Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“I’m a handful, and she’s right. But…” She pauses and then exhales loudly. “This is completely unprofessional—hell, all of this has been—but I need you to know. I did sleep with him when we were sixteen and they were visiting. I was under the impression they weren’t going back. Posey suspected what was going on, and I told her I hadn’t, but I did. I don’t want him here because he’s a shitty player—and because he told me he loved me, and then the next day, he told me he was leaving for Russia and that he wasn’t really in love with me. Pretty sure he said what he did to get in my pants, and I was dumb enough to allow him to do it.”
With that, she walks away in a huff, and I’m speechless.
I have no clue what to do with that information, but I feel for the girl she was. I know, as a sixteen-year-old girl, I didn’t have the luxury of being brokenhearted by a guy. That would have entailed my feeling something for the men who were thrust into my body, but I can feel for Shelli. She was scorned. But given who she is, I’m sure she knows better than this. I don’t approve of her letting personal things from her past affect her business dealings. It must be hormones or something, but I sure don’t agree with how any of this is playing out.
But who am I to even question her?
Snap.
I’m learning from her.
Snap. Snap.
But. I. Don’t. Agree.
When I don’t snap myself, I exhale as I look at the red marks on my wrist and how the rubber band is digging into the bend of my thumb. I feel my body vibrate with uneasiness. I was raised to always listen to the powerful people around me, but I’m not that girl anymore. I am my own person. I slowly bring the rubber band back to my wrist and exhale once more. When I look up, I find Shelli watching me.
“You okay?”
My chest is shaking from how hard my heart is beating. “I don’t think it’s right that you are allowing your feelings from so long ago to bleed into your business.”
She turns to face me and holds my gaze. “It’s more than my feelings. It’s the fact that I don’t think he belongs.”
“Because of your feelings.”
She shrugs. “And because I lost the salary space for a really great player. Though, you and Posey are right. I am wrong. But it doesn’t change how I feel.”
I slowly nod, understanding what she means. “Which is fair, but you must control how those feelings seep into everything around you. You are my example, and I want you to be what everyone says. And all this has been very messy.” I’m hesitant because I really don’t want to lose my opportunity to work with her. But I also know she must respect my honesty.
Slowly Shelli nods as she holds my gaze. “Noted, and thank you.”
I let out the breath I was holding. “I hope my candor won’t cause you to hate me.”
She laughs. “Not at all. I may be coming off as a spoiled brat, but I’m not. I’m just frustrated, and I’d rather you be honest than kiss my ass.”
“I assumed so,” I say as I move toward her, walking in step with her. “But for real, screw him on a personal level.”
She smiles, her eyes sparkling as she nods. “For sure.” She looks ahead and tips her chin forward. “Let’s hit up the med concourse. I wanna show you all the cool stuff we have, and maybe I should look into some therapy.”
Something shifts in my stomach, fear maybe, but I don’t let it hold me back. With my head held high, I walk with Shelli.
Two incredibly powerful women, with what I assume to be a lot of emotional baggage.
Or maybe that’s just me?
No.
Ugh.
Snap, snap, snap.
four
Dimitri
After a hard workout session, I take a shower and head toward Brooks House, Emery’s family’s restaurant. I am in somewhat of a bad mood since everything hurts and I don’t love hearing that Shelli hates me, but that all fades away once I see her. I knew Emery had grown up. The last time I saw her was for Shelli’s wedding a couple years ago, and even then, she was beautiful. I’ve followed her on Instagram and Snapchat for years, so I’ve had the opportunity to admire her from afar, but man, I wasn’t prepared for the off-social-media Emery.
She’s sitting at the bar, her legs crossed as she wears a pair of super-short jean shorts that give a peek of the bottom of her ass. Her legs are long and toned, a beautiful tan, sending chills down my spine and heat to my groin. She’s got on high-top green Chucks that lace up in a bow at her ankle and a black crop top that looks more like a sports bra than a shirt. Her shoulders are defined and bare. Her wild, curly dark hair is up in a huge topknot on the top of her head as she leans on her hand, kicking her sexy leg up and down. A nice curve to her jaw, full cheeks, and dark lashes. In an instant, I see at least two spots I want to kiss.