Page 13 of Scoring the Player
“It’s not like that. He maybe wants me to design something for him.”
“That’s cool.” He takes a step farther into the room but doesn’t make a move to sit. The genuine smile on his face reminds me how excited he was for me when he found out I was designing for Penelope Hart.
“It might not happen. I’ve never done…” I trail off as my phone vibrates in my hand. The name flashing across the screen makes me gasp. “Oh my gosh, it’s him.”
I can’t sit still, so I stand. Felix moves closer. “Are you going to answer it?”
“Definitely not. It has to be a butt dial.” I didn’t expect him to reply tonight. I definitely didn’t expect him to video call me! “What kind of rock star is sitting by his phone on a Thursday night? He should be hooking up with girls or still sleeping off last night’s hangover.”
Eddie doesn’t really strike me as that cliché, but he’s hot and famous so who knows.
“You should answer it. It isn’t a butt dial.”
“I’m wearing a T-shirt and my hair is still sweaty from practice.” Saying it out loud makes me realize just how much I can’t answer, but if I don’t, then am I going to lose this opportunity to work with him?
“Help,” I plead to Felix. “What do I do?”
“Hit ignore.”
I do it without questioning him, then sit back down. Felix takes a seat next to me.
“I just ignored a call from Eddie Dillon.” I whisper the words.
Felix’s short, gruff laugh is so close. Hottie QB is sitting on my couch and a hot rock star is calling me. What in the world is happening?
“Now what?” I set my phone down on my lap and shake out my hands. “I’m so nervous, my fingers are trembling.”
“May I?” He reaches for my phone.
I nod and he picks it up, then taps something out. Before he sends it, he hands it to me for approval.
Me
I’m at a party and it’s too loud to answer. Can I call you tomorrow?
“Not bad.” Some of my nerves relax as I hit send. “Thank you.”
When Eddie replies a second later, Felix leans in to read the text and my nerves ramp right back up.
Eddie
Sounds great. I’m in rehearsals all day, but I’ll give you a call as soon as I’m done. Can’t wait to work with you.
“Success,” he says, jaw tight and voice a little deeper than it was a minute ago.
“I just lied to a rock star.”
“It doesn’t have to be a lie. You could still come to the party.”
“I can’t.”
“Sure, you can. Put on some shoes, maybe some deodorant, and we’ll walk next door.”
“I don’t stink,” I say, but it was grossly hot out at practice so that might be a lie. “Okay, I might, but I can’t go either way.”
“Wild and spontaneous, remember?” He lets his body lean against mine for a second. “You can’t hide forever. Or maybe you can, but you shouldn’t.”
“Not forever. Just a week or two.”
