Chapter 6
Chapter Six
AUGUST
River met me outside of my apartment the morning after Sienna's party and I felt tired just looking at him. Not because he looked exhausted, though he did — a casualty of having a young kid — but because I recognized the stubborn look on his face.
"You're not seriously considering taking that girl up on her offer, are you?" Were the first words out of his mouth.
I caught the door to my lobby behind me, debating heading straight back inside. But, unfortunately, I had a meeting to get to. One that should have made me feel nervous but really felt like more of an annoyance than anything else.
"First of all, that girl has a name," I muttered as I descended the concrete steps that led down to the street level.
This accommodation wasn't really mine, it was provided by the team and most of the Tigers were in the same building — management thought it was good for team morale or some bullshit.
"Secondly, I don't think Sienna actually offered anything. "
River mumbled from behind me as he followed me down the stairs and towards the waiting town car. I was pretty sure I heard him say Louise's name amidst his cursing, but I paid him no attention as I hesitated outside of the black vehicle.
"Have they said what this meeting is about?" I pulled open the car door and River rounded the car to climb in on the opposite side. The fact that the team had sent a car raised a million red flags for me. It meant serious business.
River shook his head and then brushed his dark hair back out of his eyes. "You're not the only one having a sit down with them though."
Them? "Stu?"
River nodded. "Yeah, and the new investor."
Apparently the new sponsor was less of an investor and more of a buyer.
The car had started moving almost as soon as we were inside, the driver nodding at us in the rearview as he'd pulled away.
"So?"
"What?" I blinked, looking back at my brother and away from the city streets outside.
I couldn't say I particularly liked New York, it was so.
.. gray. Concrete jungle was an accurate descriptor, for the most part anyway.
But needs must, and this was where my team was so, therefore, it was where I needed to be too.
"You're not really considering the deal Louise pitched?"
"No," I said decisively, as if I hadn't been replaying every moment with Sienna last night ever since I'd left.
I had a hard-on that wouldn't quit and it only got worse every time I thought about her.
But that wasn't what they'd been offering.
A few dates for publicity didn't measure up to what I wanted to do to Sienna, and if that's all that was on offer I couldn't even entertain the thought. Not when I wanted more. I’d done the casual dating thing, and it wasn’t what I wanted any more. I wanted commitment and meaning and—
Shit, maybe I’m getting old.
"What is with you this morning?" River frowned and I shrugged, I hadn't even realized he was talking.
We were quiet for the last few minutes of the drive as we approached the team's training compound where Stu, our coach and the team's manager, had his office.
I brushed non-existent lint off of the soft edges of my cable-knit sweater and tugged at the ends of my dark chinos to make sure I looked as presentable as possible.
Smart, but not too dressy. River was in one of his usual suits, the only spot of color in the ensemble coming from his tie and matching pocket square that were a bright blue.
"Let me do the talking," River murmured as we left the car behind and entered a building that was as familiar to me as my own hands.
I'd spent nearly every day in this place for the last few years, training, strategizing, hanging out with my team.
.. It would be strange to walk past this place in the future and know it wasn't my home any more.
As if he could sense my mood souring, River clapped a hand on my arm. "It's going to be fine."
I nodded and let him lead the way to Stu's office.
It was a relatively small space made all the smaller with the stuff he'd crammed into it over the years.
Awards, photos, a few signed jerseys… it was a space that usually put me at ease.
But today, there was an unfamiliar man sitting on the corner of Stu's desk and I frowned, knowing Stu hated people messing with his desk.
"Welcome, gentlemen. So good to see you." The man held out one hand and I shook it before offering Stu a nod.
"What's going on, Stu?" I sat down into the chair he indicated and kept my face impassive as the older man sighed.
It was only then that I realized just how much he'd aged in the few years I'd been with the team.
There were fine lines on his face that hadn't been there not so long ago, but his smile of greeting was as kind as ever.
"Change is afoot, son. This is Daniel Levere, our new sponsor and co-manager for the team."
Co-manager? Stu must have seen the surprise on my face because he chuckled. "I'm not as young as I once was. New, younger, blood is going to be what keeps this team alive."
Daniel couldn't have been much older than me, mid-thirties maybe. His smile was genuine but I couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that was rising up in me.
"The reason we've asked you to meet us today is to discuss your future here with the Tigers," Daniel said smoothly and I nodded, unsurprised thanks to River.
"We're seeing more and more right now that big sponsors are flocking to teams that have a certain image.
Of course, that means those teams have more funds to play with and they can afford the best equipment, trainers, you understand? "
I nodded and ignored the warning look River shot my way.
"You have somewhat of a reputation, son.
" Stu said the words gently but I could tell he wanted to be anywhere but here from the way his nose wrinkled slightly.
"Far be it for us to tell you how to live your life, but if we want to bring in the big bucks then we need to play to our audience. You understand?"
River opened his mouth but I cut him off before he could say anything. "I know in the past I've been the source of gossip, but that's behind me."
River sighed and Stu and Daniel shared a look before Daniel played around with his phone before presenting it to me. "Is it truly behind you?"
It was the photo of me and Sienna kissing and, fuck, that was the last thing I needed to see when I'd only just managed to get her out of my thoughts.
Instantly, I was brought straight back to the night previous, her soft hair spilling across my knuckles, the taste of her mouth.
I cleared my throat. "That's not what it looks like." Except it absolutely was.
Stu raised an eyebrow, like he could smell the bullshit that just came out of my mouth. "Oh? So this is a serious relationship then?"
Before I could reply, River spoke. "Absolutely."
My body stiffened and I turned to stare at my brother, trying to hide my shock. On the way here he'd been grilling me about not giving Louise's offer any serious thought and now here he was, offering me up without even speaking to me about it?
"That's to say, Sienna and August are dating. All very PG." River smiled, and I knew it likely looked smooth to anyone who didn't know him. But I did, and I could see the strain.
Stu sat back in his chair, letting out a long sigh.
"Well, that's a relief, to be honest with you.
I hope you understand why we called you in, especially in light of these pictures floating around.
You're not the only player we're talking to, either. I’m glad you’re ready to settle down, son.
This will do big things for your career. "
I nodded, staying silent so that I didn't start cussing out my brother for the position he'd put me and Sienna in.
"Bring her along to the charity game, okay? The media coverage would be good for the team." Daniel smiled and I swallowed what I wanted to say — an emphatic fuck — and instead nodded and smiled back.
"It was good to meet you." I shook Daniel's hand and nodded again to Stu as River and I left the office, closing the door quietly behind us.
My eyes burned into the side of River's face as we walked away and his grimace deepened. "I know, I know," he said quietly and I pushed my hand through my hair before groaning.
"What the fuck are we going to do now, Riv?"
Sienna
Something about drinking coffee outside just made it nicer. Maybe it was the cold edge to the breeze, or the leaves on the ground in a kaleidoscope of oranges, but drinking cappuccino while walking through my favorite park just tasted different in the best way.
Louise walked alongside me, Cade at our backs, but we were silent.
Me, taking in the scenery, Louise on her phone tapping out a message to someone.
It had been unnervingly quiet since my kiss with August went viral, not a peep from my label, but I knew better than to think that meant everything was okay.
“You know, I’ve been thinking I should get Muffin a harness.”
Louise glanced up at me, humor dancing in her eyes above the pink tip of her nose. “Oh?”
“Yeah, I keep seeing all these videos where people are walking their cats. I want that for her. She can explore and come on walks with me, but still be safe… Plus those little harnesses are so cute.”
“I can’t imagine Muffin strolling through Bryant Park.” Louise snorted as she tilted her head, considering. “Maybe if you brought a bag of treats and led her around with a trail of chicken.”
The next sip of my coffee burned my tongue but I giggled at the image Louise painted. It was true that Muffin was something of a fiend when it came to food, and chicken was her favorite.
Sunshine peeked through the trees at us as we rounded a curve in the pathway, moving to single file so a woman with a double pram could get past. I squinted behind my sunglasses and waited until the woman was out of earshot before saying lightly, “Anything yet?” Like I hadn’t been up half the night thinking about August and the other half worrying about the studio.
Louise shook her head, her deep brown hair gleaming with strands of red in the sunlight. “I would imagine they’re deciding what they want to do about you. Whether it’s worth letting you go gracefully, or if they should kick up a fuss. You’ve been with them a long time.”
“I don’t know if there’s anything they could do to get me to stay, to be honest.” I shrugged, brushing some blonde hair out of my face before it could stick to my lip gloss. “They need me more than I need them.”
Louise nodded and when the breeze kicked up, rustling the fallen leaves, I sighed.
I had traveled a lot as a kid, but now I was older I hadn’t realized how stifling the city often felt until I’d been out somewhere else.
Somewhere quiet, where your thoughts weren’t drowned out by car horns or the squeal of tires and the air was fresh, the stars brighter.
.. It was strange to feel so weary so young, but I couldn’t help feeling that the city took far more from me than it ever gave back.
“What do we do? If they’re going to ignore me like I’m a child throwing a tantrum—”
Louise’s phone buzzed but she didn’t look down at it, instead pulling me to a gentle stop with both hands on my arms. She squeezed gently and I took a breath, grateful that she’d stopped the spiral before it could get going.
“You have the power here, okay? If you don’t want to do Teen Vogue, then don’t.
If you don’t want to record another album for them, or put that awful costume back on, then that’s fine. You can do whatever you want, Sienna.”
I nodded, a little hesitantly, and repeated the motion with more confidence when Louise raised an eyebrow challengingly.
She gently shook me as she stared deep into my eyes.
“You’re in a very fortunate position. You could live off of your TV royalties and song writing credits if you wanted to and not worry about another album or performing.
Plus, with everything your dad left you…
I’m just saying, you’ve more than paid your dues, babe.
You just have to decide what you want to do now.
” Louise grinned, looping her arm back through mine as we started walking again.
“By all means, move to a remote island and live off of chocolate and shrimp, or live out your horse-girl dreams in the countryside, just whatever it is, choose it for you.” Louise was breathing hard by the time she finished her mini speech and Cade and I watched her with wide eyes.
“I’ve, ah, been listening to an affirmation podcast in the mornings. ”
I laughed. “No, no. I’m here for it, and you’re right. Thank you.”
Louise smiled and the look changed into a smirk as she finally glanced down at her phone where it had been incessantly buzzing in her hand. “Well, well, well.”
“What?” Our pace picked up slightly as Louise’s fingers flew on her phone screen, excitement driving her steps until I was breathless keeping up with her. “Lou.”
“Hm? Oh. Sorry. I just got a very interesting message.”
She was practically purring with satisfaction and I raised an eyebrow. “The studio?”
“Better. August Ashford.”