Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Yeah, I’ve learned that Brienne Norcross has my undivided loyalty until the day I die. “Consider me educated,” I reply solemnly. “And I’m sorry for everything. I handled it poorly.”
The corner of Brienne’s mouth tips up, her eyes going to Tempe, then back to me. “I think some things seemed to have worked out okay.”
More than okay.
Tempe and I rise to leave, and Callum promises to keep me updated. He won’t commit as to when I will be cleared to return to the team but says he’ll let me know something by the end of the day.
“Go enjoy yourselves tonight. Celebrate the new year,” he says as he walks us to the door.
That’s the last thing on my mind at this moment, but I’m sure we’ll still go to Foster and Mazzy’s party. I thank Callum, and Tempe and I head to the elevator hand in hand.
As we wait for the car to arrive, I turn to her. “Thank you for talking me into that.”
She smiles, leaning in to give me a kiss. “I planted the idea. You decided to go for it.”
“We make a good team, huh?”
“The best.”
CHAPTER 23
Tempe
As Rafferty and I step into Foster and Mazzy’s sprawling Squirrel Hill home, the ambiance shifts from the crisp winter air to a warm, festive interior that buzzes with the promise of a fresh start in the new year. The large foyer opens into a spacious living room where the holiday decorations mingle with festive New Year’s Eve embellishments. Strings of silver and gold garlands drape from the ceiling, adding a sparkle that competes with the twinkling Christmas lights still wound around the banisters wrapped with fresh pine boughs.
We greet several players and their SOs as we head toward the kitchen where we’ve been told to fill up on food and drink. Only the players were invited to this party, so there’s no chance Tansy will be here.
Food is top of the agenda because we’re both starved after not eating all day. After we left Brienne’s office, we ran a few errands and then stopped by my house to hang with my mom and Cooper for a bit. We ended up watching a football game and I’m not sure who fell asleep first, but all I know is that when we woke up, we had to rush back to Rafferty’s place to get ready.
The kitchen is so lovely. The expansive white granite island, streaked with black and flecked with silver, serves as the centerpiece for the night’s festivities. It’s laden with an array of finger foods and a punch bowl filled with a fizzy red concoction, surrounded by crystal flutes. A massive silver tub on a pedestal holds bottles of champagne, presumably chilling for a midnight toast.
Rafferty and I fill our plates, ignore the punch for the time being and head out onto the back deck that’s covered with dozens of strands of Edison lights wrapped in more silver and gold garland. Several gas heaters are positioned every few feet, so it’s quite pleasant as the chilly air just barely reaches us.
We eat and chitchat with some of the players, exchanging pleasantries and holiday wishes. The women are all in glittering dresses and the men in sharp suits, and I find it interesting that no one brings up the drug allegations. I mean, the team has clearly rallied around Rafferty and no one believes the accusations, and maybe that’s why it’s not a subject of conversation. In everyone’s minds, there’s nothing to discuss.
A rapping on the living room window gets our attention and I see Willa and Mazzy, peering out at us. They grin and motion for me to come inside.
“I’m going to see what they want,” I say to Rafferty.
He takes my empty plate, sets it under his that still has food on it since he took twice as much as I did, and leans toward me to whisper, “I bet they want to find out all the juicy gossip.”
I blink in surprise. “You mean about you?”
“Sure,” he says with an easy shrug. “I mean… everyone wants to know what’s going on.”
“But no one’s asked you yet,” I point out.
“Yet,” he says with a wink. “Few more drinks in everyone and I’ll be ambushed.”
“And you’re okay with it?”
“Sure. Why not? Brienne didn’t say we couldn’t tell anyone about our meeting today, and besides that, all the guys know this is Tansy’s doing. I guess there’s really not much to tell other than Brienne’s looking into it.”
I glance back at Willa and Mazzy and hold up my index finger to give me a moment. With a sigh, I rub his lower back soothingly. “I wish we’d get an answer soon. The suspense is killing me.”
“Me too,” he admits ruefully. Then a smile breaks free. “But hey… maybe if I get fired, I can go to college with you.”