“Fire him.”
“I can’t. That’d be worse for my career than what he’s threatening me with now.”
“Which is?”
“The usual. Chicago not wanting to re-sign me if I fuck up our little duo we have going. That if people start to figure out that I don’t give a shit about owning the persona the media has me made out to be that the fans won’t want me.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
Actually, I don’t know it. Rich is on the money with one of my biggest fears that if people figure out I’m not the EZ they’ve grown accustomed to, they won’t love me anymore.
“I swear to God he’s way too obsessed with your personal life that I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s getting a payout from the tabloids or newspapers to leak information about where you’re at or who you’re with.”
Shrugging, I stay silent. At this point, nothing would surprise me, but regardless, it all feels real defeating, like I’m stuck with this image for the rest of my career.
“Zee,” Maddison says, slightly under his breath. “Rich works for you. You’re in control here. As much as he likes to make you think you don’t, you hold all the power.”
Nodding in agreement, I lean my head back on the headrest behind me, drained. As if the grueling overtime win wasn’t wearing enough on my body, that phone call with Rich has taken its toll on my mind.
I want to stop with all the stupid games. I want to leave the arena alone without anyone questioning me. I want Chicago to re-sign me with no doubt of what I bring to the organization. I want Stevie to be allowed to hang out with me. I want Stevie to want to hang out with me.
I also really want to kiss her.
And tonight, I’m real tired of not doing the things I want to do.
“I’m gonna call Logan quickly before we take off.” Maddison turns towards the window, dialing his wife. “Happy New Year, baby!”
Oh, did I not mention it was New Year’s Eve, and we have a red-eye flight back to Chicago that will have us flying somewhere over Kansas at midnight?
Because it is, and the only girl I want to kiss when the clock strikes twelve just so happens to be on this airplane. But I can’t touch her. Not here, and maybe not at all.
“How’s Logan?” I ask as Maddison hangs up with his wife.
“She’s good.” He smiles to himself. “She got her dress for the gala.”
I stay silent, knowing what’s about to come.
“I can’t wait to take it off her.”
Shaking my head, I can’t help but laugh. Giddy motherfucker.
“Rich is on my ass about taking a date.”
“Then do it. We both know who you want to take, so why don’t you ask her? She’s right there.” He nods towards the back of the plane. “Here, let’s do it now.” Maddison’s hand reaches up to the flight attendant call light above his head, but before his fingers reach it, I swat them away just in time.
“Don’t.” My voice is quiet yet stern. “She can’t go with me.”
“Why not?”
“Because there will be way too much press there, and she’s not allowed to fraternize with us.”
“That’s fucking dumb.”
“Tell me about it.” I exhale a resigned sigh as I lean back in my chair once again. “Besides, I don’t know if she’d even want to go with me.” My voice is as hushed as it could be. “As far as I know, our little hookup was a one and done for her.”
Speaking of the sexy devil herself, Stevie comes to the exit row for the safety demo, showing the back half of the airplane how to use the safety equipment, just as she does before every flight.
“Let’s ask her.” Maddison leans forward in his seat to speak to my favorite flight attendant.
“Don’t you dare.” Once again, my volume is low, but my words are punctuated.
Stevie’s gaze narrows at us before resuming her safety demonstration. She keeps her eyes forward, holding the faux seat belt over her head, but speaks to Maddison and me. “Why do you two over there seem even more in love with each other than usual tonight?”
Maddison’s lips lift in a sneaky smirk. He opens his mouth to speak, and his eyes twinkle with amusement as he looks over at me, testing me.
“Don’t you fucking dare.” My voice is as quiet as I can make it. “If you say anything, I will end you. Then I’ll marry your wife just to spite you, and your son will grow up calling me Daddy.”
“Oh, fuck you!” Maddison isn’t trying to be quiet at all. “Stevie, Zee wants you to be his date to a charity gala in Chicago, but he’s too chicken shit to ask and doesn’t think you’d want to go with him.”
“I fucking hate you. We are no longer friends.”
Maddison sits back in his seat, his smug as fuck grin resting on his lips as Stevie’s cute giggle echoes from the aisle.
If my cheeks could change color, I’d be blushing like a little girl right now as I turn back to look at her. Thankfully, nothing about her expression seems all that thrown off. If anything, she’s purely amused by my ex-best friend and me.
“I can’t.” Which are the words I knew she’d say but hearing what I already knew doesn’t suck any less.
Also, that doesn’t clarify if it’s that she can’t because of her job or if she can’t because she doesn’t want to.
“That’s what I told him.” My smile feels tight and forced, but I’m trying to act as nonchalant as possible.
“No, I mean I can’t go with you.”
Yes, thank you, Stevie. Please bruise my ego a little more, sweetheart.
“Because I’m already going.”
Well, that causes my head to snap up real quick.
“With my brother.”
Oh. I didn’t think of that. Of course, Ryan Shay will be there. All the big names in Chicago sports will be.
Oh, this could be good. The hopeful glint in my eyes and the slight lift at my lips says precisely that.
This could be perfect.
I’ll be at the gala solo, and no one will be able to question why Stevie is there since she’ll be there with her brother.
Yeah, this is fucking perfect.
“Who’s your brother?” Maddison’s brows furrow in genuine confusion as he looks from Stevie back to me.
Stevie’s eyes connect with mine for a moment in confusion before they soften, realizing that I didn’t even tell my best friend. Sorry...ex-best friend. But of course, I didn’t. She was keeping it a secret even from me, so it’s not like I’m going to go around spilling her business.
And like I said, I don’t give a shit that Ryan Shay is her brother.
Except right now. Right now, I’m real stoked that he is because he’s going to get the girl to the gala, and that’s all I could ask for.
“Um...” she hesitates. “His name is Ryan Shay. He plays basketball for Chicago.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Maddison’s mouth drops open.
“Okay,” Stevie laughs.
“Wait. You’re for real? Your brother is Ryan Shay?”
She nods, continuing to chuckle at Maddison’s excitement. But knowing him, more than anything, he’s excited to tell his wife and brother, who are huge basketball fans.
“Yeah. He owns the apartment in your building. I’m staying with him at the moment.”