Page 7

Wild

I'm thirty-four years old, old enough to know you don't always get what you want.

No matter how much grief I get from the media and Richard, I refuse to be ashamed of my career choices.

Lila and Richard are in different camps when it comes to my career. Lila is all about the money, career earnings, and portfolio.

Money doesn't make the world go round, kid. It makes the world.

She's scary good with money. I owe my multimillionaire status to her.

Richard is all about basketball, MVPs, championships, and my legacy as a basketball player. The result is arguments and epic battles Brandon Sanderson would envy.

When I heard Coach Billy was on his way out of the league, I saw a chance to redeem myself before his eyes and maybe win a championship. Did I expect to be shot down? Yes. Is it disappointing? Very. That doesn't mean I'm going to dwell on it.

Shockingly, Lila and Richard are both in agreement to disagree with me.

Coach Billy's office door hasn't closed when she takes my hand and drags me to a corner. Her white curls are dyed a bright pink, and her lips pursed as she takes a pen out of her handbag.

We ’ re still in the not-so-private hallway outside Coach Billy ’ s office at the North Cats.

"I know it's your decision to join hands with that kid in there," she says, pointing at Coach Billy's office.

That 'kid' is a sixty-five-year-old basketball legend, but I know better than to insert my expensive body between two cranky people. Billy Joe and Lila have never gotten along.

She stabs a fingernail into my chest to prod me to attention. "But there's so much story, so much narrative to spin. We'll make so much money."

There are dollar signs printing out of her eyes. It's scary. I look to Richard for help.

He shakes his head. "As much as it pains me to admit, she's right."

"Of course, I'm right," Lila shoots back, affronted. “See." She draws my attention to a rough chart. "We have much to work with. We will release a statement saying you're considering your options—even though you don't have many. Then we leak a clip of what happened—"

“ Everyone already knows," I interrupt. I don't want to rehash that period in my life. The boos. Angry fans. My powerlessness.

Her finger stabs my chest. It's sharp and pointed. I give her all my attention to stop her from drawing blood.

"Don't interrupt me," she orders. "We remind the club where they stand where you're concerned. Put them on your back foot, and maybe even get another apology. You'll be the talk of the town around the league and even get more endorsement deals out of it."

Panting heavily, Lila stops to catch her breath. I hand her a bottle of water. Richard rolls his eyes but doesn't dare speak as she sips.

"Now." She narrows cold eyes on us both. "Where was I?"

"Your specialty, endorsement deals," Richard says.

"Then we go for the coup d'état—"

"You mean coup de grace..." Richard starts, but at her glare, he trails off.

"We then announce you're rejoining your old team, the people who hurt you and apologized. A last stand." Lila closes her eyes, and a dreamy expression takes over her face. "Imagine the shirt sales, the endorsement, the press—"

"And the championship run," Richard adds.

"Yes," Lila agrees. "Imagine crowning all that with a championship ring? You'll be on top of the world, kid."

Under normal circumstances, I will buy what she's selling, but with Coach Billy's rejection, I'm done. I won't try to change his mind. I respect his decision.

I lean down to press a kiss on her cheek. "I'm sending you flowers for that pitch," I say. "But it's not happening."

"No flowers for me?" Richard asks.

"When all you did was stand there and look pretty?" Lila snarks. "Even pageant contestants work—"

I don't wait around to witness another round of their epic arguments. I have a scheduled appearance at my favorite charity, Safe Friends. It's a nonprofit, volunteer-based charity that assists survivors of domestic violence.

Richard accosts me in the parking lot. "How's Ro?"

“ Frustrated. She might be out longer than three weeks.”

“ That ’ s tough.” He rubs his chin. “ Let ’ s talk about Coach Billy.”

I don ’ t want to talk about him. “ How did your blind date go?"

He smirks. "Shockingly good. I have a good feeling about this one."

"You always have a good feeling." I start moving towards my car. Fast. Richard, the most unathletic man alive, keeps up. Two steps to the safety of my car, and a loud crash stops me in my tracks. Richard is on the ground in an awkward sprawl. "You can't even jog?" I ask, helping him to his feet. "How old are you again?"

"You're sporty enough for us both," he says with a dismissive wave. "If you're not going to fight Coach Billy for this contract---"

"No." I hold his gaze, so he knows I mean it.

Richard heaves a sigh. "We can go behind his back to the general manager. Larry is a numbers man."

“ Never."

“ Or appeal to his daughter, Megan. I hear she ’ s the director of operations.”

“ No.”

"Then better be prepared to drum up publicity for your next contract," he threatens.

"How?"

“ Date a popular actress?”

"Retirement at thirty-four is always an option."

Richard goes pale.

I ’ m going to cave and call in reinforcements for Ro and her ACL. Sisi is my best bet. My sister ’ s blunt talk can push a grown woman to tears. Or I might go sophisticated and call our brother, Asa. He ’ s the youngest among us men, and Ro and Sisi have a soft spot for him.

The popular restaurant is her favorite, but Ro looks distracted.

The food is excellent. Volunteering at Safe Friends, meeting and talking to the women usually puts me in a positive mood. But the Evie-niggle I've been ignoring is back with a vengeance.

And a little bit of Coach Billy.

I ’ m considering going higher and calling in our older brother, Rhys, for reinforcement when it hits me. Evie accepted my apology too readily. I know Evie well enough to be confident of her forgiveness. But I know where her easy forgiveness comes from. She would do almost anything not to offend. It came from all the years of bowing and scraping for a drop of the Langford's affection.

She just lumped me in with the Langfords by accepting my apology too quickly.

"You're doing that thing." Ro points at my fingers, tapping the table in a slow count.

I clench my fists.

That ’ s Evie. The waiter walks past, leading a group to a table, blocking my view. What is she doing here? Then I see Mrs. and Mr. Langford, Sarah. And Parker.

It's probably a mandatory family dinner, for appearance's sake. Mrs. Langford needs the photos to show off her perfect family, and Mr. Langford needs it to quell another cheating allegation.

Evie doesn't need it. But she's here.

"How's the food?" Ro asks.

"Perfect," I say without glancing at her. Another group strolls past, and I lose sight of Evie. Straightening, I keep my eyes peeled for those brown curls.

“ We should change our order to dog food."

"Yes."

Ro bursts into laughter. “ Wow. I know Mom put you up to this but I ’ m fine, just frustrated.”

“ Sorry,” I mutter.

“ You should say something if you ’ re interested in her.”

"What are you talking about?"

“ What am I talking about?”

“ Evie?”

“ So you finally admit you ’ re interested in her?”

“ No!”

Ro takes a sip of her wine. “ No?”

“ Stop putting words in my mouth,” I hiss. “ She ’ s important to me.”

She rolls her eyes. “ If you like her—”

“ I don ’ t!”

“ So you hate her then?”

I ’ m going to end up in jail for killing my sister. “ I ’ m sending you home to Rhys.”

Our brother doesn ’ t have my patience.

“ Okay, okay.” Ro raises both hands in surrender. “ Did you see how I got injured?”

She immediately has my attention because she ’ s finally talking about it.

“ One minute, I was in form, got the starting spot, and the next, I ’ m injured.” Ro ’ s eyes go dark. “ I wasn ’ t even tackled. No contact.”

I reach for her hand. “ You will be back.”

The Langfords give a practiced laugh. Evie smiles on cue. The woman who wouldn't stop laughing, had dirt under her nails from gardening, and almost cried watching a drama is gone. I want to turn the lights back on in her eyes. I want to tell her she doesn't need them. She has me, Charlie, Kristyn, and my family.

She's been strong all her life. She can let go.

"What do you want to do?"

I pull my attention back to Ro.

Ro turns to check out the Langfords. Her eyes rest on Parker. “ Is that Parker?”

"Yeah."I shudder to imagine Evie with him.

"You hate him, don't you?"

“ Don ’ t you? After how he betrayed her?”

Ro nods. "Take good care of her."

"Definitely,"I say. It sounds like a vow, but I don't care. I will protect Evie with my life.

Flipping her hair back, Ro looks over her shoulder. "All that hair,” she murmurs. “ I ’ m jealous.”

"Huh?"

“ You know how long Evie ’ s hair is?

“ Hair?”

“ Yes, hair.” Ro looks like she can ’ t believe how slow-witted I am. “ How long is it?”

"Shoulder length. Why?"

She smirks. "No reason. She wears that gown well, but Sisi says she will look better in white. Or sunny yellow."

Her comments force me to study Evie. She's wearing a simple gown of ice blue. Her only jewelry pieces are earrings and a gold band.There'san air of queenly dignity about her— in her head's tilt and ready smile. She's the lady of proper behavior today.

A Langford.

"You don't need to see me off."

“ My driver will take you.”

Ro gathers her purse. "Call me?"

I call the waiter and send a message to Mrs. Langford asking if I can join their table. Anyone who knows the family well knows she makes the decisions. Even if she considers me rude for intruding—and she will—it will put a quick end to the farce of a family dinner.

Mrs. Langford raises her head to regard me with disinterest. Then she gives a tiny nod in assent.

A waiter comes over to lead me to their table.

Mrs. Langford has never liked me because of my close relationship with Charlie. I don't much care about her opinion of my relationship with Evie. What I care about is her dangling her affections in front of Evie's nose: forever out of reach.

But I do my best to keep up appearances with a warm smile and a kiss on her cheek because Evie likes the woman for some reason.

Parker glares at me. Sarah bares her teeth. Mr. Langford takes a drink. Perfect.

Sarah is a miniature version of her mother from her blond hair to the giant heirloom on her fingers. But she will need a lot more practice to match Mrs. Langford’s icy, dismissive expression.

Evie stands out with her dark skin and to borrow Ro’s words, all that hair.

I've offended Evie twice by my count. Maybe more. How presumptuous of me to think I can sit at her side and make everything right. ,

I chance a look at her.

Her smile is enchanting. I blink. My hand moves under the table, and I tap her once. Twice. Parker has fire coming out of his eyes. Sarah looks like she wants to kill him.

Evie leans over, her breath washing over me. "Where's Ro?"

I whisper back. "She says hi."

Mrs. Langford's disapproving eyes shoot a warning at Evie. I lean closer. "Sisi says you'll look even better in white or sunny yellow."

And Evie laughs out loud. I can't help smiling at her joy.

Mr. Langford awakens from his wine-induced stupor. Parker and Sarah are resentful. Mrs. Langford is a block of ice.

The dinner wraps up in record time. The parents leave first. I wait for Parker and Sarah to follow with their mulishness.

Parker gets up. I grin.

Sarah follows him.

He smiles at Evie.

What a swine.

Sarah ’ s eyes screw shut with her frown. “ Honey?”

"Give me a minute?"he says to Evie, ignoring Sarah.

Oh, Evie ’ s going to crush him.

“ Sure," Evie says.

“ What?” Sarah dives for her husband like a player scrambling for a loose ball. “ Parker!”

I reach for Evie without thinking. But she overturns my grip to squeeze my hand. "Don't wait. I will take a taxi."

No way.

“ Evie!” Sarah calls. “ What do you think you ’ re doing?”

I cannot believe I ’ m on the same side as Sarah with that question.

“ We won ’ t be long,” Evie says, “ half a minute?”

Then she leaves. With Parker.

I down a glass of water.

My eyes meet Sarah's across the table. She's a miniature version of Mrs. Langford—blond, blue-eyed, and thin. But she has this permanent glare in her eyes that adds an easy extra ten years to her face.

I can't believe any man in his right senses would leave Evie and willingly choose Sarah.

It takes her a second to figure out I'm not moving an inch. The resentful glare comes out of hiding. She gathers her things and moves to another table.

Good riddance.