. “Okay.”

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