Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 115577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Marcus was built like a brick wall that had decided, for reasons known only to God, to learn how to do backflips.
And somehow he still looked glamorous.
The stylists had even convinced him to wear a tiny pair of diamond studs that caught the light every time he moved, which meant he now looked less like a dancer and more like the lead in a Latin pop music video.
“That outfit was made for you.”
“Literally,” he shot back before striking a pose, one hand on his hip and the other draping over his forehead as if he were in distress. “Alas,” he said, sighing dramatically. “It is hard to be this attractive.”
I rolled my eyes. “Relax, superstar. They’re not photographing you for People’s Sexiest Man Alive.”
“Not yet.”
We shared another smile before Claire called his name. It was his turn to shoot, and he blew me a kiss over his shoulder as he sashayed away.
I thanked my glam team profusely when they finished with me, and then my phone was in my hands and pointed at my reflection in the mirror. I took a few selfies and a video before Darcy came over and we took some photos together. She was also stunning, from her glossy platinum blonde hair to her shiny blue eyes lined in kohl. Where my hair was swept up, hers waterfalled down her back in bouncy curls. We were like two schoolgirls playing hooky, the way we giggled and posed in the mirror.
We were still tittering as I swiped through the shots, Darcy hooked onto my arm with her eyes on my screen. We were trying to decide which one I should post to my story when a text popped up at the top of my screen.
Boss: I’m at the stadium doing hype videos for the season. Heard you’re here, too?
My jaw nearly unhinged. Of course, that was the last sensation I was cataloging in my body because the overwhelming ones were how my stomach flipped and the wings of a million butterflies tickled my ribcage.
I couldn’t fight the smile that curled on my lips, and Darcy clocked it instantly.
“And who the hell is Boss,” she asked, crossing her arms with her tongue in her cheek and a little pop of her hip. “Because the only boss you have that I’m aware of is Claire, and that sure as hell wasn’t her.”
I rolled my lips together, looking over both shoulders and holding my phone close to my chest before I answered her.
“It’s Braden Lock.”
The cheeky little grin on Darcy’s face melted right off, shock washing in to replace her previous glee. “Braden Lock?!” She whisper-yelled the words, looking around the same way I had before she grabbed me by the elbow and tugged me down to yell more in my face. “Emily! Why the hell does a football player have your number, and why is he texting you?”
“Because I gave it to him, and I’m about to find out the answer to that second question.”
I typed out a response even as Darcy warned me not to, and she tucked her hair behind one ear, smiling nervously at a dancer who passed us before she was scouting the room like we were on a heist and she was the lookout.
Me: I thought we weren’t supposed to be fraternizing.
“This is a truly stupid idea,” Darcy hissed at me.
“What is?” Marcus asked, bounding up behind me and snatching my phone before I could catch him. His eyes widened. “Boss? Who the hell is Boss?”
“Braden Lock,” Darcy answered for me, still whispering.
And where she had been aghast at the discovery, Marcus was delighted. He pinned me with a Cheshire Cat smile before tossing my phone back to me.
“I know that’s right,” he said. “Tell him I claimed downs.”
“Marcus,” I chastised, but it was through a laugh.
“What? Would you prefer I join you both? Because I’m one-hundred percent open to that option, too.”
Darcy sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Lord Jesus, send me the strength to survive these two.”
Marcus winked at me before holding up his hands in mock prayer.
My phone buzzed, and all three of us leaned in to see the next text.
Boss: Exactly. So you better not be in the hallway by the team store stock room in five minutes. Wouldn’t want to accidentally run into you.
Marcus’s jaw fully dropped as Darcy winced and sighed like she’d lost a bet, her head falling back and eyes washing up to the ceiling.
“Did he just…” Marcus started, his jaw slowly coming back into place as he smiled.
“Proposition me to break the rules?” I asked, my grin mirroring his as those damned butterflies in my stomach tripled. “I believe that’s exactly what he did.”
“Well, we all know you would never,” Marcus teased, inspecting his nails.
“No, never!” I said, hand coming over my chest in mock offense. “Not even if he would be the perfect candidate to help me check off every item on my freaky bucket list.”