Page 66 of Filthy Player

I wasn’t aware of it until Mike shoved his phone into my face when I showed up to work one morning wondering why we had fifteen cars lined up for oil changes and maintenance. That particular morning, all our customers were beautiful women, around my age, wearing a lot less clothing than I ever did and who had clearly spent a lot more time on their makeup.

I tried to forget the bitchy comments about my ass being fat or being too ugly for him.

I never spent much time caring what people thought and I was trying not to let it bother me. The fact I could be found doing squats and lunges and eating salads after that meant nothing.

Overall, life was good. I had help. I had a guy I was falling ass over kettle for. I was in love with Beaux Hale, had been falling in love with him for weeks by the time I realized it but was too chickenshit to say anything.

My dad was healing not just from his broken leg but his stroke, regaining strength every day.

I had new friends. A social life. Even Shannon and I spent some time together occasionally and when the guys were gone, she would come and watch the game with Dad and me.

Life was better than good.

It was perfect.

But like so often when you were riding the top of the wave, enjoying the freedom and exhilaration of beautiful scenery, at some point, you had to crash into the dark water below.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

BEAUX

“Hey, Beaux. Do you have a couple minutes?”

I paused as Shelly, one of our main PR reps grabbed my attention. I was in the training facility where we practiced. I’d gone upstairs afterward to talk with our marketing department about scheduling a photo shoot.

“No problem, Shelly. What’s up?” I slid my hands in the pockets of my jeans.

“Come into my office.”

She backed up and I followed her in. Shelly was in her late forties, married to the same guy since she was eighteen. She had two grown children and already had three grandchildren. Typically, she was full of smiles and laughter and had a friendly attitude with everyone.

Her serious demeanor gave me pause.

I closed the door to her office. “What is it?”

“I’d debated sharing some things with you. It’s probably nothing, but regardless, I think you should know. And, before you say anything, I’ve already spoken with security.”

Security? A cold chill pricked the back of my neck. Only one reason for security in this life.

“What happened?” I demanded. “And who? Me? Shannon?”

“No. Paige.” I fell into the chair behind me and Shelly pulled out three letters in plastic bags from an envelope. “As you know, we have our interns go through your fan mail. Don’t get much of it anymore, not handwritten letters with technology the way it is, but these started coming in.”

I ripped them out of her hands.

The first letter seemed like every other sort of weird fan I’d been getting messages about since I was in college.

I love you Beaux Hale. You’re the best man in the entire world.

Your new girlfriend doesn’t deserve you. She’s ugly and broke and you can do so much better.

It went on. A bunch more nonsensical rambling, but it was the date that turned my blood cold.

Early September.

“This is one week after I met Paige,” I said more to myself than Shelly.

“That’s what made me worried enough to save the first one.”

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