Page 70 of Off Court Fix

Hunter’s eyes drift across the parking lot, following Maxine’s car.

“Hunter,” I command his attention and wait to speak until he turns back to face me. “Harassing members is against the code of conduct.”

Bursting into laughter, Hunter wiggles his fingers in my face. “Oh, I’m shaking in my boots,” he snorts.

“You don’t need to be cornering women alone in a dark parking lot. That’s pushing it, even for you.”

“Would yourelax,” he groans. “God, you’re uptight. I came to see you. Went by your house didn’t seem like you were home. I know you have no life. Figured you were here, and she was heading to her car.” Hunter’s head flips in the direction of the exit before he pulls out a pack of cigarettes, offering me one. “Thought she was here to train for Wimbledon. Isn’t that over?”

I wave off the smoke and ignore his question because it’s irrelevant, and I don’t want whatever motive Hunter came here tonight with to somehow end up including Maxine. “What do you want, Hunter?”

“You going out to the tournament in Cincinnati?”

I want to lie. I’m desperate to lie. But I know he’ll find out one way or another. “I am.”

“I’ve got a kid out there I want you to vet.”

And there it is.

Hunter continues. “Needed to start a GoFundMe to pay for the hotel. Strong hitter, but you know, notgreat. Probably already in the hole and could use some extra money.”

I shake my head and walk away. “Nope.”

“I’ll up your cut—”

“You know, Hunter.” I’m quick to turn on my heel to face him again. “I consider myself a pretty mentally sound guy. I’m just not sure about you. Do you know what the definition of insanity is? Repeating the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Let’s make this the last time, alright? No drops, no fixes, nonothing.”

Hunter holds his palms up. “It’s an easy one for you. And there’s nothing to fix! I want to know if I can count on him.”

“Well, you can figure that out yourself because you can’t count on me.” I close my eyes and rub my temples. “When we were pulling off that circus, we agreed nohigh-levelmatches. I get you think nothing really happens in Ohio except in an election year, but...” I trail off because I realize Hunter isn’t following. Cincinnati isn’t a Grand Slam, but it’s a precursor to the god damn US Open. “Hunter, you’d be an idiot to eventryto approach a player there whether they have a black American Express card or they’re desperate enough to beg money from strangers to pay for a fucking hotel. Get the hell out of here.”

I should’ve known that day Hunter came to my office wouldn’t be the last time. He was laying the foundation for this exact ask. But I keep walking because as much as Hunter wishes he has me by my balls, I’m just as eager to let him know he doesn’t.

“We’ll go over the details later, yeah, Crosby? Oh, and about that gala. Get me a seat next to that Maxine, would you? Shame it’s black tie though, that usually means long dresses. Lost opportunity to see her in a mini skirt up close and personal.”

This stops me in my tracks, but I know if I turn, If I do what I want to do, which is bash his head through the windshield of his Lamborghini, he’ll know Maxine is fair game.

I flip him the bird and keep walking.

* * *

I wince when I find Maxine’s side door unlocked, even though part of me expected it. Shutting it behind me, I turn the lock and kick off my shoes in the mudroom. Heading to the kitchen, I smell whiffs of garlic bread.

“Finally,” Maxine says, opening the oven to retrieve the pizza box. “I’m starving.”

Pocketing my hands, I watch as she prances around the kitchen, gathering plates and setting them on the island along with seltzer from the fridge. My mouth is parched with a desired thirst. I’m so desperate for a drink to calm my twitching nerves I’m about to go upstairs to chug some mouthwash because I know Maxine doesn’t have any alcohol here.

“What?” she asks, popping open a can and pouring the bubbling liquid into a glass. “I got you tons of garlic knots, don’t worry. You just can’t kiss me until tomorrow.”

I want to smile at the easy, sweet joke. I want to smile because this is my time with her when we hide in secret, but that doesn’t matter. When I’m with Maxine, the rest of the world doesn’t exist.

Except now it does, and because I know Hunter, I know he can be like a dog with a fucking bone. I’ll be damned if that means it’s Maxine, even if I’m about to screw myself over.

I clear my throat, sliding onto a barstool. “Hunter Wembly... what did he say to you?”

Maxine pulls a loose, stretched piece of cheese from her mouth, dropping it back down to the slice she’s just bitten into. “Wants a lesson,” she offers with a shrug. “I told him he could bid for it at the gala.”

I roll my eyes and then look at my lap, not caring about the garlic knots in front of me.

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