Page 29 of Tight End
He opened a spreadsheet. “The numbers from that Nighthawks clip with Shaffer are still climbing after six weeks. Fans loved the banter.”
“Wow.” I squirmed in my seat, a rush of nerves making my stomach queasy again. “Um, that’s good to know.”
“Like I told you before you left, management wants to test you with some higher-profile sports content. Football to start since you already have momentum there. Maybe baseball next season.”
My brain stalled. “That’s incredible.”
“We still want you on figure skating coverage when needed, but you’ll also be rotating in for local sports features and some bigger hits when the timing’s right,” he explained. “You good with that?”
I wanted to scream yes because this was exactly what I’d been hoping for. Before life threw me a plot twist in the form of a tight end with broody brown eyes.
“It sounds wonderful.” Unfortunately, it also meant I had to share part of my personal life with him before I planned. “But there’s something you need to know before I start covering football.”
“There is?” he asked, his brows drawing together.
I forced the words past the lump in my throat. “Yes, um…I’m actually dating a player.”
“Let me guess.” He leaned back in his chair with a low chuckle. “Raiden Shaffer?”
My cheeks heated. “Yeah.”
“Not a surprise, considering the chemistry between you two.”
There was a rap of knuckles against the door, making me whirl around so quickly that I got lightheaded.
Camille leaned against the frame like she was posing for a photo shoot. “Oops. Sorry. Didn’t realize you were in a meeting.”
Roger waved her off. “Give us a second, Camille.”
“Sure.” Her gaze landed on me. “Funny how some people work a decade to get on the football beat, and others just…sleep with the right tight end.”
Heat shot up my neck, and my stomach roiled.
My boss frowned. “Camille?—”
She raised her hands innocently. “Just making conversation.”
Then she winked at me and sauntered away.
My throat felt tight as the door clicked shut behind her. Something I should’ve checked before I told Roger about my relationship with Raiden. Thank goodness I hadn’t mentioned the pregnancy too. The last thing I needed was Camille blabbing about that before we were ready to go public.
“Don’t mind her,” my boss muttered. “She’s competitive, but she’ll toe the company line, and your access to the players is good for the network.”
I hoped he was right about Camille, but I didn’t trust her. “Okay.”
The meeting wrapped quickly after that, but the damage was done. Camille’s jab kept echoing in my brain as I headed toward my cubicle. Then the scent of something cooking in themicrowave drifted from the employee break room, and I raced toward the bathroom.
Kneeling in front of the toilet, I threw up the toast I’d managed to choke down earlier. I was pale and sweating when my stomach was finally empty. My knees shook as I stood and made my way to the sink to wash my hands and rinse out my mouth.
Digging in my pocket, I pulled out one of the ginger lollipops Raiden had tucked in there in case of an emergency right before I climbed into the cab. My throat tightened. Not from nausea, but from how much thought he put into my comfort.
As I unwrapped and stuck it in my mouth, I thought about calling him. Or texting him. Maybe warning him that someone in my world already smelled blood in the water.
But I didn’t want to drag him into something he didn’t need to worry about yet, especially with how protective he was of me. I had no doubt he’d storm in here, and that would only add fuel to Camille’s fire.
So I straightened my spine and walked out of the bathroom. I ignored Camille’s accusing stare and held my head high, pretending her words hadn’t hit their mark. And by the time I got back home that night, I was too tired to worry about her. All I wanted was our big bed and my man wrapped around me while I slept.
12
