Garrett inhaled, then sighed. “Fine.”
“Then it’s agreed,” Lucas said.
After some legal language maneuvering, the meeting was over. Alicia found the whole process exhausting, and was still shocked Garrett had even contemplated the trade in the first place.
After thanking Lucas for his time, Alicia stood outside with Garrett and Victoria.
“Thanks, Tori. I knew I could count on you,” Garrett said.
“You make me want to drink, Garrett, you know that?”
He grinned. “I doubted they’d let me go. Even though I’m not a starting pitcher yet, I’m too valuable to the team.”
Victoria patted his cheek. “That’s what I love about you. All that ego.” She looked over at Alicia. “Keep him healthy, even if it’s on the down low.”
Alicia laughed. “I’ll do my best. And thank you.”
“You’re welcome, honey.”
She linked her arm with Garrett’s, but ran into Max and Manny in the hall. She started to pull her arm away, but Garrett held her hand, keeping them firmly linked together.
Max’s lips stayed compressed tightly together. Manny grinned.
“That ended up good for everyone, but it would have been easier if you’d have just come and talked to me about all of it,” Manny said.
Garrett shrugged. “It was Alicia’s deal I was more worried about. I needed to protect her.” Garrett looked over at Max, who shrugged.
“We don’t arbitrarily dump our best therapists, Garrett,” Max said. “We’d have found a way to work it out. We’ll see you tomorrow, Alicia.”
Shocked, Alicia could only stare dumbfounded as Manny and Max walked away.
“So, he likes you.”
“Apparently. Or he was just blowing smoke up my ass.”
Garrett laughed. “I don’t think Max hands out compliments all that easily.”
“I have no idea. This has been a nightmare. Let’s go home.”
“Your place or mine?” he asked.
“I don’t care.”
“I have an idea. How about we take this relationship public?”
He took her to Charlie Gitto’s on the Hill. She had a ridiculous amount of penne primavera, and he had steak and pasta. They both had the most wonderful glasses of Chianti, and by the time they left, Alicia was full.
“I need to walk,” she said.
The night was cool, but she didn’t care. Garrett wrapped his arm around her, and they strolled around the block a few times.
“It does feel good not to worry about someone seeing us together.”
He stopped and pulled the edges of her jacket closed, then pressed a kiss to her lips. “I love you. And you don’t have to worry about being seen with me anymore. Unless I get demoted or can’t pitch.”
He said it with a laugh, but before they could resume walking, she laid her hand on his chest and stopped him. “You do realize I don’t love you because you’re a famous ballplayer, right?”
“Yeah. You love me in spite of it.”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “You’ve got that right.”
When she felt like she had sufficiently walked off the enormous meal she’d eaten, they climbed back into the car. She expected they’d head to either her place or his, but she was surprised when he stayed downtown and pulled into valet parking at the Lumiere, a hotel and casino.
He took her inside, and though it wasn’t quite like Vegas, bells were ringing, cards were being dealt, and she was ready to play.
They hit the poker room, and Garrett fronted her some money. Four hours passed before she realized it. She and Garrett both did well. She was several hundred dollars up and ready to stretch her legs, so they wandered around, played a few slots, and, unfortunately, lost money.
“I think I’ll stick with poker,” she said.
“I agree. You’re a hell of a lot better at poker than you are at slots.”
She laughed and tucked herself against Garrett’s side. “Thank you for taking me out tonight. I’ve had a great time.”
“Oh, the night isn’t over.” He led her to the front desk, showed his ID, and was given a room key.
When they walked off, she looked up at him. “We have a room here?”
“We do. And bags are being brought up. I asked Savannah to pack an overnight bag for you. I hope you don’t mind. I figured however this thing turned out today, we’d need an overnight getaway, just the two of us.”
“I don’t mind at all. Thank you.”
The room was a suite, overlooking the St. Louis Arch and the riverfront. It was beautiful and spacious, and she loved it. What she loved the most, though, was being alone with Garrett and no longer having to worry about anything other than being in love with him, spending time with him, and then going to work and doing her job.
She liked the simplicity of it all.
“I like this chair,” he said, referring to an overstuffed chair sitting near the window.
“Do you? And why’s that?”
“I think because I’d like to see you holding on to the arms of that chair while you’re bent over.”