“And when and if they decided to sell, they would likely make a profit.”
She nodded and made another note. “Excellent point. Keep ‘em coming.”
Roxy was in her element. She gave Vivian several other ideas she had prepared in anticipation of their meeting. Vivian asked great questions to fine-tune those ideas. And by the time they were wrapping things up, Roxy felt certain she was going to end up with a partnership with the Atlanta Siege.
“You feel you’ll be able to hit the ground running with this?” Vivian asked as they neared the end of their meeting time. “There are some trades in the works and your services could become a pivotal factor in making them happen.”
“Absolutely. The Siege will be my top priority.”
Vivian clicked her pen and replaced it to its holder, signaling she was done with her review of the proposal. “Excellent.” She lifted the proposal and said, “I’m going to be presenting this to ownership in a couple days. I want to get my own thoughts down and prepare for any arguments that might come up. But I can tell you with relative certainty that they’re going to love it.”
Excitement coursed through Roxy, making it a challenge to sit still. “That’s wonderful. I really appreciate you taking such an interest in this project. I’ll admit that it’s become a bit of an obsession of mine since Callan first touched on the subject.”
“It amuses me when you reference Callan,” Vivian said with a smile.
Roxy briefly touched her fingers to her forehead. “Oh, sorry about that. He’s at the front of my mind since I wouldn’t have had this idea if it hadn’t come up during one of our conversations. I hope it didn’t seem like I was intentionally dropping his name.”
Vivian’s expression eased from humor to interest. “No, it’s not that. I just don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone actually call him Callan before. Around here, he’s just Murph.”
“Oh.”
After a pause, Vivian said, “I’m curious…and this is strictly a personal question that you’re under no obligation to answer. But about how long have you and Mr. Murphy been…”
She trailed off and gestured vaguely with her hand. Though Roxy could have filled in that blank any number of ways, she knew what Vivian was getting at.
Typically, she would have said the answer was between her and Callan, but Vivian literally held in her hand a proposal that would net Roxy more than six figures a year. It had her pushing aside her usual boundaries.
“We’ve been seeing each other for about three months now.”
Vivian sat back in her chair with an a-ha expression. “That explains it.”
“Explains what?”
“Why I haven’t been as busy as I expected this off-season.” Seeing Roxy’s puzzled look, she explained, “I assume since you know Mr. Murphy pretty well, you’re aware of the fact that he’s…”
She once again trailed off, this time appearing to search for the right word.
“A player?” Roxy supplied.
“I was going to say playboy,” Vivian clarified. “He’s a guy who likes to have fun. If you’ve done any internet searches on him at all, you know that he’s been featured in about a hundred different tabloids and viral social media posts over the past couple years alone. I was all geared up to have to work overtime managing his escapades over the past few months. Now I know why he’s been behaving himself.”
Roxy frowned. “Actually, I’ve had nothing to do with it. Callan is taking his approach to this coming season very seriously, both because of the meeting he had with management after the season ended and to honor his grandfather.”
All signs of levity left Vivian’s expression. Her eyes clouded. “I apologize. I wasn’t intending to be disrespectful. That’s what I get for letting myself toe the line of professionalism.”
“I’m not offended,” Roxy reassured her. “I just feel it’s only right to give Callan the credit he deserves.”
Vivian managed a small smile. “As any good girlfriend should. Anyway,” she continued before Roxy could process the “girlfriend” label and the unexpected thrill that ran through her, “the coaching staff has actually talked about Mr. Murphy’s efforts. He’s being noticed.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“And now that I’ve made things awkward,” Vivian said as she reached for her phone, “I’ll give Neil a call so he can escort you out.”
Roxy let out a laugh. “You haven’t made anything awkward. You’ve actually made my whole year just by agreeing to meet with me. I very much appreciate your time.”
A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door and they both rose. Vivian edged past Roxy to open the door for her and to greet Neil.
“It was so nice to meet you, Ms. Wagner,” she said with a warm smile and a handshake. “I’ll let you know how my meeting goes.”
“Thank you, Ms. Price. If any questions come up, you know how to reach me.”
“I do. Oh!” Vivian’s eyes widened. “It completely slipped my mind earlier, but I guess we’ll see each other at the team party on Saturday.”
“This Saturday?”
“Yep. I know, it feels like the week has flown by for me, too. I still haven’t decided what I’m going to wear. But you’ll have to hunt me down when you and Mr. Murphy get there. I can introduce you to some of the other team wives and girlfriends. I’m willing to bet he won’t think to do so,” she added with a wink.
The lightness that had filled Roxy’s heart when Vivian first called her Callan’s girlfriend quickly faded. Callan hadn’t invited her to any party.
She supposed he didn’t share the same definition of “girlfriend” that Vivian did.
“I’m sure you’re right,” she replied, giving Vivian a smile she didn’t feel. “I appreciate the offer. And thanks again for working with me on this project.”
“My pleasure. Enjoy your afternoon.”
I will, Roxy thought. After about a pitcher of margaritas.
* * *
“What else does ‘exclusive’ mean if not boyfriend-girlfriend?”
Roxy looked up from her margarita to meet Stella’s gaze. She had joined her sisters-in-law for their monthly girls’ night at a Mexican restaurant they all loved near her mother’s house. After her third margarita, she opened up to them about her relationship with Callan and the party Vivian had mentioned.
“Yeah,” Hazel said in response to Stella’s question. “If you’re exclusive with a guy, you’re his girlfriend. Isn’t that how it works?”
“They might just be exclusive bed-buddies,” Jane pointed out. “You are having sex with him, right?”
“Oh, yeah,” Roxy said. “Lots and lots.”
Stella sighed. “I miss sex.”
“Jeremy not putting out for ya?” Roxy asked with a snicker.
“Okay,” Nora said. “Roxy just asked a question about her brother’s sex life. She’s had enough alcohol until we get some nachos into her.”
She swapped Roxy’s nearly empty margarita glass with a glass of water, producing a pout from Roxy.