Chapter 13 #2
“Just want to make sure you don’t bolt.”
Her face falls. “Aren’t you a funny guy?” No. Just a bit desperate it seems.
She doesn’t bother talking to me, and I don’t bother talking to her until we’re five minutes from the event.
“You’re going to have to act like you like me in there.”
“This is not my first rodeo, Potato.”
Ah, so we’ve sunk to that level of pettiness. Guess it’s fair, given what I had to say to get her in this car.
“There will be major sponsors here, people who pay me a lot of fucking money, so no donkey pervert story. Just say we ran into each other at the zoo.”
“And shield them from the true story of who you are? That’s doing them a disservice.”
“The real story would be you assaulting me in a bar, but I have enough class to hold back on telling that tale.”
She whips her head toward me. “Are you saying I don’t have class?”
“Take it as you want,” I say as I pull up to valet.
“Well, if that’s the way you want to play the game,” she says.
“Don’t, Oliana,” I say in a stern voice. “I swear to fuck, if you embarrass me in there, you won’t like the repercussions.”
“Oh Potato, I have zero plans of embarrassing you.”
Why do I find that incredibly hard to believe? But I don’t have time to hash it out with her because the valet is opening our doors.
I hand them the key and then make my way around the car where I meet up with Ollie. She takes my hand and snuggles in close to my side just in time for a few cameras to flash in our direction.
Fuck, I completely forgot about the press.
I turn to Ollie and say, “Don’t talk to anyone. Just smile, and I’ll guide you inside.”
Surprisingly, she does as she’s told, and we make it past the press box and into the venue, where we’re immediately greeted by Hector Fuentes, the CEO of Skin Leisure, the clothing brand that I recently signed a seven-figure deal with.
“Silas Taters, glad you could make it,” Hector says while patting me on the back. “And who did you bring with you tonight?”
“Hector, it’s great to see you,” I say, turning on the charm. “This is my girlfriend, Ollie Owens.”
“Ollie, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Ollie says.
“Well, help yourself to drinks and food. There are gift bags for everyone as well. Enjoy the night. We’re looking forward to cheering you on this season, Silas.”
“Thank you. We’re looking good. I feel like we have another shot at the cup this year.” I give him a handshake, and then I press my hand to Ollie’s back and guide her into the main ballroom. “Need a drink?” I ask her.
“As if you care,” she says, smiling up at me, and then grips my hand in hers. “But yes, I’m thirsty.”
I don’t give in to her need to press my buttons, so hand in hand, we walk over to the bar, where I find a very familiar face.
“Silas Taters, holy shit.” JP Cane walks up to me and holds his hand out.
We shake, and I say, “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“I’m not alone. Brought Ryot Bisley with me. You know us. If there’s a place where sponsors are gathering with athletes, we want to be there.”
“That’s why you own the leading sports app in the world.
” I bring Ollie forward and say, “JP, this is my girlfriend, Ollie Owens. Ollie, this is JP Cane. He and his brothers, Huxley and Breaker, invested in The Jock Report, something started by Ryot Bisley, his brother Banner, and Penn Cutler. Penn and Ryot both played for the Chicago Bobbies.”
“Oh, yes,” Ollie says. “I heard about The Jock Report.” That’s surprising, given she hasn’t heard about me. “Wasn’t it started because of poor reporting in the media?” Aah, that’s why she’s heard of it.
JP nods. “It was. Now the athletes have their own voice and can interact with fans without having to worry about an algorithm or having their words turned around on them. Trying to get your boyfriend to join.”
“Just haven’t had time yet. I promise I will. I’m sure I’ll need something to scroll through on our away trips.”
JP chuckles, then turns his attention back to Ollie. “What do you do, Ollie?”
“Majoring in journalism, actually,” she says with a smile and then leans forward. “Don’t worry, I have no intention of reporting on sports or twisting anyone’s words. I prefer how-to lifestyle stuff.”
And for some reason, I feel like that’s a dig at me.
“Lifestyle?” JP asks. “Do you ever cover charitable organizations? Because I have one that could really use some more people backing it.”
“Not really, but I know some people who do.”
JP reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out a business card. “Email me. I’d love to get in touch. The more of a reach, the better.”
“Of course.” Ollie sticks the card in her clutch, and we say our goodbyes before ordering our drinks at the bar.
I rest my hand on the nape of her neck as we wait. Talking closely to her, I say, “Were you making a dig at me back there?”
She turns toward me and rests her hand on my chest while she tilts her head back to look me in the eyes. We probably look like the picture-perfect couple. But at the moment, nothing but annoyance, frustration, and a pinch of hate flows between us.
“Did you know that the world doesn’t revolve around you, Silas? Crazy thought, I know. But something you might have to come to terms with.”
She slides her hand up my chest, to my neck, and then stands on her toes and kisses the bottom of my chin.
When she pulls away, she whispers, “If we weren’t in a room of people right now, I would knee you so hard in the dick for making me strip out of my sweatpants and put on this uncomfortable outfit. ”
My jaw clenches, and I’m about to respond when our drinks are placed in front of us.
Wanting to get out of earshot, I take her free hand and guide her to a sitting area.
I expect her to sit in the chair next to me, but she sits on my lap and loops her arm over my shoulders.
Her hand goes straight to my hair, where she lightly plays with it.
“What are you doing?” I ask her, my back stiff.
“Playing the doting girlfriend of course. I mean, you’re Silas Taters, after all, and I’m just a lonely college girl who is so lucky to have you in her life, so I’m going to show you that with my body.”
“Ollie,” I say through clenched teeth as she brings her mouth to my ear and runs her nose very softly along my cheek, causing my skin to break out in goosebumps.
“Mmm, I wonder where Sarah is. I hope she can see the way you stare at my chest. Don’t act like I don’t see you.”
I keep my breath steady as I lift my Sprite with lime to my lips. I should have ordered alcohol.
“I don’t see what the hold up is with her anyway. Sure, she’s gorgeous,” Ollie says as her lips press against my cheek. “And okay, you guys were high school sweethearts.” She kisses me again, this time closer to my mouth. “But did she ever enjoy sucking your cock?”
“Oliana,” I say through clenched teeth.
“You know, hearing you say my real name, it’s starting to make me feel . . . hot.” She squirms on my lap. “Say it again.”
I turn to look her in the eyes, and while keeping a neutral face, I ask through thinned lips, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Being the girlfriend. Isn’t this what you want? To make Sarah jealous? Well, she’s here somewhere, and I’m just trying to show her who you belong to.” She leans in even closer and whispers in my ear. “Even if you don’t get to fuck my tight, wet pussy.”
My breathing picks up, and I can feel my dick harden from the thought of what her pussy would be like, squeezing my cock until I couldn’t breathe anymore.
“You don’t want to play this game, Ollie.”
“Who says I’m playing?” she asks as she stands from my lap and sets her drink down. She leans forward, giving me the perfect view of her chest, and she grips my chin and says, “I’m going to freshen up.” Then she presses her lips right to mine.
Soft.
Supple.
Addicting.
I’m so fucking tempted to slip my hand behind her head and keep her close to me, but I keep my hand still, resting on my thigh as she pulls away.
She rubs her lips together and whispers, “Delicious.” And then she walks away, keeping my attention the whole fucking time.
Goddammit. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and it’s working. She’s not going to get back at me with wild, false stories about ridiculous ways we met, but she’ll spend the evening trying to turn me on. Well, it’s fucking working.
I bring my glass up to my lips just as I see a flash of blonde from the corner of my eye.
I turn just in time for Sarah to lock eyes with me.
Decked out in a navy blue, off-the-shoulder dress with her hair curled around her shoulders, she looks classically stunning as she approaches me with a large smile.
“Silas,” she says as she leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek. I don’t return the gesture. “It’s so good to see you.” She takes a seat next to me and rests her hand on my knee. “This suit looks amazing on you.”
“Thanks,” I say before taking a sip of my drink.
“Isn’t this space gorgeous? I worked with the sponsors on securing the location. I love the vaulted ceilings.”
How can she talk to me like everything is okay between us, and we’re just old friends catching up? Like she didn’t annihilate me by her unfaithfulness.
“Oh, and the food selection is supreme. I might have gone to the tasting and had far too many bruschettas than I care to admit.”
I can’t believe I used to kiss those lips.
Worship those lips.
Wish those lips would slip over my dick and suck until I came. But they never did.
She glances around the room, then leans in even more, her hand now inching up my thigh. “I can’t wait for the season to start. It feels like Christmas is coming. I always loved watching you play.”
That’s the truth. She did.
Even though we had our ups and downs, when she was in the stands, I could always count on her to cheer me on. For the longest time, she was my number one fan, the one encouraging me, telling me to do one more rep.