Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
Six Hours Later
What a day. I met Kat, who’s smart, efficient, and fully capable. It’s been less than a full day since she came into my life, and already she’s making things easier. That alone terrifies me. I don’t want to get used to it. I don’t want to run her off. Or worse—what if she leaves on her own?
Assistants in this industry rarely stay in one place for long.
And then there’s me. Everyone who enters my life eventually leaves it—gone for good.
That’s true for my family—well, my father’s side, which is the only family I have left.
It’s true for every friend I’ve picked up along the way.
Nobody stuck around after my shoplifting incident.
The only friend I have left is Anne. And sometimes, I wonder if I weren’t her client, would she have ghosted me too?
My mind has been spinning with these kinds of thoughts ever since I got into the back of this black hired car with tinted windows, its trunk packed with all my essentials. I brought my laptop and my extra-large monitor. My tea kettle. My warm socks. My baggy sweats—one for every day of the week.
According to my new schedule, Jaxon’s next game is Thursday night. Since he’s on the road traveling to an away game on Saturday, I’ll be able to go back home that morning. I can hardly wait.
I also plan to be prepared for game night in more ways than one.
I’ll wear something vaguely in the WAG category—without fully crossing into WAGville.
I can look stylish without trying to give Jaxon a hard-on all the way up in our private little section.
I packed enough outfits to test a few and see what works.
No heels, though. I’m not wearing high heels to a football game. That’s where I draw the line.
“Miss?”
The driver’s voice pulls me out of my anxious thoughts.
“Yes?” I answer, startled, my voice jumpy.
“I said, you don’t have to worry about your things. Kat arranged for valet service to bring everything up.”
Valet? “Is this a hotel?”
“Not to my knowledge,” he says, amused. “I was told it’s a full-service condominium.”
“Oh,” I murmur. Then I remember Jaxon’s voice telling me to be nice. “Thank you.”
I wish I could stay in the car forever. I imagine his apartment is a typical bachelor setup—leather couches, neon beer signs, maybe even a pool table smack in the middle of the living room. But whatever it is, I’m bracing for a mess. Still, I muster the courage—and the will—and push the door open.
“Here goes... everything,” I whisper as I step out, now standing on the curb.
My pulse races. My stomach flips.
God, I wish this didn’t have to happen.