“Here’s the situation, Ms. McLeod,” the woman says calmly. “The press is going bananas about you winning the auction. A woman no one knows, an average girl winning a date with the Beast of Edinburgh. So regardless of why you came and who actually paid for the date in the very considerate donation to the children’s charity, you will have to be the one to go on the date with Mr. James. This is the best press we’ve had access to, and I can’t let this opportunity pass us by. I will, of course, explain things to your boss.”
I open my mouth, then close it. I glance at Abbott who is standing at the end of the table, big beefy forearms crossed over his chest. He’s looking very smug and very pleased with himself.
I shake my head.
“I cannot go out with him.”
“Are you married?” the woman asks. “Or dating someone?”
“Well, no.”
“Then it’s settled,” he barks. “Sign the papers.” Then he turns and storms from the room.
“Does he always do that?” I ask when he’s gone.
“Shout orders and leave? Yes. And I don’t always follow his instructions because he’s not my boss, but in this particular situation, you do, in fact, have to sign the papers. I’ll also need all of your contact information, as well as how I can get in touch with Ms. Wilde.”
chaptertwenty-three
From the websiteGossipLane.com
Remember that delicious grande latte of gossip I shared with you last week about Sabrina Wilde setting a thirst trap for Abbott James? Well, this morning I have a dollap of rich whipped cream for you to add on top.
James, as the newest member of the Austin Bats, participated in a bachelor auction this weekend benefitting The Hart Pediatric Diabetes Foundation. After the obvious interest Sabrina Wilde has shown in James, I can’t be the only person who expected her to swoop in and outbid everyone else. After all, that sort of attention-grabbing stunt is exactly her style.
Furthermore, some digging on my part revealed that James and Wilde met in person a year ago in London when they were both attending Wimbledon.
To everyone’s surprise, Wilde didn’t even make an appearance at the charity event, despite the fact that she’d hinted on social media that she would be there.
So who did win a date with the Scottish Hottie? Was it some other Austin socialite? One of the many starlets or indie darlings who make Austin their home? No!
In fact, it was … a nobody. This mysterious woman doesn’t even appear to have an Instagram account! Is she even a real person?
People who were there claim the otherwise unremarkable, unnamed woman paid an extraordinary sum for a night with the baller. My sources describe her as everything from bland to frumpy to …
Well, I like to keep things here at Gossip Lane body positive, so I refuse to post any fat-shaming descriptors here. Personally, I love it when the underdog lands herself a hunk.
The only question is will James have the good sense to give this curvy girl a chance?
chaptertwenty-four
ABBOTT
I haven’t been in Austin long enough yet to have my own flat, so I’ve been crashing at a fellow teammate’s house. Ben is a good bloke, easy going and even tempered which works well for me since I have a tendency to be a hot head.
I don’t particularly want to go for a run this morning, but he’s insisting upon it. Even though we’re off season we train. I know this, of course. I’ve been a fucking footballer for longer than he has I know how to keep my body conditioned. But even though I’d rather stay in bed and glower at the ceiling, I’m lacing up my gutties because I’ve got too much fucking energy to lay in bed.
I can’t stop thinking about her. Her bonnie face and her wavy brown hair. Those plump lips and her even plumper arse. The way her lush curves felt pressed against my body, and the way she both tasted and smelled like a fucking sweet treat. I want to see her again. I need to.
And all of that is why I am going for a run with Ben. I step out of my bedroom to find my flatmate standing in the kitchen talking to another guy.
Ben lifts his chin and gives me a big grin. “There he is, smiling and chipper like every morning.”
“Fuck off,” I say.
“Abbott, this is a longtime buddy of mine. We played together in college and then he went over to the dark side and now plays for the Armadillos.”
I glare at Ben. “I don’t even know what the fuck that means.”