Page 28

Bryce: Remember golfing on the university course? Coach thought it was a good way to bond, and he found out it was a good way for me to make a ton of money.

Dawes: Fuck off, I’m the best golfer on the team.

Laughing and shocked emojis roll in.

Reed: Thought you were friends.

Federberg: We are. Laughing to his face is the ultimate sign of friendship.

After I’m dressed, I find the resort notepad and pen.

You can thank me later for keeping you

safe last night.

~ J

Me: I’ll be in the lobby in five.

My clubs rattle as I pick them up, and Becca shifts. I tiptoe out of the villa and when I get to the lobby, only Corbin is there.

“Hey, where’s everyone else?” I ask.

“Grabbing some breakfast sandwiches and drinks. How did it go last night?”

I wasn’t expecting him to ask. He should just trust that we can handle ourselves. On the other hand, I’m certain he knows how I feel about his sister even though I’ve never said the words aloud to him. Or her for that matter.

“Other than the lizard that bit me.” I lift my elbow, showing him the bite on my arm. “It was good.”

“Damn, man, that looks like it hurts.”

Thank God for the lucky lizard since it diverts the conversation away from Becca and me. The spotted red and green lizard is the reason we ended up in bed together.

“Hurts like hell.”

Federberg and Dawes come back with a bag of sandwiches and hand them out. Flynn and Reed do the same with mango and passionfruit boba tea, except for Dane. He has a venti Starbucks coffee in hand.

Bryce does a head count, ever the captain. “We’re all here. Logan and Hagan will meet us on the back nine. Let’s go.”

For this round, my foursome is Corbin, Bryce, and Reed. They tee off first and as I check my phone, Reed asks, “Expecting a call from someone?”

“Since it’s just us. The Rattlers offered me an extension. Three years, twenty-four million.”

I let that sink in. I’ve always been the low man in terms of pay compared to these guys. Of course, Bryce and Reed are league champions and have several MVPs under their belt, but I was always considered a role player.

“Pick your jaws off the floor boys. I’m worth every penny.”

“It’s about time you believe it too. Basilio, you never had to live in your dad’s shadow. You made it to the league because of your skills. Glad the team recognizes it,” Reed says as he slaps my back. “Did you accept?”

“I did, much to my dad’s chagrin. I may pay for it later. He wanted me on the West Coast, and I wanted to stay in Dallas or be traded somewhere in the South or East Coast. I’m waiting on the digital documents to sign. Ewan said I would have them this morning and to sign immediately.”

Corbin pinches his eyes and looks at me. “Mamaw’s working her magic. She always loved you. Always thought you were soooo charming.”

“What do you mean by ‘thought I was charming?’ I am charming.”

“Maybe to a lizard,” Corbin jokes. “It’s your turn to tee off.”

Something amazing happens. I drive the ball three hundred fifty yards down the center of the fairway.