Page 78 of Stolen Bases

“Nah. Where’s the fun in that? This way, I can lord it over you. Make you my bitch. But you should buy Dez something.”

“I fucking hate you.”

Eli laughs. It’s hearty and sounds more like the old him. I’m glad he’s enjoying this because it feels more like he’s shoving a giant poker up my ass with all this “owing him favors” shit.

“I will send Dez a new Evaders jersey and tickets for him and his dad.”

“And a huge gift card. Also, you need your own assistant.”

“Fuck that. You can’t trust anyone these days.”

“I’ll find you one, but you will owe me another favor.” I can hear the grin in his voice. He has me by the balls, and he knows it.

The only reason I’ve survived this long without one is because Eli and Charles keep me straight. I guess it’s time.

“Fine. Nine total. But you better make sure my new assistant likes baseball. And you have to fire them if I hate them.”

“Deal. Give me a few weeks? Might take me a while to find the right person.”

“That’s fine. I’ve lasted this long.”

“Yeah, because I take care of you. And it doesn’t hurt that Charles’s partner is in love with you too.”

I’m really spoiled.

“Not in love.” I shake my head. “Josh wants me to be the peanut butter between their bread for the night. Hard no for me.”

Eli laughs again.

“Besides, I can’t lose Charles as my agent. He’s the best in the field.”

“True. You lucked out.”

I really did. There are a lot of scumbag agents out there who will screw you over. Guys like Damien Barnes. He’s the worst of the worst.

The rumors Eli has heard about the guy would make your skin crawl. I don’t understand how a guy like Romero, who grew up in a house with women, would condone the shit Damien pulls with his assistants and other women in the industry.

They were in the same year at SCU and thick as thieves even back then. Damien was a hanger-on, still is. He’s built his career off of Nico’s back. I haven’t figured out if Romero is blind to what’s going on or complicit. For Talia’s sake, I hope it’s the former.

“I’ll send you the address when I get it.”

“Thanks, bro.”

“Anytime. And Cam?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t get caught,” he says before cutting the line without another word.

Fucker. I swear, if he jinxed me, I will shave his eyebrows off.

A ruckus at the door has me turning around to find Romero walking in with a laughing Serrano.

Nico and I lock eyes. The tension between us is palpable. In an attempt to break the tension between us, I give him a chin lift. The way he narrows his eyes at me, there is no mistaking how he feels. He fucking hates me.

I turn away and start removing my suit. I can still feel Romero’s eyes burning a hole in my back as I get dressed.

Eli jinxed me, all right.

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