Page 36 of Hot Damn
“Shame it’s a metaphorical coffin and not a real one.”
“He keeps it up, I might find a way to make it a real one.”
“You do, Bran and I want in on it. Although if Nat would just let Cami off the leash.” Coach Watts laughs what can only be described as a cackle. “She’s been his biggest non-fan the whole time we’ve known Nat.”
I have no idea who they’re talking about, but their conversation shows how close the women are, how much they’d go to bat for each other. And how strong and independent they are. Our GM isn’t letting anyone do her dirty work for her. Whatever that dirty work is.
“With any luck, Nat will be in Baton Rouge tonight with signed divorce papers in hand.” Coach Alcott’s words clue me in.
Natalie Redding is in the middle of a divorce, and from the little I know about the situation, and it’s just hallway chatter, her husband is trying to bleed her dry of money. Although the consensus is he’s been doing that for years already.
The flight crew greets me with a smile as I leave the jetway and enter the plane. We don’t have assigned seats, the plane a private charter, but there is a crew to serve us meals and drinks if we want either.
As I walk further down the aisle, I see most of my teammates have the same idea as me. The three-hour flight is a good chance to rest our battle-weary bodies and catch up on sleep.
I head to the last row, toss my bag up in the overhead locker, and flop down in the seat next to the window. Buckling my belt, I lean my head back and shut my eyes. With any luck I’ll be out before we take off and only wake up when we land.
My seat shakes as someone takes the one next to me and I inwardly cringe and hope they don’t want to talk. The feminine clearing of a throat tells me I’m out of luck.
“I’ll only talk for a few minutes.”
I turn my head and crack one eye. Oakley James is doing up her seatbelt as she settles in beside me. “You don’t want to sit next to your husband?”
“I will after we chat.” Her gaze snags mine. “Cami called me this morning.”
“Ah.” Opening both eyes, I sit up straighter and twist a little toward her. “What did she call you about?”
“Whitney. Or more specifically her car.”
“Right, well, you probably know as much as I do.”
“After we hung up, I called the PI we have on retainer and asked him to do some investigating. I also asked him to see if he can get any security footage from the school.”
“I should have thought of that.”
“At midnight? I think you’re forgiven for not. And this isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with this kind of thing. Amos, our PI, is good. Really good. I expect to have an answer as to how Whitney’s tires got flat in the next day or so.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, about Whitney. What are your plans for her when you’re playing out of town?”
“She’s supposed to spend the night with our neighbor. Mrs. Gerber.”
“I’m told Mrs. Gerber could blow over in a stiff breeze.”
I chuckle, the description of our elderly neighbor spot on. Although Mrs. Gerber is tiny, she’s tough as nails. The first time I met her she tried to beam me over the head with a broom. If I didn’t have quick reflexes she would have got me, and with the power behind her swing she’d have cracked my skull open too.
“She’s small but don’t underestimate her. And Whit doesn’t really need a babysitter, it’s more about her not being alone.”
“I have a proposition for you.”
I grin. “Does your husband know you’re propositioning players?”
“Oh, funny. And yes, he knows what I’m going to offer. At the moment Chase Hawkins’ sisters stay with Nat when he’s out of town. If she’s with the team, like this trip, they stay at my house with Mikey and Pa. I’m offering Whitney the same. She caneither stay with Nat and Pa, or just Pa. You might also see if Cami is up for staying with Whitney or alternately, she can stay with Cami.”
“I…” I blink a couple of times, my brain trying to roll through the options she just laid out. “Thank you. But I don’t want to put?—”
She holds up a hand. “You—she—would not be putting anyone out. It gives all the kids someone to hang with when their parents, or in Chase’s case, guardian, aren’t there. We’re a built-in family and I’d like you to take advantage of that because if the situation is reversed and someone needs help, I’d expect you to offer it.”
