Page 13 of Everything In Between
My chest feels tight, and I shake my head maybe a little too quickly. “No. And I don’t know if I should. Especially not now.”
Roman arches a brow. “Why not now?”
“Because, I just told you, Cal’s on my case about distractions. I really don’t need to bring a football player—who is probably a player on and off the field—into the mix, you know?”
“Actually, I don’t know if Hayes Vogt is really the dating type,” he says, looking thoughtful. “I see stuff about other players all the time, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen anything about him or the people he’s dating. From what I’ve heard and seen, he’s a decent guy. Always giving to charity and really focused on keeping his head in the game. There’s a reason he’s one of the greatest in the league.”
I move the pillow on my lap to my chest and hold it tightly, letting it act as my symbolic shield. “You mean he hasn’t beeninvolved in a recent romantic scandal that hit the tabloids and made the entire music industry lose their minds?”
Roman barks a laugh. “No. I guess not.”
“I can’t relate,” I tease and shrug it off while anxiety gnaws at my gut.
“Still a sore spot, huh?” Roman asks me, all hints of jest gone.
Glancing away from him, I say, “It’s whatever. It is what it is. It’s been six months. I’ve moved on.” I can feel Bethany’s eyes on me, but I don’t look over to her to confirm my suspicions. Instead, I pick at a loose thread on the pillow. Then I ask Roman, “What are you doing here, anyway?”
“Thought I’d come see what you were up to, but then you weren’t here.” He glances down at his watch. “But I do have to get going. I’ve got a meeting with my agent.”
“Did you hear back about the TV show?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately, they had someone else in mind, so my agent’s searching for other opportunities. We’re meeting to go over some options.”
“Good luck. The right role will come around.”
“It always does,” he says, yanking me into a side hug. When he lets me go, he gives Bethany a high five. “Catch you ladies later.” He salutes us both, leaving us chuckling as he walks out the door.
SIX
jersey
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
“Oh, what a day,”I announce as soon as Roman’s gone, letting my forehead fall into the fluffy pillow on my lap.
“So...?” Her mischievous tone of voice has me peeking at her through my eye lashes only to see her Cheshire Cat grin.
“So, what?”
“Why haven’t you texted Hayes?” she asks. When I stare at her with wide eyes she laughs. “Did you really think I’d let it go as easy as Roman did?”
I cover my face with my hands and groan. “No, but I was hoping you would.”
She chuckles and scoots closer to me, her blue eyes sparking playfully. “Well? Do you think you’re going to?”
“I don’t know. Probably not.”
She turns thoughtful for a moment and then blurts, “I think you should.”
Her response startles me and I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”
She reaches for my hand. “Jersey, you have worked yourassoff these last few months, and I can see the toll it’s taking on you.”
“I’m fine,” I assure her.
“That may be true, but are youhappy?”
Her question pierces me like a knife, and I swallow thickly, hoping my voice comes out level when I answer her. “I am happy. I love my life. Tons of young aspiring artists would kill for this life.”
