Page 73 of Friend Zoned

“I was. Where do you think I learned to tie a knot so well?” I wink at her, and she bites her lower lip at the memory. “I want to do that again real soon,” I whisper. “And some other stuff.”

“I want that too. Come back here once you’re done making trouble.” She gets on her toes and runs her fingers through my hair. “Give me a kiss.”

The guys do not ask any questions. That’s one of the things I like about my team. Men hardly ask questions. I text asking for a favor, and they show up. They already have a group of people circling them when I get to the restaurant. Chastain is standing with a couple of young boys while their mom takes pictures of them with her phone.

I pull out jerseys and hand Chastain a sharpie. It doesn’t take long for them to get a crowd. I don’t have to do anything but sit back and let them come to us. The tall boy from earlier comes running out with his father. They go straight to Wakowski and Harris. Wakowski starts dribbling an invisible ball and pretends to shoot. The hotel restaurant soon fills up, and the guys work the room just like I knew they would.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and it’s a text from my sister.

Katherine: Come play with me, little brother

I slide the phone back into my pocket, unwilling to play my sister’s game today. I’m pretty sure I’ll take the job, but I need to figure out a way to tell Jeannie first. I know my sister. She’s about as subtle as an earthquake. I give her a few more weeks until she finds Jeannie herself and blows my cover.

“Today is the best day.” Layla sits at the table across from me. “Look.” She jerks her thumb behind her. “Most of the baby shower attendees are here. We did it, Coach.” She offers me a fist bump. “You should have seen his face when I accidentally spilled that you guys are here.” She winks. “God, I hate that douchebag and his whore. She looks awful, by the way. Anyway, what’s Harris’ situation?” She puts her elbow on the table and rests her chin in her hand. “I love a man with a bald head. I go crazy for it. I’d like to lick it.” She clears her throat as if she can’t believe she just uttered those words. “I mean his head. His actual head, not his—"

I cut her off before she could finish. “I’m pretty sure he has a girlfriend.” That’s not exactly true. He has a different woman every few weeks. They never last long, and I doubt he’s ever called one his girlfriend.

“Damn,” she says. “I guess that’s best. I’m a bit of a heartbreaker. I might distract him so much, it’ll affect the game.” This time, it’s me who winks at her.

“We appreciate your sacrifice.”

“Oh, shit. Here he comes. This is the best day.” She points across the room. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that. He’s short, but I’m around people who are at least close to seven feet tall every day. I guess he might be considered handsome in his off the rack suit. He’s a little darker than Jeannie and his hair is cut short. I can smell the arrogance oozing out of him from across the room. He stomps to Alana, and they have a rushed conversation. He points at her face, but she knocks his hand away. She seems unphased by his tantrum and walks away from him.

He approaches someone else, but no one seems to be paying attention to whatever he says. He starts to storm out and nearly collides with Chastain. Chastain offers him his hand, but he walks away without a glance. Colt looks toward me and smirks.

Chapter 41

Jeannie

My phone buzzes again and I ignore it. It’s probably Layla giving me another update about the chaos in the restaurant. According to her, the shower was a disaster. Most of the attendees left to go meet the players and to get free autographed jerseys. Apparently, Aiden opened a tab for anyone who wanted drinks and food.

After dealing with a disgruntled guest, I work at the front desk while Layla is on her break. I’m so busy, I barely have time to think about Quintin and the baby shower, not that I care.

I work the front desk for about forty minutes until Layla returns, looking smugly satisfied. Unwilling to listen to her go on about today’s events, I tell her I have some expense reports to look through in my office. Just as I walk away from the front desk and start down the hall to my office, Camille steps out of the bathroom and nearly collides with me. I manage to sidestep without touching her and continue my trip down the hall. Before I turn the corner to get to my office, I turn, and she’s still standing in the middle of the hall watching me. She’s too far away for me to read her expression, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t care.

An hour after working in peace in my office, my door opens, and Aiden fills the small space. I stand and go to him. “My Viking,” I say into his chest. “Are you done making trouble?”

“I’ve only started, but Chastain had to go home. Wakowski and Harris are still here, eating and drinking on my tab.”

“Well, I still have to work for a few more hours, but I can meet you at your place afterward.” He tightens his arms around me.

“I can work here, and we can leave together.” My office phone rings, and he lets me go. He pulls out an iPad and sits in the spare chair, but I know there’s no way he can sit there comfortably for the next few hours.

“Hey, Eve,” I say when I see her extension. “Is it over?”

“Thank fucking Christ,” she says. “How the hell you were ever married to that guy, I’ll never know. Layla’s got it right. He’s a douchebag. All he did was complain, bitch, and moan. And the whore looks downright miserable. I swear, she was close to bursting into tears the entire time. Anyway, your man ruined his little party. Almost everyone left to go hang out with the guys. Layla got me a jersey,” she says. “And, oh my God! Your man, Jeannie. I need the rest of the weekend to process it. I made sure to let it drop that Aiden Walsh is here all the time since he’s your boyfriend. It’s a lie, but so what?”

“Well, thank goodness this shit is behind us.” I don’t know what else to say, and I wish everyone would stop calling me about it. “Okay, girl. I’ll—” Someone knocks on my door and opens it before I can tell them to come in. “For fuck’s sake,” I sigh as Quintin walks in.

“Don’t tell me he’s in your office? Oh my God, I gotta tell Layla.”

“You guessed it. I’ll call you back.” I hang up before she can say another word. Aiden stands, and he’s like a giant in the room. He has his sleeves rolled up, and his tattoos are on full display. He winks at me, then looks down at his iPad, completely unphased by the unwanted and uninvited guest.

Quintin’s brown skin looks a little sallow. In fact, he looks like he’s put on a few more pounds since I saw him last. I remain behind my desk and cross my arms, refusing to speak first. I arch an eyebrow and wait. He stares into my face, but I refuse to make eye contact with him.

“Jeanine, I need to speak with you alone,” he says. He sounds authoritative and commanding. Then he looks at Aiden for the first time. He eyes him up and down, and Aiden stands tall. “I need to speak to my wife,” he tells Aiden.

That gets a snort out of Aiden. He’s taking this much better than I am.

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