“Not yet,” I say, “but I figure it will take some time. I don’t expect a response right away, especially since it was a cold call and not what she was asking for. She might just hate the idea altogether. But I have been working on those illustration entries for those authors. I think Levi was right. I might be a better fit for the romance author. He was helping me think up some different angles to draw last night.”
Sandie lifts her spoon to her mouth. “He seems . . . amazing. Every time you talk about him, he’s either doing something incredibly sweet for you, or helping you, encouraging you. I’m crushing, and he’s not even my boyfriend.”
I bring my knees into my chest and say, “Sandie, I’ve never been treated like this before. He’s so different from any man I’ve ever had in my life. And we’re not just talking about the sex, that’s a definite plus, obviously, but the way he treats me, the things he says to me. He makes me feel special.”
Sandie tilts her head and smiles. “That makes me happy, Wylie. You deserve someone like him.”
“I do,” I say.
“Are you worried at all what your dad might say?”
“I’ve honestly put it to the back of my mind because I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to think about him. I haven’t talked to him in a while, and it’s not from a lack of trying on my end. I’ve sent him a few texts, and he hasn’t responded. I know he’s busy with the team, and they’ve been off and on with wins, so he’s probably stressed and finding a way to level out the team, but . . . yeah, there hasn’t been much communication.” I shrug. “And I’m starting to see that I’m okay with that. Levi is showing me that I don’t need to win the man’s affection. He either loves me for who I am, or he can miss out on the great things I’m going to do.” I had been ruminating on this a lot after Levi first asked me if it would really matter to my life if my dad didn’t approve of my life choices. And it was a healthy wake-up call that if he can’t believe in me, can’t acknowledge that I want to be on a different trajectory, that I’m okay with that. His validation just doesn’t have the same desired effect as say Levi’s or Sandie’s. I feel freer to be me.
Sandie reaches out and rests her hand on my knee. “Oh my God, look at you. He is seriously good for you.”
“He is,” I say, feeling my cheeks blush. “I think he’s it for me, Sandie.”
“Yeah?” she asks, her hope soaring. “Like . . . you could possibly love him?”
I nod. “Yes. I’m easily falling for him. I don’t see how I can’t. He’s just . . . he’s perfect.”
“Wow.” She shakes her head. “Never would have seen this coming, but I don’t think I could be happier.” She scoops up some ice cream and plops it in her mouth just as my phone buzzes. I glance down at it and see that it’s Levi.
“Speak of the devil.” I answer the phone. “Hey, you,” I say.
“Babe, I need to see that pussy. Undress and grab a toy. I want you coming in seconds.”
Sandie snorts and covers her nose.
I smile at Levi and say, “Uh, my friend Sandie is here with me.”
I turn the phone toward Sandie who waves at him before I turn it back. The look on Levi’s face is priceless.
“I might have to wait to undress unless Sandie wants a show.”
“I prefer not to be here when you undress,” Sandie says.
“Fuck, I’m sorry. Uh, sorry, Sandie. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Sandie says. “Thanks for being amazing to my girl.”
I turn the phone so Levi can look at Sandie when he answers. “No need to thank me, although, I do have a bone to pick with you. That whole stunt you pulled with Wylie, having her walk around in your shirt that was too small. That nearly killed me.”
Sandie casually shrugs. “Don’t mess with my girl, and we won’t mess with you.”
“Lesson learned.”
We all laugh, and I turn the phone back toward me. “I know I didn’t ask, but is it okay that she came over?”
His brow pinches. “Wylie, you don’t have to ask for permission. That’s our apartment. Do what you want, just don’t do anyone else.”
“That’s fair,” Sandie says. Our apartment. Shit. Ours . . . Yes, I want that.
“Just wanted to check. Are you headed to bed soon?”
“Yeah, but I’ll wait up. Take your time.”
“Maybe you can play around with Patty Ford for a bit. Sandie and Dale did the other night.”
“Oh my God.” Sandie gasps and then pushes me with her foot. “Don’t tell him those things.”
“Why not? He’ll think it’s hot.”
“It is hot,” Levi says. “But I want the real thing tonight, so call me when you’re done visiting and don’t rush.”
“Okay. I’ll call you in a bit.”
“See ya, babe, and bye, Sandie.”
“Bye, Levi,” Sandie says right before I hang up.
I set the phone down, but I can feel Sandie’s eyes on me. “You are so freaking in love.”
I cover my face with my hands. “I know!”
“First thing’s first,”Penny says as she clasps her hands together and looks me in the eyes. “I need to know, has Posey eaten bologna off you as a sex thing?”
I nearly snort out the sip of coffee I just took. Instead, I swallow, then chuckle. “Uh, no.”
“See, I told you he was classier than that,” Blakely says as she takes a sip of her drink.
We all met at Café Peppermint, one of Levi’s favorite places I found out, and we’re discussing what I can do to help out the team, Levi’s idea to get my dad to stop asking me to do crazy shit.
“You know, I’m kind of disappointed in him,” Penny says. “I expected more.”
“Did you want him to have bologna sex?” Blakely asks, almost horrified.
“I think I would have felt more at ease if he did.”
I chuckle. “I think your perception of Levi is way different from the person he actually is. I understand the man you know because I’ve seen it too. Kind of goofy, but also tough and dangerous. He can be self-centered, thinking he is God’s gift to the world, but I think that’s how he is around his friends.”
“Yes, that’s exactly how I see him,” Penny says. “The number of times I’ve rolled my eyes at that man.”
“Same,” Blakely says. “But I do believe there’s a different side to him. Halsey said he sees it on occasion.”
“I see it all the time,” I say. “He’s so not the guy he puts out there for the media and the fans. He’s so different when it’s just us. He’s selfless, thinks of me all the time and my needs, not his.”
Penny props her chin on her hand and leans on the table. “How so? Also, I know we are here to talk business, and we’ll get to that, but I need to know more about this relationship. I’m fascinated.”
“As long as you promise to tell me how you felt when Eli texted you that he just ate an apple.”
Penny laughs. “Oh my God, he told you that?”
I nod. “He takes responsibility for all his friends being in love, and he went into great detail about it, but I’m sure what he didn’t say to you guys is how each of you are the perfect counterpart.”
“He said that?” Penny asks, looking surprised.
“He did. And he’s really happy for all of you, especially his boys.”
“See.” Blakely swats at Penny. “He might be a little off, but he’s a good guy.”
“I never said he wasn’t a good guy. I’m just perplexed by him. Is he good in bed?”
“Incredible,” I say. “And adventurous.”
“Huh.” Penny looks over at Blakely. “Maybe it’s in the Gatorade in the stadium or something.”
Blakely chuckles. “That has to be it. Although, you’re the only one with a baby.”
“Trust me, everyone will be right behind me. I know it.” Penny glances at me. “By the flush in her cheeks, I would say she’s next.”
“Ooo, not sure I’m ready for that yet, but I do want kids someday.”
Penny shakes her head in disbelief. “She does seem perfect for him, don’t you think?”
“I do,” Blakely says. “And let me tell you, we are not kidding when we say that man is infatuated with you. Like absolutely crazy for you.”
“He is,” Penny says. “I’m sure he’s showed you how crazy he is for you, but when he first needed our help, he was losing it. He wanted nothing more than to make a move on you, to make you his, to show you that he’s not a playboy, that he can be a one-woman man. He also wanted to get to know you more, and not in the way where he was seeing how annoyed you would get over the asinine tasks he gave you. He hated everything he was making you do. It actually made him sick.”
I smile softly. “Yeah, he told me, and he’s apologized far too many times for it.”
“Because he’s a good guy,” Blakely says. “Even though he says weird shit to us.”
“Eh, we say weird shit to him,” Penny says, then turns her attention back to me. “Okay, enough of that. I have an idea for you if you don’t mind. I know you’re struggling with your dad and him understanding what you want to do with your career. I hope it’s okay that we know.”
“It’s totally okay,” I say.
“Well, Blakely and I were thinking we have an upcoming charity event for American Thanksgiving. We call it a week of giving back. The fans bring in food donations, and we do themed nights. One of the nights is kind of stupid, but the fans love it—we turn the players into different dishes.”
“Yes,” I say. “I’ve seen this. I especially loved the one where my dad was turned into a cooked turkey.”
“Exactly,” Penny says. “I was thinking that maybe you could head up the graphics for those. The guy who did them last year left the organization, and we weren’t going to do it, but then we thought, maybe we could ask you. We’ll have you help out that night as well, so you get the feel of it. Posey is a big contributor to the week, so it all fits together. And you get to be involved in both business-focused activities, per your dad’s request, and use that creative head of yours.”
“Yes, I’d love to. But only if I can turn Eli into apple pie.”
Penny and Blakely both snort.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Penny says. “Although”—she taps her chin—“we did make a baby over a French silk pie, so maybe go with that.”
“Consider it done.”