“I didn’t say that. I can meet with you after the game.”
“Shawnelle would be disappointed if she didn’t get to see you. You aren’t going to cut off your friendship with her just because of you and Gavin, are you?”
Now that he said it, it sounded petty of her. And selfish. “Of course not.”
“Good. I’ll leave a ticket for you at the box office, and I’ll see you after the game tomorrow afternoon.”
“That sounds fine, Dedrick.”
“And thanks for agreeing to do this on such short notice.”
“It’s no problem at all. I’ll see you then.”
She hung up, laid her phone down, and sat in her chair. Well, hell. She was hoping to avoid the Rivers—and seeing Gavin—at least until she could get her riotous emotions under control.
No such luck. She was going to have to suck it up. No way was she passing up on the chance to pick up another new client just because she might see Gavin.
Besides, he’d be out on the field. She’d be in the stands. It was unlikely he’d even be aware she was there.
IT WAS UNSEASONABLY HOT IN THE STANDS. SHE’D much prefer to be in the owner’s suite, where it was shady and airconditioned.
Then again, there was nothing like seats behind the dugout as far as the best view. And hanging out with Shawnelle and Haley again was wonderful. She’d missed her friends, and their excitement at seeing her again made her feel warm and gooey inside.
“We were afraid you had dumped us just because you fired Gavin and broke up with him,” Haley said.
Ah, nothing like the brutal honesty of youth. “I would never do that.”
“You haven’t been around,” Hayley said.
“I’ve been really busy.”
“Busy avoiding us and Gavin. You weren’t planning on hanging out with us anymore,” Shawnelle said.
“That’s not true.”
Even though that’s exactly what she’d planned to do. Now that she was here though, she was ashamed of herself for even thinking it. So what if she and Gavin weren’t together anymore? That didn’t mean she couldn’t have spa days with Shawnelle and Haley or have lunch with them or even go out for drinks and dinner once in a while.
She’d gone her whole life without girlfriends. And then she’d found a few in Shawnelle, Haley, and even Jenna. She didn’t intend to close herself off just because all of these women were in some way connected to Gavin.
She’d have to deal with it. And so would he.
It was nice to be at a Rivers game again. This was her home team since she’d moved to Saint Louis ten years ago, and she wasn’t going to pretend otherwise. Of course as an agent, she wasn’t supposed to have an allegiance to any professional team since she represented so many players from so many different teams.
But no one had to know the Rivers were her favorites, did they?
She ate a hot dog, had a soda, and enjoyed catching up with Haley and Shawnelle.
“Where are the kids, Shawnelle? I thought they’d be at the game today.”
“They came to the last day game, but they’re at the pool with my mom and dad today, while Dedrick’s parents get the house ready for his grandparents arrival. It’s one big coordinated effort for their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary.”
“Awww, that’s sweet. And how nice of you to throw a party.”
“Dedrick loves his Gamaw and Paw-Paw. They were instrumental in helping him go to college, so he feels like he owes them. And they’re just so damn proud of him.”
“It’s nice to have that kind of family support, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And how about you, Haley? How have you been?”
“Great. Enrolled in school for the summer semester, and excited as hell about taking classes.”
“Good for you. Settled on a degree program yet?”
Haley grinned. “I want to teach. Elementary education.”
Elizabeth reached for Haley’s hand and squeezed it. “I can so see you as a teacher. That’s wonderful.”
Shawnelle nodded. “I told her she’d make a great teacher. She’s incredible with my two kids. She has more patience than I do.”
Haley laughed. “It’s always easy when they’re not your kids. You don’t have to keep ’em. But I do love children. Always have.”
Shawnelle nudged her. “Ready to have one of your own?”
“Nope. Not ’til I finish school. I’m still too young. Not ready to settle down and have a family yet. I have goals.”
“And maybe you also want to stick it to your family and home town?” Elizabeth suggested.
Haley arched a brow. “Maybe just a little.”
“Ahh, there’s nothing like a little vengeance to stir the juices of motivation,” Shawnelle said.
Elizabeth laughed. She knew all about that. Her family might never know what she’d amounted to, but she knew, and that’s all that mattered.