Page 57 of Wicked Player

“See? That’s the spirit.” She leaned closer, rested her arms on the table. “Now tell me everything.”

Yeah. Amanda was sweet and fun and a really good friend. She was also vanilla as they came. Telling her how I liked my sex? Never. Gonna. Happen.

I tipped my glass to my lips. Club soda and lime. I was so hung up on Gage even alcohol didn’t sound like fun. “That’s all you’re getting, woman.”

“Elizabeth?”

My gaze slid toward the feminine voice and my drink froze at my mouth.

“Hi!” It was Shannon. Powell’s wife. Next to her, Paige Hale was grinning. She lifted her hand in a silent hello. Before I could even respond, Shannon slid next to me. “Here Paige sit across from me.” She flung her arm around me and yanked me to her. My head bounced off her shoulder and I fought a wince. “How awesome to see you here! How are you?”

“Shannon. You’re scaring the normal people.”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes at Paige and let me go. Good Lord that woman had a grip of steel. “I’m not scary. I’m playful.”

Across from me, Amanda’s eyes bounced like ping-pong balls and she sputtered into her drink. “You’re Shannon Powell.” Her head whipped to Paige. “And Beaux’s wife.”

“Yes.” Paige grinned playfully. “I also have a name. Paige Hale.”

“Oh my gosh. I’m sorry. So sorry, that was so rude of me.”

I sat back and glanced at Shannon. “Excuse her. She’s excitable. Shannon and Paige, this is my friend and co-worker, Amanda.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Shannon said.

Paige and her exchanged greetings and when they were done, Amanda raised her brows in my direction. The classic silent,oh we’re talking about this later, twerplook all good friends know how to dish and receive.

“So what are y’all doing tonight?”

Amanda tipped her martini glass in Shannon’s direction. “You’re looking at it. Elizabeth and I always head out for a few drinks after work on Thursday. You?”

Paige shrugged. “Window shopping and dinner. Mind if we join you? I figured I’d ask since Shannon didn’t give y’all a choice for more company.”

“It’d be wonderful,” I said. They’d been really sweet in the elevator even if it was only for a few minutes.

The waiter came by, took their drink orders and while we were waiting for them to arrive, Paige turned to me. “So, Beaux said Gage is really impressed with your stories these last couple of weeks.”

It took massive effort not to sputter my drink over the table. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah. Beaux told me that Gage was going on and on about you.” She folded her arms on the table and leaned in. “So, how are the stories going?”

Her head tilted to the side, blonde hair falling over one shoulder.

Right. The story. The hospital. That’s what she was talking about.

I was stuck on the fact he’d actually talked about me. To teammates? And he’d been watching my stories?

It was too much information, too much heat slithering up my neck to my cheeks.

“Good. It’s been fun. Challenging to make sure it’s about the hospital and not the athlete, but overall, I’ve been enjoying it.”

Next to me, Shannon chuckled. “I bet you’re enjoying it. Gage is freaking hot. And nice.”

“Really nice,” Paige cut in. “Sexy and sweet. He’s really like the perfect package.”

Shannon sighed. “So much less of a jerk than my guy.”

I narrowed my eyes on her. “You’re married to ESPN’s sexiest athlete of the year. Four years running.”

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