Page 23 of The Silent Count
Fuck. I hate this.
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
Lea waits until music drowns out the sound of Scarlett’s heels walking back down the hall before pulling me in for another kiss. This one isn’t hot and heavy like the others, but it overflows with longing instead. A silent promise that this wouldn’t be the end.
“I got some bad news for you…”
“What?”
Lea smiles against my lips, and I already know what she’s going to say before the words come out of her mouth. “I’m gonna need you to climb out that window again.”
* * *
When I pullinto my driveway and turn off my SUV, there’s already a message waiting for me from Lea. I pause for a moment, staring at the notification, wondering what could be waiting for me once I unlock the screen.
Did she find out it’s me? Is she still oblivious? Does she want to tell me all the details about her almost hookup?
The realization hits me that getting messages from Ladybug are causing me more internal turmoil than good. I make a mental note to ask for Lea’s number next time I see her, so we can move our friendship to texts instead. Since I keep my life out of the public eye as much as possible, there’s never been a need for me to get her number.
It seems wrong to flat-out end a relationship with Ladybug. The last thing I want is for Lea to think her friend is abandoning her, but easing away from the past seems like the best course of action for the two of us to test out this new relationship that’s budding between us.
Ladybug:Tell me about your night. Was it good?
Lucky Charm:I had some plans that got… interrupted, so it could’ve been better.
Ladybug:Mr. Charm… were you on adate?
Lucky Charm:I’m not sure you could call it a date necessarily, but I guess it depends on who you ask.
Ladybug:Interesting.
Ladybug:Tell me about the girl. Do you like her?
Lucky Charm:You could say that.
I more than liked Lea, but it’s not something I could explain to her over text like this without revealing my identity to her.
Ladybug:I think you should ask her on a date.
Lucky Charm:Might have to take your advice on that one.
TEN
LEA
“And you…breaking a man’s hand? What were you thinking?” I whip my head toward October, heat slugging through my veins as I pace the small area behind my desk while trying not to blow my fuse.
With Abel’s pre-season drama with his sister, a player punching a sponsor for flirting with his wife, and now this, I’m really being put to the test this season. Don’t they realize I’m already swamped as it is? I do not have time to clean up their press nightmares.
Especially not two at once.
Abel knocked out a world-renowned photographer at a charity fashion show and is now sitting in my office with his head hung low right alongside October. I don’t know what’s gotten into these guys with throwing punches and breaking limbs, but I am over it. Beyond over it.
I already have enough on my plate with regular season work and stories surrounding Fortune’s name change, and my patience is slipping down a steep slope.
“I told him not to touch Mae, and he kept trying to get handsy with her… can you blame me?”
No, I can’t blame him.
