Page 14 of My Secret Bandit

“Yes! Statistically, none of these kids will play pro ball. Hell, most of them won’t even make it at the college level. You don’t think it’s wrong to be like ‘here’s where you can be one day if you just listen to these guys once a fucking year’?”

“There’s nothing wrong with giving kids something to look forward to. It’s about the experience, Kyle. How many kids can say that they’ve played catch with Jordan Abel or that Mateo Linx gave them advice that improved their game?”

“It would have to come back to him, huh?”

“What?” I shook my head, surprised by his brutishness.

“Hey.” Mateo smiled, coming to stand next to me. His hand came to rest on my hip and the warmth of it spread throughout my body.

Kyle scoffed, shaking his head. “Perfect timing.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You didn’t.” I turned from Kyle to stare at Mateo instead. His confusion relaxed into a smile and made it easy to forget the last two minutes. “This was great. I can’t believe Jeffrey almost forgot.”

Mateo laughed. “He almost forgets every year. He just hates waking up this early. You coming to practice later?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. I promised to get Quincy pancakes for coming out. I’ll see you there.”

I thought I melted when I saw him in the press room, but now, as he bent to press his lips to my cheek, I was a goner.

Warm and soft, they left behind a tingling sensation even as I watched him jog off.

“Un-fucking-believable,“ Kyle scoffed, turning toward the parking lot only to flip back around. “I thought you were better than that.”

“Better than what?”

“Letting some—you know what? Forget it. It doesn’t matter what I think, does it?” he growled before leaving me alone on the field.

Fucking Kyle!!

I wanted to scream. Slap him out of his funky-ass attitude because, as much as he hated to admit it, he did not own me. He didn’t get a say in how I went about my personal life or who I spent my time with.

Mood ruined, I stomped back to my car.

“Who’s grumpy now?” Jeffrey said, casually leaning up against his car.

“Hilarious. You should do stand up,” I snipped. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

“Well, damn. Here I was thinking I’d get my own Netflix special,” he said, pretending to be offended. “What’s up?”

“Nothing.”

“Jamie. Come on, I’ve been over here for the last twenty minutes watching you and Kyle. Some tension between you two, huh?”

“Someis an understatement. Lately, our entire relationship is one massive headache that won’t go away.”

“I mean, I never thought of you two as friendly, but I didn’t realize he got under your skin so bad.”

I shrugged. “I get under his just as much—probably more, honestly—by justbeing, so it’s fine. We’ll be fine.”

“Sounds good to me. I forgot some shit I need to get done in the office. If you need anything, make it quick. After that I’m going home, taking an Ambien, and snoozing ’til tomorrow. You two… I don’t know. Just stay separated.”

“Best advice you’ve given so far, boss.”

Atpractice,Kylewaslivid. So heated, I waited for actual smoke to shoot from his ears. He planted himself near the end zone and I kept my distance, lingering further down the sideline. Any time I let my sights stay too long on Mateo, I felt daggers being hurled in my direction.

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