Page 59 of Girl Going Nowhere

I wasn’t anticipating going for a joyride when I asked him to talk today, but I get in anyway. “What bonuses did the She Devil get you?”

He snorts at my nickname for his agent. I’ve met her only once, and that was one too many. I don’t think she’s particularly a fan of mine either, so I don’t feel bad for thinking she’s a greedy bitch. “Oh, you know. Interviews. Photo shoots. Some publications are willing to pay a lot of money for up-and-coming athletes.”

Something doesn’t sit well with me as we turn out of the park. “Which ones?”

Most magazines only want athletes featured that will pull money in. Rafael may have been one of the bigger names in the minors because of his stats, but he’s a small fish in the majors. They wouldn’t go after him first thing if they have better seasoned options.

My brother looks at me in amusement. “I didn’t think you’d be that interested. You never have been before.”

Well, my roommate’s tryst with your teammate wasn’t randomly published for the world to see before you came around.

Instead of accusing him of something I’m still not willing to believe he was part of, I say, “I’ve always been interested, I just don’t like prying into business that isn’t mine. But you’re obviously getting somewhere with all the work that you’ve been putting in.”

If he suspects anything, he doesn’t say so. “I appreciate that, dude. It really hasn’t been all me, though. As much of a pain in the ass as she is, Vanessa is the mastermind behind some of my success lately. My name wouldn’t be where it is without her.”

Why does that sound so rehearsed? Even he’s told me how annoying his agent is, and now he’s giving her credit? “I guess she wouldn’t be doing her job if it were any other way, huh?”

All he does is hum this time.

As we drive past lanes of backed-up traffic until we’re in the middle of it ourselves, I decide to change tactics. “Have you seen the shit about Dover going around? Bet that’s made practice interesting.”

Rafael’s eyes go to his window. “Yeah, he’s been quieter than usual since the claims were made. I think he’s realizing he can’t charm his way out of it when new articles pop up every day about him.”

I wait for him to indulge me on any of the talk he’s heard, maybe even names dropped by Dover or the guys who’ve hung around him before, but he doesn’t bite.

He shrugs. “It serves him right. The team obviously likes seeing him knocked down a few pegs. Coach suggested he take some time to deal with the headlines so people won’t spend game time talking about his personal life rather than the games.”

So maybe he doesn’t know about Blake.

“Does that mean they’re benching him?” I ask cluelessly.

He snorts. “Doubtful. Though, he’s been on edge. If he keeps acting up, Coach will probably make him sit the next game out. He’s already threatened it a couple times.”

I can’t get a read on what he’s thinking, and it’s obvious that he isn’t going to offer up any information that could lead to who the girl is in the pictures with Dover.

“Brodie was trying to bet us three hundred bucks that he wouldn’t be starting,” I say, hoping to bait him to ask about everybody else at home.

Rafael takes it. “He’s going to lose if he bet it on tomorrow’s game. They would have told us if there was a change in the lineup by now.”

I sink into my seat as I study the middle-aged man in the lane next to us, looking anxiously at his watch. “That’s what Blake said.”

Traffic starts moving again. “I didn’t take her as a sports girl,” he says, voice a notch lower. “Does she watch the games with you guys?”

He briefly looks at me, one eyebrow arched in inquiry, waiting for an answer. There’s obviously interest there from the night the three of us shared, but I think it goes beyond that. He’d ask about her, but it was never anything trivial.

“No. She’s not a fan of sports.” I glance at him. “Or the athletes playing them.”

Rafael doesn’t say anything.

“I need to ask you something.”

“Don’t.”

I blink. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t ask me questions that you don’t want the answers to,” he says quietly, his hand gripping the wheel a little tighter. “Because you won’t like what I have to say about it. You’re smart. You know what I’m talking about. That’s why you’re really here, isn’t it?”

Fuck.

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