Chapter 11 Lincoln
LINCOLN
“So, I threw her the ball, right? I mean a real throw. I put effort into it because she told me to. And she caught the damn thing!” Jaden shook his head. “Like a regular wide receiver. Then she pretended to score a goal and did this cute little dance. The guys went crazy. She’s freaking cool, man.”
I sat back in my office chair and listened to Jaden with mild annoyance.
Hearing him sing praises about Ava was making me uncomfortable.
Not that I minded him—or anyone else—taking a liking to her.
Who wouldn’t? It was the fact that I knew how amazing she was.
I didn’t need secondhand accounts of it.
Plus, a small part of me—an illogical part—was jealous. Ava was all smiles with Jaden and the team but practically snarled whenever she saw me. It irked me to the bone. I wanted to be the recipient of her sweet smile again. Fool that I was, I ruined that privilege a long time ago.
“You should have seen her,” he said.
I shrugged. “I couldn’t stick around. Sorry I missed it.”
“And her arm,” he whistled. “Straight cannon. She swears she doesn’t know football, but she dropped that spiral like she’s been training since middle school. I’m like—where did that even come from?”
My jaw tightened. I taught her. We had some good times back in the day.
Long before we got together romantically, Ava usually tagged along behind her brother and me.
I taught her how to throw a football, how to change a car tire, how to check the oil in her car…
We’d always been a part of each other’s lives, and now she fucking hated me.
The more Jaden went on about how incredible Ava was, the more depressed I got.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I stopped him. “Jaden.”
He got quiet.
“Did you come here to go on about a journalist you like or to hear about that potential brand deal? Because I did it. You’re in.”
He jumped up from the chair he occupied in front of my desk and held out a hand. We did that handshake he’d gotten me into. “My man! I knew you’d see it through.” He sat back down. “But we’re talking about Ava right now.”
My jaw dropped. This brand deal was hard to get for someone so fresh on the scene. It was worth millions, and he wanted to keep talking about Ava…
“She’s low-key the real MVP, right?”
My eyebrows scrunched together. “You mean that literally…?”
“I mean, she’s fire. A certified baddie.”
I stared at him blankly. Conversing with some of my Gen Z clients could be challenging. Did they even speak English anymore?
“Is that a good thing?” I asked.
“Yeah, man! She’s gorgeous—wifey material. Right?”
“Erm… yeah... certified baddie, alright. I don’t know what this has to do with your brand deal,” I added, trying to swerve the topic to business.
Jaden threw his head back and groaned. “Geez, Linc. You’re not getting it. I’m trying to set you on, man. Ava is that girl. You should shoot your shot.” He smirked. “I tried, but she’s not into younger dudes.”
I snorted at that.
“You haven’t been on a date in… ever.”
I stared with my mouth agape, not sure if I should laugh or be irritated. Jaden wasn’t the first to play cupid. Apparently, they thought I was so old and pathetic that I couldn't get my own dates. Amusement won out. The kid had no idea he was trying to set me up with my ex-girlfriend.
Folding my arms, I narrowed my eyes on him. “You know Ava is not in LA for much longer, right?”
“So what? You never know what might happen. Go for it, Linc. I know you want to. You think I didn’t see you checking her out the other day?”
I shrugged sheepishly. Guilty as charged. I checked her out every time I saw her. I thought I was more subtle about it, though.
Jaden chuckled. “That look on your face says you want to ask her out. Yolo, Linc,” he said, pointing an encouraging finger at me.
You only live once. Jaden wasn’t wrong. The worst that could happen was Ava saying no. I blew out a breath. “Alright, if I agree to ask her out, will you finally be quiet so I can talk business?”
He grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “Bet.”
“Okay, I’ll ask her out.”
Satisfaction flickered across his face. “Remember, bro. You have to hit her with the proper rizz.”
I lifted my eyebrows, not even sure what rizz was. However, I didn’t want him to launch into a rizz lesson, so I hummed, “Uh-huh.”
He settled back in his chair. “Cool, cool.”
I shot Jaden another amused look before I went into the topic we should have discussed ten minutes ago. Just as our meeting ended, a knock sounded.
“Come in, Sienna.”
She stuck her head in.
Jaden slapped on his charming grin and drawled, “‘Sup, Sienna?”
My assistant blushed all the way down to her toes, I was sure. I shook my head.
Her gaze swung back to me. “Lincoln, Ava is here.”
“Okay…” I didn’t remember us scheduling a meeting… You know, since she couldn't stand me.
But I caught the mischievous grin on Jaden’s face and understood. I almost groaned out loud. Ava and I were being parent-trapped by my adult client. Ridiculous. I gave him a dirty look, which only heightened his amusement.
“What did you do?” I asked.
He ignored me and got up. “Sienna, you might as well send her in. Lincoln and I are through.”
I rubbed my forehead.
Sienna disappeared, and Ava appeared. She tentatively walked into my office, looking as confused as I had been moments ago.
“Hey, Jaden. Lincoln.”
“Ava,” I murmured.
“Ava!” Jaden greeted, hurrying to the door to usher her in like royalty. “Good to see you.”
“You too.” She glanced around my office with uncertainty. “You said to meet you here…”
“I did, because you and Lincoln need to talk.”
“We do?” Ava and I chorused.
“Of course.” Jaden gestured to me. “This guy has played a major part in my success. Just like you’ve interviewed my family and friends, you should interview him too.”
Ava’s eyebrows scrunched. “It makes sense…” Although I could tell she hated the idea.
“Of course, it does.” Jaden looked between us and smirked. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Ava opened her mouth as if to protest, but then sighed and didn’t bother to speak.
“Awesome.” Jaden gave me a salute. “Linc, we’ll talk. Ava, see you tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
Jaden backed out of the office, watching us with a stupid grin on his face. I wanted to throw something at him, but maybe I owed him. I’d been searching for an excuse to speak with Ava. It was time we buried the hatchet… if that were possible.
Just before Jaden closed the door, he turned back and made eye contact with me. Then, as exaggerated as only he could be, he mimed dribbling a basketball and flicked his wrist, pretending to shoot an invisible ball into an imaginary hoop.
I guess that was him reminding me to shoot my shot. When I narrowed my eyes at him, he smirked, then shut the door with a soft click. The silence rolled in like a suffocating fog the instant Ava and I were alone. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and glanced around the room.
Clearing my throat, I gestured to the chair in front of my desk. “Please have a seat.”
She rocked back on her heels before aiming for the chair. “Nice office,” she said as she sat. “Fancy.”
I suppose it was fancy. My entire workspace was unapologetically Los Angeles—sleek, floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic views of the city. The walls were black with gold accents, decorated with framed jerseys, signed footballs, and a few candid photos of me and clients mid-celebration.
Leaning back, I watched her take it all in. “It’s a little over the top,” I admitted. “But this is LA after all. When in Rome…”
She snorted softly, her eyes lingering on a framed photo of me and Jaden, post-draft, arms slung around each other. “You’ve been in his corner since day one.”
I nodded.
“He trusts you.”
“Is that a surprise?"
She shrugged. “I thought sports agents were all suits and sweet talk, and a smile that didn't reach their eyes… All about contracts and commissions.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “Maybe some are.” I waved to encompass my office. “I didn’t start all this for the money.”
“Is that so?”
I ignored her skeptical air. “When I retired from the NFL, I thought about relaxing… forever.” I had a bunch of other investments that raked in plenty of money, too.
She smiled.
“But I remembered how hard it was for me to navigate when all this money and attention were thrown at me as a kid. How many shady characters tried to take advantage. If I didn’t have a head for business or friends who had my best interests at heart, I’d likely be bankrupt and wallowing in misery.”
“Friends?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
“A couple of my college buddies. Jamie Winchester had so many connections and hooked me up with brand deals and endorsements like crazy. Michael Hayes, a guy with the Midas touch. Showed me how to manage my money and maximize it.” I sighed.
“Not every athlete is so lucky. I wanted to be there for the young men and women in the world of sports. Be that one person in their corner, not looking to take advantage of them. So yes, Jaden and all my other clients know they can trust me.”
“Well, then, Jaden is lucky to have you. I’m glad he does. I really like that kid. He’s grown on me so fast.”
My gaze lingered on her for a moment. She genuinely meant that. I felt bad about being hard on her when she first got here. Maybe all media personnel weren’t the enemy.
“This is the most civil moment we’ve had since you got to LA,” I said.
“I’d say we got to a pretty high level of civil in Jaden’s kitchen,” she replied.
Even when she threw sass, she couldn't help blushing. Fuchsia spread across her cheeks. I had to hide my smile by rubbing my jaw.
“Things didn’t go well after, so it doesn’t count. We’ve been chatting for a few minutes, and you haven’t told me to get lost yet.”
“Well, I have to remain professional. This is an interview… thrust upon me out of nowhere by Jaden…”
My low chuckle circulated the room. “About that. He’s trying to set us up.”
Ava blinked. “You’re kidding.”
I shook my head.
She guffawed, and then it turned into an airy giggle. I watched, entranced by the way her face lit up. This was the Ava I remembered. The one whose laugh alone made me feel warm inside. My smile blossomed the longer I watched her.
“The irony of him trying to set up exes,” she said. “Do you think we should tell him?”
“Or we could just have dinner.”
Her smile gradually faded. “We shouldn’t. I don’t see why you’d want to.”
Straightfaced, I said, “Well, because you’re fire, a certified baddie, wifey material, and that girl.”
Her amused snort echoed. “I’m looking at you, but I’m hearing Jaden.”
I laughed and shrugged.
“Do you even know what any of that means?” she asked.
“I gathered that they mean you’re incredibly attractive and amazing.” She was indeed all of those things.
Shaking her head, she blushed profusely. “A certified baddie, huh?”
I nodded. “Yup.”
“I’m flattered. But, Lincoln…”
“Come on, Ava. What could it hurt? Surely we can have dinner as friends?”
Her teeth sank into her lower lip. With a resigned sigh, she finally accepted. “Fine. I have time tonight.”
“Perfect.”
She got up. “Maybe we can continue your,” she made air quotes, “interview then.”
I watched her walk out, satisfied that there was a chance we could move beyond her despising me.