Page 55 of Game Changer

“Done.”

She rises and leaves the room.

I’m not sure why she’s so keen to help me, but I’m grateful for the save.

Three short minutes later, she returns with a long garment bag slung over her arm, which she drops unceremoniously onto my bed. She unzips it with a flourish and pulls out a cream-colored floral dress with a deep neckline and tiny capped sleeves.

My eyes widen in shock at the gorgeous garment. “That’s beautiful.”

“Put it on.”

Gingerly taking it from her outstretched hands, I slip on the dress and pair it with a set of nude wedges. When I turn to look at myself in the mirror, whatever words I had evaporate.

“Wow,” is all I say as Brooke zips me up completely.

“Accurate.”

The dress clings to my curves, hugging my breasts and nipping in at my waist before ending in a flirty hemline that teases my thighs. I preen in the mirror, pleased with the way I look. With wild pink hair and soft eye makeup, I feel like a garden fairy.

"What if I want to sit down?" I ask Brooke with a hint of apprehension.

"This is not a sitting down dress," she says with a laugh as she adjusts my hair.

"I'm not trying to impress anyone," I explain. "I just don't want to be mistaken for a waiter."

"So, there's no grumpy all-star you want checking you out?" Brooke teases.

Cautiously, I peek out the window, watching as groups of people start gathering on the lawn below.

"He's probably not coming."

But then I spot him, standing with a couple of the guys from the team and looking unfairly handsome, and my traitorous heart skips a beat.

"It kind of looks like he did," Brooke whispers.

15

CLAY

“This is nice,” Rookie says, looking around Harlan’s massive backyard. “Free shrimp. Though I figured there’d be more girls here.”

The barbeque is a power move. A blatant excuse to show off while also sucking up.

There’s only one girl I’m thinking about, and she hasn’t answered my texts.

“Clay, right?” Harlan’s fiancée, Mari, steps into the group and smiles at me. She’s wearing a sleek dress and heels and looks nothing like Nova. “The mayor is here. I’d love to introduce you.”

“We’ve met.” I look past her at the suits who’re rubbing elbows and glad-handing one another.

I hate the politics. Better left to Harlan and ownership. If I wanted to be involved in that shit, I would’ve majored in kissing ass in college.

She tries again. “Then surely you’ll want to catch up. Come on. These people make it possible for the team to play in Denver. The red tape they cut, the money they invest—”

“You know how much comes into this team through media rights? We bring money to the city, not the other way around. Thanks for the invite, but I’m gonna pass.”

Mari’s eyes narrow, and I turn away and head back to some of the guys.

“Careful. You won’t be invited back,” Jay comments.

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