Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Except, I don’t want to go to Sacramento as Zane’s agent. I want to go as the man who treats Zane’s family to dinner, then goes home alone with him—with the guy, not the baseball star.
Maddox: It sounds like a great day. I’m sure Priyam will enjoy hearing about it. I know I will.
That barely scratches the surface of the truth. Hell, it feels like a bald-faced lie. But I send it anyway, and quickly, he replies.
Zane: Will you pick the restaurant? From among all your favorite cuisines?
Maddox: I will. See you then.
Zane: See ya.
I can read Zane as clearly as I could the night I met him. He’s trying to show me he can be business-y and friendly. He’s worried for me. He’s trying to protect me by being…Super Client. My heart swells a little bigger for him. His care for other people might as well be written on a neon sign flashing above his head.
I just wish…
Eh, it doesn’t matter what I wish for.
This wish can’t come true.
That night, I take Braxton to an LA Bandits game. Boutique touch, indeed. We don’t talk shop once. We chat about the upcoming baseball All-Star Game here at this park in July, and his wish to see it since he loves baseball too. We talk about his friends from high school. He’s still close to them, he says. He never mentions a girlfriend or a boyfriend, and I don’t ask.
When I return home after the game, Bryan’s camped out on the couch, watching something on his laptop. He hits stop at lightning speed the second I walk in.
“I told you I don’t care if you watch porn,” I say drily as I kick off my shoes.
“Wasn’t porn,” he mutters, then closes the laptop.
Color me intrigued. “Better than porn? This I’ve gotta hear.”
“It’s nothing,” he says.
“It’s definitely something.” I smile.
He sighs. “Just something a…client sent me.”
I cough, muttering, “Euphemism.”
He rolls his eyes. “If it were porn, I’d watch it in my bedroom.”
“You mean the guest room?” I tease.
“Seems nice on the outside, cruel on the inside,” he says.
“Do I? Seem nice?”
“Ha. Fair point.” Bryan pauses, seems to study me. “You okay? You’ve been working even harder than usual this last week.”
“It’s been a busy week,” I say, but that’s hardly the full truth. “And I’m trying to steer clear of my feelings for Zane.”
It’s a relief to say that. I’m glad I can tell Bryan.
He shoots me a sympathetic smile. “I hear ya,” he says. I hear too what’s unsaid, but understood—I’m here for you no matter what.
But there’s nothing more to say, so I thank him, head to my bedroom, and strip out of my clothes. Next week, I’ll see him with Priyam. That’ll be a new test—how I handle myself with Zane after.
After I’ve seen him mostly naked.
After we’ve messed around.
After I’ve let him into my desires.
I hope I pass.
When I land in New York two days later, my phone blinks with a text from Braxton.
Braxton: How’s it going? Thanks again for the game. I was talking to my good friend Ronan about the whole agent thing. He’s been my go-to guy for years. Since way back in high school.
He wants to meet with you. He’s in Los Angeles, but he’s in New York right now for work. I know you’re back and forth a lot so LMK if we can all meet there.
I groan privately as I walk through JFK to my waiting car. High school buds often have the biggest voices and the most uninformed opinions. But if that’s how Braxton rolls, that’s how I have to roll.
Maddox: As luck would have it, I just landed. I’ve got meetings with the New York office and with brands out here. You and Ronan in the mood for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, ping-pong, or a round of pool?
Braxton: Dude! Are you gonna take me for everything in pool? I can’t resist. Let’s do pool.
Maddox: You’re on.
We set a time, then Braxton keeps on going.
Braxton: BTW, I told Ronan you repped Nate Chandler, Crosby Cash, Carter Hendrix, Mia Samms, and Lucy Laurent. And I just saw a report you’re handling Zane Archer. The dude is badass at the plate!
My face goes uncomfortably hot. I saw the same report this morning—in an industry trade publication that reported on my recent lucky socks deal for Crosby. The piece mentioned that CTM-er Maddox LeGrande is now working with many on the agency’s hefty client list, including Zane Archer, and Lucy Laurent, while he brought over Carter Hendrix, Drew Adams, and others.
It was a standard piece, but my skin prickled, nonetheless.
Quickly, I work out what to say to Braxton. Does he want me to crow that yes, I work with Zane too? As I leave the terminal, passing security, I reply.
Maddox: It’s true. I’m working hard for him and everyone on my list.