Page 56 of Worth the Risk

My attention turns back to her. “Yes.”

“Care to elaborate? Because they will only send me back here tomorrow.” Her face is pleading.

“There is someone in my life, so yes, Piper will be with me.”

The thing about aggravation is it shoots determination through me and sends me on a direct path to what I want. I know April will figure everything out soon, and that means that Piper and I can continue to take steps, and I want nothing more than to have Piper by my side.

“That is such an adorable name. Can I have a last name, social handles, and any dietary restrictions?” Kimberly returns to business mode.

“Nope. How about we keep it easy.”

Kimberly stomps her foot in slight frustration. “You know Smith’s wife started posting several times a day about a day in the life of a football wife, often taking pictures and videos when she visits him at practice, videos of what she cooks him for breakfast before training, those kinds of things. She gained a hundred thousand followers in one week. Fans love that stuff.”

I hold my hand up. “No disrespect to Smith’s wife, but Piper is not that kind of woman.” Piper carries herself with a sort of demeanor that my parents would call classy, yet behind closed doors, she’s the best kind of dirty.

Kimberly holds up a finger. “One post. One picture when she visits you at training. Give us something.”

“Can we focus on my guys again, please? What’s happening to that whole football-players-with-puppies charity event? I mean, sign me up for that. It’s puppies,” I tell her half-heartedly.

“Fine. I get the hint.”

“Good. Now I need to get back to coaching.” I throw a thumb over my shoulder and walk back to centerfield.

I shake my head. As much as Kimberly’s suggestions are ridiculous, I can’t help but smile at the idea of everyone knowing who my girl is, making it clear Piper is off-limits and I take complete claim for her. And hot damn, I’m sure we would blow up the marketing department’s social media quota.

* * *

My sister Catherinewalks into my office at the training facility that is my home for most hours of the day as we prepare for the new season. It’s a mess at this moment due to having extra screens up so I can compare plays and footage. She was in the area to collect intel for one of her depositions and called if she could stop by, and I have an afternoon break that I don’t normally take.

But this is perfect timing, as I was going to call her anyway to share the latest news in my life.

“Hey, big sis,” I greet her with a hug.

She hugs me back. “Hey, trouble.” She sits on a chair in front of my desk while I head in the direction of my small fridge

She admires the new photo from Drew’s wedding, a photo of me and the happy couple. “Good photo. He’s settling into married life? Or have you not seen him yet since the wedding?”

“I saw him the other week when he delivered a shelf he made.”

I bring her a sparkling water then slide my phone off the desk, unlock my screen, and show her the photo of Drew’s latest creation.

Catherine examines the screen. “It’s beautiful. I wonder if he could make me one.”

I admire the woodwork in the photo and smile at the fact that Piper left a creepy lobster statue on top of a book. She said it brings luck, and she had it in her car as she was moving things from her office to storage.

“You know he will.”

She taps the screen with her nail. “Send me this photo so I have an idea of the measurements.” Catherine makes herself at home and opens her bottle of water. “I won’t stay long, just wanted to quickly chat in person,” she calls out.

I head behind my desk and let out a sigh of relaxation because it’s the first moment of the day that I don’t need to discuss football.

“April and Jeff broke off their engagement,” she explains.

I ditch my seat and head to my coffee machine on the side table and hit the button for a cup of caffeine that now seems like nirvana since we are heading straight into a serious conversation. “I know.”

“How? She only just told me last night.”

Grabbing my cup, I have no intention to lie to my sister. “Piper told me.”

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