“Not so funny when I fell on my face.” She grimaces. “But I think the costume protected me.”
“That was why I went back to you. I was worried you were hurt.”
“But you didn’t know it was me.”
“I kept hearing your voice. I couldn’t believe it was you in there.” I start chucking. “Christ. I can’t believe this. It’s actually hilarious.”
“It’s good you can laugh about it.” She smiles. “And then I got stuck in the costume.”
“Maybe having to rescue a mascot will help me overcome my phobia.”
“Ha! You’re welcome.”
Our eyes meet in a burst of heat. I swear I see sparks in my peripheral vision.
“Oh shit!” She bolts upright.
I start. “What?”
“I don’t have my phone! I gave it to Kevin to hold for me.” She reaches out and grips my arm so tightly I swear there’ll be bruises there.
“Oh. We’ll get it. I’ll call him.”
The look of utter panic on her face has me biting back a smile. “Now. Do it now.”
“Calm down. It’ll be fine.”
“My phone! It’s my life!”
I pull out my phone. I have Kevin’s number from when I called him as a reference. It rings a couple of times, then he answers. “Morrissette. What’s up?”
“Hey. I have your team mascot. I’m holding it for ransom.” I meet Kate’s eyes, which widen. Then she bites her bottom lip, smiling.
Silence. “What the fuck?”
“I need Kate’s cell phone, her shoes, a dozen beers, and an extra-large pizza delivered to her place within the next hour, or you’ll never see Orson again.”
Kate cracks up, falling sideways on the couch.
“No anchovies on the pizza,” I add. “Do you have the address?”
“Uh…no.”
I look at Kate and she shouts it out.
“Got that?”
“What is even happening?” Kevin sounds confused. “Are you serious?”
“Serious as a shootout in sudden death OT.”
“Okay, that’s serious.”
“Yeah. Also, you owe Kate.”
“Ha. I guess I do. Okay. See you soon.”
I end the call and set my phone down. “There. It’ll be here soon.”
“I’m being held for ransom?” Her eyes twinkle.
“No. Not you. Orson.” I jerk my head at the costume. “I’ll set that motherfucker on fire if Beaven doesn’t show up.”
“Hunter.” She cackles more. “You won’t do that.”
“Hey. You know my little secret now. You know I’ll do it.”
She shakes her head, still shaking with laughter. “You’re nuts.”
“True, but I own it.”
“Wait, I didn’t mean—”
“I know.” I smile. I’m fucked up, but I can still joke around. “So. This is a nice apartment.”
“Thanks. It’s small, but it’s a great location. Finding a place in New York wasn’t easy.”
“I’ve heard that.”
“It’s nothing like your luxury digs.”
“Eh. It’s a hotel. With apartments. I need a roommate to afford it.”
“You won’t after you sign your next contract.”
I have to smile. “I like your confidence.”
“I am confident.” She tosses her hair. “I’m good at my job.” Then she mutters under her breath, “Even though some didn’t think so.”
I frown. “Who didn’t think so?”
“Long story.” She waves a hand.
“We have time.”
She gives me a look. She doesn’t want to talk about it. I get that. I can respect that. Even though somehow I always end up spilling my guts with her.
“Any more news of your dad’s girlfriend?”
“Nope. I talked to my brother about it. He’s all, whatever. Men.”
“Yeah, men and women are definitely different. Thank God.”
Her eyebrows snap together. “What does that mean?”
“I mean thank God we’re different. I like how women are different—soft, nice smelling…what is that shower gel you use, by the way?”
She blinks.
Uh-oh. Getting too personal? I definitely appreciated all her differences that night in Cancun. Repeatedly. All night long.
Ahem.
“Never mind. Also, women are much stronger than men. Probably smarter. And you can multi-task.”
She chokes on a little laugh and her frown clears. “Okay.”
“Look at your many talents.” I wave a hand at Orson’s head over on the counter. “You can whip up a killer spreadsheet, negotiate like a shark, then dress up and charm little kids.”
“I do indeed have many talents.”
When Kevin arrives, Hakim is with him. Somehow, they found out they’d both been ditched.
Kevin hands Kate her phone and a bag with some clothes in it and sets a dozen beers on the counter. Hakim carries two big pizza boxes that smell fantastic.
“Two pizzas?” I raise my eyebrows.
“We’re joining you,” Hakim says. “You owe us after that bailsky.”
Fuck him. I mean, I guess it was kind of rude. But I’m annoyed that they’re crashing my time with Kate. “We had a costume crisis.”
“I fell,” Kate says, deflecting any attention from the fact that she was chasing me. “I hurt my shoulder and I couldn’t get back up, and then I couldn’t get my head off.”
Kevin’s lips twitch. “That is a crisis.”
“Also, I had to go to the bathroom.” Kate moves into her little kitchen and opens a cupboard. She pulls out four plates. “Urgently.”
“Okay, okay. No overshares.” Kevin waves a hand.
“I guess you two don’t know each other.” I introduce Kate and Hakim as we serve ourselves pizza and open beers. Then we all settle in Kate’s little living room to dig in.
“Great pizza,” I say between mouthfuls. “I’m starving.”
“Hopefully the event was a success,” Kate says. “It seemed like lots of people there, and the kids were having fun.”
“They were having fun pelting me with water balloons.” Luckily, I’m dry now.
“What could be more fun?” Hakim says.
“I agree. Water balloons are the best.”
“So, Kate.” Kevin points at her. “Tell us the latest gossip on trades.”
She grins. “I don’t gossip.”
“But you probably know everything,” Hakim says.
“She does,” I affirm. “But she won’t tell you.”
“Damn.”
I can see they’re only joking. Half-joking.
Kate’s at ease, laughing and bantering with us. It reminds me of that day I found her crying and took her to Bingo’s place to cheer her up. She was the only girl there and she fit right in. That was also the day I was going to…fuck. Forget that.
When we’re done with the pizza, we lounge around with another beer. Then Hakim says, “I guess you can drive me home now that we’re both here.”