2. Evan Ellis
Chapter 2
Evan Ellis
“Let’s go, Ellis! We don’t have all day.”
Reaching over, I shoved my best friend and quarterback, Lennox Sanders, as he rushed me to unfold my six-foot-eight body from the front seat of his metallic blue Porsche 911 .
“If you wanted me to hurry, you should have driven the Hummer.”
“Maybe. But it’s more fun watching you struggle to get out, Clark. I’ll take my entertainment where I can get it.”
“Asshole,” I muttered, trying to hide my smile. “Glad I could amuse your short ass.”
Lennox was only short compared to me. He was six-foot-two with curly brown hair and green eyes. But his smart mouth was gonna get him in trouble.
Like me, he’d been with the team since being drafted eight years ago. He was single and never planned to change that. I thought he was ridiculous.
Two years ago, the Carlisle Group bought the SunRay’s franchise and changed our name to the Storm. With every season that passed, I was grateful to still be playing in my thirties and that I hadn’t sustained any major injuries.
After extracting myself from the car, I met Lennox at the trunk to pick up my brown leather weekender and the hanging bag that held my tuxedo.
“Which one did you bring, Clark? Armani or Prada?”
The idiot hung that nickname on me when a sportscaster said I resembled Clark Kent. The dimple in my chin and dark scruff earned me the nickname early in my career. It could have been worse.
“Prada,” I replied. “Always Prada.”
Lennox whistled at my choice. “Fancy threads. You must be looking to catch someone’s eye. If it’s been a while, I’ll take you out to the Squid. See if we can find you a Navy man or a jersey chaser.”
I shook my head and ignored his suggestion. I didn’t hook up just for the sake of hooking up. I needed to feel the attraction.
Lennox had a phobia about relationships, so he’d never understand why I wanted what my other best friend, Nick, had.
“I like it for high-profile events, and it fits me like a glove. My agent said it would help me get endorsement contracts. So I bought it.”
Lennox locked the car and pocketed his keys. “He’s probably right.”
“You still shopping for a new agent?” I asked as we walked through the private terminal.
“Yeah. I hear the one in Portland is the best in the business. But the client list is very exclusive.”
He was referring to Aidan Hayes Monroe, one of the partners from EHM Management.
“He is. My ex and his husband are good friends with them.”
Lennox turned and gave me that look. “Why are you still friends with him, Evan? The point of a breakup is to break up . Not hang out together.”
I smiled as we approached the plane. “I know. But Nick is different. “
Back in college, Nick Reed had been my best friend and roommate before we were more. Even though it hurt when we broke up, he understood what I needed to do in order to go pro.
“But he lives in San Diego. I can’t believe his husband doesn’t flip his shit when you come around. You’re a good-looking guy.”
I chuckled because he had no idea. “Oh, he does. Preston flips out almost every time. But Nick is stupid in love, and I’m happy for them.”
Making our way to the owner’s private jet, I draped my hanging bag over my arm. At the bottom of the stairs, we placed our bags on the luggage rack to be stowed underneath.
Climbing aboard, we joined our teammates for the ninety-minute flight to Sacramento for the Gala. The Storm had been invited to attend since we’d just won our first Super Bowl.
But before we could get seated, Carson St. James decided to stir things up.
“There they are. What took you fuckers so long?”
I grinned. “Sorry. Your mama wouldn’t let me outta bed,” I quipped to a chorus of oohs.
Our strong safety threw his head back and laughed. My team knew I was bisexual. And we all knew Carson’s mother was a sweet woman in her mid-50s. Not my type at all.
“Good one, Ellis,” he said, holding his hand up for a high five. “I’m gonna tell her you said that.”
Laughing, I took my seat next to Lennox as our new PR manager climbed aboard.
Laura Langdon was a social media guru. During her first month as an intern, our following had grown by fifteen thousand followers in the offseason when people were watching baseball. She’d interviewed all of us and found unique ways to showcase us to different segments of our fan base. And with that, we’d been able to do some community outreach and get involved with the surrounding area in Southern California.
“Hey Evan,” she said, taking a seat across from me. “I’ve got some ideas I want to run by you for when we get back. I heard about a chef who runs a cooking school for teenagers. Sounds like something you might be interested in.”
“Yeah, sure thing,” I replied. “I heard about that, too.”
Lennox looked confused. “Isn’t that…”
I elbowed him.
“Yeah, that’s what I was telling you about.”
My best friend raised a brow but quickly got the message. He smiled at Laura.
“Sounds like fun.”
Our conversation ended when the flight attendant came by to make sure we were all buckled in and ready to go. And when we pulled away from the gate, I took out my earbuds and settled into listening to the podcasts I’d downloaded.
Two hours later, we arrived at our hotel in downtown Sacramento and checked into our rooms. Lennox was next door to me, and Carson was three doors down.
Sliding the key card into the lock, I entered my room. I hung my bag in the closet, then placed my weekender on the luggage rack.
Making my way across the room, I took in the view that overlooked the pool and had a nice view of the dome of the Capitol Building. Tall palm trees created a perimeter around the property, providing a Southern California vibe in the northern part of the state.
Turning from the window, I spotted a small basket on the dresser that held some of my favorite snacks and bottled water. A handwritten envelope addressed to me was tucked inside.
Picking it up, I flipped it over and pulled out the card. I expected to find something standard that could be written to anyone. Instead, there was a handwritten note in the same script as the name on the front.
Evan,
Welcome to Sacramento. We’re delighted you could make it to the gala. Please enjoy the refreshments my assistant has put together for you. She went the extra mile by calling your PR staff to find the things you prefer. We hope you have time to enjoy them.
The itinerary for tonight and a local map are included for you as well. I look forward to meeting you in person tonight.
Best regards,
Hudson Gatlin
Smiling, I picked up the itinerary and checked the time. The formal black-tie event began at seven p.m., and according to the map, it was only a few blocks away.
Looking out the window at the Capitol Building I wondered if he was in his office. I made a mental note to thank him personally tonight.
A knock on my door drew me out of my musings. With the note in hand, I reached for the handle and opened it. Lennox stood in the hallway, looking hopeful at me.
“Wanna go get something to eat? I’m starved.”
“Yeah,” I laughed, putting the note on the dresser.
He eyed my card. “What’s that?”
I smiled as I walked into the hallway. “A note. From the governor.”
The early evening sky was streaked with clouds that cast an orange tint as we walked up the steps to the Stafford House. Our hotel had offered their shuttle, but we’d chosen to walk after the pizza we’d eaten a couple of hours ago.
Glancing down, I checked my suit as I buttoned the tuxedo jacket. My white shirt was pressed perfectly, and my bowtie was on point. My mother had insisted I learn how to tie it, and I was grateful she had.
Clean-shaven and appropriately layered with my signature Tom Ford Fucking Fantastic Parfums, I was dressed to impress. Notes of lavender, leather, bitter almond, and vanilla created a cloud around me that most people found irresistible.
A few yards inside the doorway, we were greeted by a man with an iPad . He looked up and smiled with a hint of recognition.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Could I get your names, please?”
I pulled out the invitation for the Storm and handed it to him. He tapped on his iPad, then smiled before turning his attention back to us.
“I apologize for asking, but it’s protocol, even for celebrities like yourselves.”
Smiling, I nodded to him. “It’s totally fine. We understand.”
He smiled and pointed to the end of the hallway. “The reception room is to the left. Have a good evening, gentlemen.”
I nodded and headed down the long hallway of the historical house. I smiled at the man standing with his back to the doorway.
Lennox put his hand on my shoulder. “I’m going to get a drink before we schmooze with the celebs.”
“Cool. Grab me a whiskey, would ya? There’s someone I want to speak to.”
Lennox raised a brow but didn’t ask questions.
Just inside the ornate doorway stood the man I was looking for. Governor Hudson Gatlin. He turned his head just enough for me to see his profile before turning back away. And even though I’d seen his videos and photos a thousand times, seeing him in person was mesmerizing.
Dressed in a P rada tuxedo, Hudson Gatlin exuded the confidence and sophistication of a self-made man. He stood with perfect posture and was clean-shaven tonight. He was handsome, all dressed up, but I preferred the casual side with the late-day dark stubble he wore in his videos on social media.
His thick, dark hair was meticulously styled, but the real attention grabber was his gray eyes that would stop anyone in their tracks. I was anxious to meet him.
As I admired him from afar, he forced a smile down at a very short woman. She handed him a highball glass before running her hands over his lapels.
Glancing around his broad shoulder, her eyes lit up when she saw me watching. She grinned before turning her attention back to him. Must be a fan.
I approached them but stood back to allow them to finish their conversation.
“There you go, Hudson. You look very handsome. Remember what I said.”
He gave her an exasperated grunt as she giggled at him. With a pat on his chest, she turned and walked away.
I brought my fisted hand to my mouth to clear my throat, then closed the distance. He surveyed the room, then leaned down to smell the liquid in the glass.
Leaning forward, I spoke close to his ear.
“Excuse me,” I said, making him jump.
Startled, he turned and slung the dark contents of his highball all over my shirt.
Wide-eyed and momentarily frozen from the shock, his eyes focused on the dark stain before trailing up to find mine.
He was mortified and had turned three shades of red.
All I could do was grin.