Page 29 of Fashionista's Playbook

“Yeah. Travis is nothing like that—so far.”

“You can’t judge him because his brother was a dick.”

True. At least she’d moved on from my feelings about him.

“Now, abouthisdick.” Rumer bounced on the balls of her feet, a constant ball of energy.

“Oh my God.” I slapped a hand over my mouth.

The cashier paused for just a second, like she was waiting on me to respond further, then continued.

“I don’t know anything about that and don’t plan to.” I shook my head.

“And I have determined”—she paused her talk show-esque statement for dramatic effect—“thatis a lie.”

When the beeping continued uninterrupted, my chuckle trailed off into a sigh. “I think he flirts with me.”

She lifted her brow. “Really? Details, please.”

“I’m probably projecting or something. A guy like that wouldn’t go for someone like me.”

“You’re crazy. Of course, he would. You’re gorgeous.” She blinked like I’d grown two heads.

“No, the women that chase after those guys are models, influencers. I’m the chubby girl who makes sure most of her pants have a spandex component.”

“Can you believe this?” She asked the cashier, who huffed a noncommittal grunt. Rumer looked back to me. “Moriah, if you think he’s flirting with you he probably is. Flirt back. Never know what might happen.”

The sporting goods store grew ten degrees warmer when I thought about what I wanted to happen.

Rumer gave me a knowing smile and poked me in the ribs. “That’s what I thought. You’ll be boning him by the end of the month.”

I snorted. I highly doubted that.

****

I hadn’t seen my sister in years and had no desire to strike up a relationship with her now. The thought made me queasy. Marrying a man who took joy in humiliating others was bad. Marrying the one who’d completely humiliated and destroyed your sister for amusement was something else entirely.

Mom and Dad wanted me to forgive, forget, and move on. There was no way I could do that. They didn’t understand, they never would. Most people didn’t.

And watching Travis with Vincent, I was doubly glad I hadn’t told Travis what he’d said. It seemed they’d put their argument behind them. Vincent was as easy and relaxed as Travis.

Their back-and-forth banter was uncomplicated, practically juvenile, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Fifty-four is gonna lay you out next Sunday.” Vincent was kicked back in Travis’ chair, one foot resting on the edge of the desk. “Just like I used to, when we played peewee.”

Travis cut him a side eye. “You ain’t never laid me out, unless you dreamed it. You couldn’t catch me.” He smacked Vin’s foot from the desk. “And he can’t either.” To prove his point, he dodged the lazy backhand Vin threw his way. “I’m too fast.”

“Keep that in mind when you’re dodging those bullets from that weasel in a suit.”

Travis had a meeting the next day with Ace Hollis, his business manager. The first time I’d met the guy, he’d strutted into Travis’ office, given me a leering once over, and sneered. Each conversation after that made it clear the skinny twerp was only in it to make himself rich.

“I don’t have to dodge a damn thing. The nonprofit is happening, whether he likes it or not.”

Ace had wanted to raise money from other people first, before Travis spent any of his own. The leech didn’t want him to do anything that didn’t make him more money. Even if it helped people.

Vincent stretched and slid his foot on the desk again, ignoring the annoyed look from his brother. “Might wanna look into something similar to what some other athletes are doing. Find a way to funnel money to communities where they can’t afford afterschool sports equipment. Dated a chick a few counties over,did hair for a living. Her kid wanted to play ball, school can’t afford a decent playing surface or pads.”

Travis’ face was quiet, his expression contemplative in a way that shouldn’t be attractive. And yet, it was. A far cry from the shouting man in a helmet on the wall opposite me. Travis was much more than the athlete; he was smart and considerate. “Having a facility in multiple cities won’t be feasible straight away.”

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