Page 110 of Rookie Move
“Hey,” she squeaked, and then focused on the real problem at hand. “Why are you here? Is there another trade on the table?” One that he felt the need to tell her about himself? Her heart made the sign of the cross while she waited to hear what he’d say.
Her dad shook his head. “It’s quittin’ time, Princess. Let’s go get a coffee. We’re done here.”
“Oh.” Georgia’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Okay. I’ll get my coat.”
They walked out into the late winter’s watery sunshine, where Brooklyn’s brick buildings rose up in every direction. They turned onto Hudson Avenue, but her father stopped in front of the only restaurant on the block. “Step in here with me for a minute,” her dad said.
“Why?” She looked up at the restaurant in front of her. It was on the fancier side, and she never ate here.
“Humor me,” her father said, opening the door and stepping inside.
She followed him, and the first person she saw inside was Leo. “What...?”
“SURPRISE!” cheered several dozen people.
With her mouth open Georgia scanned all the faces before her. Becca and Leo’s family, including DJ and Lianne. The team. Ari the yoga instructor. Even Silas was here. “Wow,” she breathed. They were all here for her?
The next sound she heard was a cork popping, and thatwas DJ’s doing. “Gotcha,” he said. “We just wanted to celebrate your engagement in style.” He began pouring bubbly into a row of glasses on the bar.
Georgia was still stunned into silence, but Leo crossed over to her and her father, lifting a hand to squeeze his coach’s shoulder. “Thanks. Well played.” Then he kissed her on the nose. “Say something. I’m worried.”
“This is...” she tried. “Wow.” Two waiters had appeared carrying trays of something that looked delicious. “Are those... dumplings?”
“Of course.”
She turned around to face her dad, who let a smile crack through his usual crusty facade. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” He chuckled. “Should have seen your face when I stuck my head in your office, though. Didn’t mean to panic you.”
DJ handed her a glass of champagne, then kissed her on the cheek. “Cheers, beautiful. I still don’t know why you like my brother. But congratulations anyway. And my door is always open if you decide to throw him over.”
She took the glass. “Thanks, I think.”
“That won’t happen,” her father rumbled, taking another glass from DJ. “She even has a naked picture of him on her computer.”
“Omigod,Daddy,” she protested. “Shut up. That’s, uh, a publicity photo.”
On a bar stool nearby, O’Doul cleared his throat. “I’d like to make a toast. Just a quickie.”
He tapped a spoon on his glass, and the room quieted down a little bit. The bartender hurried to pass out glasses to those teammates who didn’t yet have one.
“Guys,” O’Doul said, raising his glass, “We’re lucky to have Georgia ‘Killer’ Worthington on our team, and now we’ve got College Boy, too. Maybe the kid made a few rookie moves this season...” There were a few guffaws at that, even from his coach. “But he made a great decision when he asked Georgia to marry him. So let’s wish ’em all our best.”
There was some more general hooting and catcalling, and everybody drank to their good fortune. Georgia spent the next half hour greeting everyone who had come out to wish her well. She accepted another tight hug from Marion Trevi, and kisses from Violet and Lianne. She took some hazing from the team, and ate some dumplings. Leo received his share of back pats and hugs and jokes.
After she’d thanked everyone in the room for coming out on a Monday afternoon just to say congratulations, she ended up in front of Nate Kattenberger, who’d come in late. He was catching up on his own glass of champagne and some of the exquisite passed appetizers that continued to circulate. “Number Three!” he crowed, holding up his glass. “Congratulations. I wish you all the best.”
Georgia thanked him, wondering not for the first time if he’d ever find anyone. How did an overworked billionaire find a date? And if a woman was interested in him, would he ever trust it?
Note to self. Some people’s romantic troubles were probably thornier than her own.
“Do you feel good about the roster?” she asked. “I have to say I’m a lot more relaxed about planning my wedding now that the trade deadline is passed.”
He made a wry face. “I wouldn’t sign off on a trade of Leo Trevi. He just got here.”
“Oh,” Georgia said slowly. “Well, never say never.” Surely every player had a price. Nate was a businessman. He knew that.
But the magnate shrugged. “While never is a long time, he’s a fabulous player, and I brought him to Brooklyn for a reason.”
