My eyes go wide, watching her fall apart as I save the wine glass from her panicked clutches.
“It’s Morrow,” Rachel says. “You’ve started something with Novy and Morrow. Right?”
“Please, Rach, you can’t say anything,” Poppy pleads, taking her hand. “I’m not ready for people to know. I’m not—we’re not like you, okay? We’re—this hasn’t been easy for us the way it seems so easy for you. The boys are—it’s just not easy to fall into something like this…” She falls into silence as Rachel squeezes her hand.
“I won’t say a word, Pop,” she assures her. “It’s not my business. It’s not anyone’s business.”
Poppy sniffs back tears. “I just—god, I never meant for any of this to happen,” she admits. “And now it just keeps happening. Four months ago, I was arguing with Lukas in an Uber. Now I’m meeting him in empty bathrooms at charity events like we’re a pair of horny teenagers. If we’re not screamin’, we’re screwin’, and I don’t know how to stop.”
“And Morrow?” Rachel asks.
Poppy just sighs. “I don’t know how to stop.”
“Geez,” I mutter, taking a sip of Poppy’s wine. “What’s in the water over at that ice rink? First Rach snatching up three in one hand, now you? Should I be worried Ryan is gonna come home with Patty McFlashy Abs next week?”
Before they can reply, Nancy comes hurrying over to the table. “Tess, honey, there’s a slight hiccup for tonight’s beach walk plans.”
“Ugh, don’t tell me.”
“Yup. Rain,” she says with a nod.
I groan. “Damn you, Florida.”
“Doppler says it’s coming in quick,” she adds, flashing me her phone to show me the weather app. “I think we may need to cancel.”
This is a huge bummer. I was really looking forward to treating people to a beach walk out on the sand at night. I loved the image of all of us walking in our fancy duds, heels in hand, pretending to be sea turtles as we noticed the effects of light pollution.
“‘Scuse me,” I say to Rachel and Poppy. The clock never stops, even when there’s salacious gossip to be heard. I step away from the table, Nancy following at my side. “How long is the rain supposed to last?” I ask, moving towards the pair of double doors that lead out to the back deck.
“Hard to say. Maybe an hour? But you know—”
“It’s Florida,” we intone at the same time.
I just sigh, pulling the door open and holding it for her to step through. The chill of the January air actually feels good as it kisses my skin. The wind blows, tugging on the loose tendrils framing my face.
“What if we just went and did it now?” I say, peering out over the railing at the white sand. Not fifty yards away, the ocean rolls in and out. “We could push back Ilmari’s speech until after. Heck, he could even give it down on the beach. That could actually be great.”
“I can run it by him,” Nancy offers.
I huff a laugh. “Oh, no. Mr. Price has me making all executive decisions.”
“Yeah…about that.” She glances up at me sheepishly.
“What?”
“Um, well, Mars actually gave us strict instructions to run all ideas involving him past him first.”
I laugh, turning around to lean against the wooden rail. “Well, I’m the Director of Operations for Out of the Net, and I say we’re moving the beach walk up, along with his speech.”
“And while I do love that idea,” she hedges. “He did rather sternly imply that your orders regarding him are not to be followed without his express approval.”
I glare down at her, even though I know she’s only the messenger. “Seriously?”
“Please don’t put me in the middle.”
“Oh, trust me, I can handle that broody Finn myself,” I say, pushing off the rail. “You’re welcome to stand on the sidelines for this one, Nance. Come on, let’s go light the torches.”
She hurries behind me, both of us shucking our heels as we walk down the short boardwalk leading out to the beach. While the sun was still out, we set up a short row of tiki torches to light up the boardwalk’s end and signal for walkers where to return.
“Oh, and a donor keeps asking about you,” Nancy says, walking in step behind me. “Says he wants to speak to you about the terms of his donation.”
I rack my brain, trying to remember that conversation. “His donation?”
“Yeah, he said you were expecting him, but you hadn’t mentioned it to me so…”
I glance over my shoulder at her. “What did you say his name was?”
“Umm…Troy,” she replies, checking the little notebook still in her hand. “A Mr. Troy from PFH Consulting Group. Do you know him?”
61
Tonight is going so well. I was a bit anxious at first, thinking this might be a lot of rubbing shoulders with land developers, but I shouldn’t have worried. Really, this just feels like one big fancy Rays party. The WAGs love an excuse to get dressed up, the alcohol is flowing, and everyone seems to be in good spirits. I’ve eaten my weight in appetizers, including, like, eight of those little cups of the lobster mac and cheese. Tess was right, it’s goddamn delicious.
Everyone showed up for Mars. And we’re all making generous donations. I’ve spent most of the last half hour laughing in the corner with Sully, Shelby, and Karlsson. Every so often, I let my gaze settle on Tess until she looks my way and I flash her a wink.
She’s radiant tonight. She’s working the room like a queen without a crown, floating from table to table, laughing and chatting it up. I smirk to myself, watching as she gets pulled away from Rachel and Poppy’s table, Nancy hurrying along at her side. She’s walking directly away from me. God, do I love this view. Her ass sways as her heels click, the fabric swishing.
In the rush of party set up, I may have pulled her into a coat closet…and she may have pushed me to my knees. I focus on the beer in my hand, remembering the feel of that soft fabric bunching around my face. Later tonight, I’ll be taking her out of that dress and leaving it on my floor.
I told my coaches about Troy and his threats this morning. Tess was anxious about it, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Coach Johnson had questions, but he was cool. We’ve got a PR strategy meeting planned with Poppy for tomorrow morning. For tonight, I don’t want Tess to worry, and I won’t either. We deserve a night of fun with our friends, a night to act like the couple we are where everyone can see.
“So…seems like you and Tess are finally official, then?” says Sully, following the direction of my gaze and flashing me a knowing smirk.
I tear my gaze away from her and smile. “Yep. That woman is it for me.”
“You work fast,” Karlsson says.
“Hey, when you know, you know,” I reply.
“And no running?” says Shelby.
“I’m fast,” I reply, taking a sip of my beer. “I can keep up.”
Sully laughs. “Well, she seems like a great girl to me. When you whacked her in the head with that soccer ball, did you ever think you’d end up here?”
“Did you really think you’d land a girl like Shelbs the first time you met her?” I tease.
“Hell no,” Sully replies as we all laugh. “These women are so far out of our league. I’m not questioning it, though. I’m like you, man. She says run, I fucking run.”
Shelby smiles up at him. “We like running together, don’t we, baby?”
“Yeah, we do,” he says, kissing her lips.
Karlsson and I shift awkwardly, flashing each other a shrug before the other two break apart.
“You look happy, Ryan,” Shelby says at me. “Really.”
“I am. I’m really fucking happy.”
“Well, this is dumb, then,” says Sully, looking around for a passing waiter. “We need to celebrate. Here—” He passes out fresh drinks to the four of us. “Cheers to Ryan and Tess,” he says, holding up his glass. “To running in the same direction.”
We all raise our glasses, and I grin like an idiot in love. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” says Shelby, clinking her glass with mine.