Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ashley
"Mint green suits you." I stood behind Chase and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He pulled off the colour better than I would have.
Both the button down shirt and black jeans were a touch too tight, but that was the point.
This spring it was all about figure-hugging.
Next year we'd be wearing baggy clothes, or something in between.
Personally, I liked this look, especially on him.
Kris would hate it. But then again, Kris wouldn't have agreed to model. He wasn't interested in fashion, or much of anything related to my job. As long as it brought in money, and I was happy, then he kept his nose out of it.
I thought that was how I liked things, until now. Having a guy take an interest, even if we were just friends, was a refreshing change.
"It's a fun shade," Chase said politely. "Are you sure I shouldn't have bright purple pants?"
"If purple was in, I would totally get you some," I assured him. I stepped back to snag the hanger from the back of a chair where he'd put it.
I might have admired his ass for a few moments longer than necessary before I turned away.
"Do you think Bam will like his outfit?" I turned back and smiled.
Chase grinned at my reflection. "He's going to love it."
My smile widened. "Great." I wasn't usually much of a practical joker, but I couldn't resist this one.
"Hey guys," Bam greeted as he stepped into the change room. "Sup?" He had a suit bag draped over his shoulder. His hair was neat, just like I'd asked for, and his face lightly powdered. Not enough to look like makeup, but enough so the lights above the catwalk didn't make his skin shiny.
"Nothing much." Chase and I exchanged looks and held back laughter.
Bam looked from one to the other. "What?" He eyed me suspiciously. "Am I wearing something as ugly as Chase's shirt?"
"Of course not," I replied.
"Good. Better not be as ugly as Chase himself." Bam held the bag up and unzipped it all the way. He peeled back one side, then looked back up at us.
"It looks okay, but the expression on your faces says you're up to something." He pulled out a pair of jeans like the ones Chase wore, and a neatly ironed, white button down shirt. "This looks way too harmless. Where's the mint green tutu?"
I clapped my forehead. "I knew I forgot something. Oh well, we'll have to go with that as it is. I'll step out so you can get changed."
I closed the door behind me. The change room walls didn't go up to the ceiling, so I heard them talking.
"That woman is definitely up to some shenanigans," Bam said. "Have you been teaching her your bad habits?"
Chase laughed. "I'm sure she's not up to anything. Maybe you should stop thinking everyone is plotting against you."
"Hey, everyone is plotting against me," Bam said. "And I'm plotting against you all." He chuckled.
"Accurate." Chase grinned. "How did you get through high school without getting tossed out?"
"The trick is to not get caught," Bam said. "Now, are you gonna tell me what your woman is up to?"
My heart did a funny little dance at being called Chase's woman. I put it down to a touch of fear at being caught out with our plan. Or maybe nerves, because I needed this parade to go well.
"Nope," Chase said. "That would be telling. Besides, what makes you think she's up to anything?"
"Anyone in your immediate proximity is suspicious," Bam said. "Including me." He paused for a moment. "Maybe it's you who is up to something."
"Possibly," Chase said. "You'll have to wait and see."
"Has anyone told you recently that you suck?" Bam asked.
I struggled to hold back a laugh, which earned me a funny look from Hawk Florence who happened to walk by at that moment.
I managed to smile and hoped I didn't look too stupid. "Hi, thanks for coming."
He nodded and smiled back. "Anything for cancer research." A brief shadow passed over his eyes, but it was gone quickly, like he was used to covering his feelings. He was a guy, he probably was used to it. Shame guys are taught to do that, it can't be healthy.
"It's a cause near and dear to many of us." If we weren't personally affected, we knew someone who was.
"That's true," he agreed. "That's why we're all here."
"Thank you," I said. "It's appreciated.
"You can get changed in there." I pointed.
He nodded and stepped inside.
"There goes the neighbourhood," Bam said before the door was even closed.
"Nice to see you too, buddy," Hawk said.
"Chase is up to some shit," Bam said. "Watch your back."
"I always do," Hawk said. "Are you sure it's Chase and not you?"
"I'm not up to a thing," Bam protested.
"Me either," Chase said. "Bam is jumping at shadows."
"Jumping at shadows, my ass," Bam said.
"And this is the changing area." Mel stepped through the doorway, eyes wide. She led Ollie Tucker, who was clearly not oblivious to her attention. If anything, he looked embarrassed.
"You can get undressed in there," Mel added. "I mean, changed."
I raised my eyebrows and bit back yet another laugh. I knew exactly what she meant. I was pretty sure we all did.
"Thanks," Ollie muttered, his chin almost to his chest. He disappeared inside.
Mel fanned herself with her hand and mouthed, "Oh em gee."
I shook my head and laughed silently. "He is cute," I whispered.
"Cute?" she whispered back. "Cute, nothin'. He's smokin' hot. Damn. Where were guys like that when I was single?"
"Hiding from women like us?" I suggested. "Dating models?"
Chase was hot, but since we were friends, I tried not to notice.
I failed a lot of the time, but I kept my thoughts to myself as best I could.
Nothing would ruin a friendship faster than telling him I thought he was one of the sexiest guys I'd ever met.
I might have dreamed about holding onto him tight on the back of his bike a few times.
"That figures." Mel pouted. "Not that the mister isn't a hottie, but that guy is next level." She said that at normal volume.
I pressed my fingers to my lips.
"Oops." She didn't seem very apologetic. "Anyway, you moved on quick. Good for you."
I didn't get a chance to reply when my phone pinged. I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced at the screen.
"Ten minutes everyone," I called out.
"I'll make sure the girls are ready," Mel said.
I nodded and tapped on the door. "Are you guys almost ready?"
The nerves were getting the better of me now.
Every ticket to the event sold out days ago.
Almost the moment the publicity department mentioned the Humpbacks' involvement.
Press buzzed around the building like bees to the best flowers.
This could be the biggest event of the year, or the biggest disaster.
This was make or break. If it went badly, I mean really badly, it might cost me my job.
"Just a second," Bam called out. "I'm still looking for the booby trap in my outfit."
I grinned. "What makes you think there is one? That wouldn't be very professional of me."
A long silence was followed by, "There is no catch, is there? You guys are just messin' with my head."
Chase opened the door and winked at me before he spoke over his shoulder. "Keep telling yourself that."
"You really suck, Chase." Bam pouted.
"Yeah, I know," Chase replied.
He was playing up the part really well. The truth was, Bam was right. We hadn't set up a thing. Chase had talked about finding him something silly to wear, but I'd suggested we let him think that. The mind was better at fooling itself than any prank ever could be.
Besides, I didn't want to get fired for the sake of a mint green tutu on a pro ball player. No, we'd save the tutu for the kid's parade, where it would be better appreciated.
"He put you up to this, didn't he?" Bam said as he slipped past me and out the door.
"I have no idea what you mean," I said sweetly. "I'm just doing my job and being professional."
He eyed me sideways. "Right. Know this." He waggled a finger at me. "If you prank me, I will prank you back."
I nodded. "Noted. I'll watch my back around you from now on."
He patted my shoulder and grinned. "You're all right. I like you. Better than that cheatin' bitch he was with. Hey, Chase." He looked toward him. "She's a keeper."
"Thanks for your blessing," Chase said, seeming uncomfortable.
"Any time." Bam didn't seem to notice.
"I feel like I should apologise for them." Hawk wore dark blue trousers with a hard crease on the knee, and a V neck t-shirt. Casual mixed with formal.
"On the other hand," he went on. "They're grown men who can apologise for themselves." He wiggled his brows at me.
I smiled back. "No apology necessary. As long as they behave up on the catwalk. No tripping each other."
"Not until after the parade," Bam agreed.
"Not until you're not wearing clothes that belong to Lacey's," I said firmly.
"You're a hard woman," he teased, "but you have a deal."
Ollie followed them out shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. He wore a suit that would have melted panties, even if he wasn't so good looking.
"You look very nice," I told him.
"Thanks. I feel like…weird." He grimaced.
"It's a suit, you're supposed to feel weird," Bam said. "Ain't nothin' more unnatural on this Earth than a guy in a suit."
"Except a guy in a tuxedo," Hawk said.
"Amen to that, brother," Bam said. "You won't catch me in one of those, unless I have to. Even then."
I listened to them banter about the horrors of black tie clothing while I led them to the back of the stage.
"You're going out in alphabetical order," I told them. "Bam, Chase, Hawk, then Ollie." Nicknames, obviously, since Hawk's real name was Conrad. I couldn't imagine anyone calling him that. Hawk suited him so much better.
"In order of beauty, you mean," Bam said. He drew himself up and gave me a rakish smile.
"In opposite order." Hawk grinned. "Best looking last."
Bam frowned at him. "Says you."
"Yeah, says me," Hawk replied. "Are you saying you're better looking than God's Gift over here?" He jerked a thumb toward Ollie, who looked like he was ready to run away as it was.
Bam eyed Hawk sideways. "You have a point. She's mixing it up then, right Ash?"
I raised a hand. "Like I said, it's just alphabetical order." And the crowd wouldn't look twice at anyone else after they saw Ollie. That was why he was dressed in a suit. He was our showstopper.
"Let the woman do her job," Chase said. "She's not going to come to a game and tell us how to do ours. Right, Ash?"
"Heck no," I said. "I know nothing about football. You'd lose if I was coaching." They'd look good doing it though.
"Okay, it's your turn. Remember what we practiced. Just be yourselves. Don't rush. Don't fall." I handed Bam a football signed by all the guys, to tuck under his arm.
"Can I toss this to some cutie in the audience?" he asked.
"Sure, but don't hurt anyone," I said. That and several more signed balls would go to kids in the cancer ward of the hospital. Others would go to lucky women in the crowd.
Interactive was what we were going for, this time around. Memorable. Social media worthy. Viral worthy.
The crowd would eat it up.
"Here goes nothin'." Bam led the way to the stage.
I held my breath.