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“You’ve put together a hell of a road map to victory, Callum,” Cannon West says, and everyone in the room nods in agreement. “We’re all behind you on this. It’s the right move.”
Something releases in my chest and despite the fact Cannon didn’t say anything he hasn’t already told me, we’re on the verge of making this real. This last reassurance means more than all the others.
“All right, then. Let’s roll up our shirtsleeves and make these other deals happen.”
♦
It’s almost one a.m. when I pull into my driveway. I expected all the lights to be off except the porch light, but I’m surprised to see the lower level of rooms all aglow.
When I walk in, I find Juniper asleep on the couch. She’s curled into one end, a lightweight blanket over her lap. Game of Thrones plays on the TV.
I nab the remote and shut it off and the lack of sound startles her awake. Eyes landing on mine, she rakes her gaze over my face. “You look tired,” she says.
“Tired but satisfied,” I proclaim, taking the seat on the other end of the couch.
Juniper yawns and stretches her arms. “I tried to stay awake so I could see how it went.”
I lean my head back, rolling it on the cushion so I can look at her. “We got every single player we wanted.”
Her eyes light up and a broad smile breaks across her face. “Oh my God. That’s amazing. Congratulations, Callum.”
Yeah… it’s a big fucking deal. Tomorrow’s headlines in the Times will let the city of Pittsburgh know that Coen Highsmith is out and Penn Navarro is in. That news will be across all the major sporting networks and Vegas will already start figuring the odds of a Titans championship.
Penn Navarro’s arrival in Pittsburgh promises to reshape our destiny. I take a second to savor the triumph, knowing that the path to a Cup has just been paved with this bold move.
“Want a drink to celebrate?” Juniper asks. “Or are you hungry? I can heat up something for you.”
“No thanks,” I reply. We cracked champagne at the arena and food was provided all day. “How did your day go? How’s your dad?”
Juniper shoots me a chastising glare. “Callum… this is a huge deal. Getting Navarro and all the other players you wanted. Why aren’t you more excited?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Because I’m absolutely exhausted from head to toe. I’m sore from hours at a table and my brain feels like mush. It’s too much work to be excited.”
Juniper tosses aside the blanket and scoots onto her knees on the couch cushion next to me. “Turn around. Let me give you a neck massage.”
“You don’t—”
“Turn around,” she demands. I’m not one to turn down a massage, especially one that involves Juniper’s touch. “Take off your shirt.”
“Jesus, Juni.” I sit forward and give her my back. “I’m starting to feel like a piece of meat.”
She pops me on the back of the head. “Just your dress shirt. Leave the undershirt on.”
I wore a suit to work today, as one does when they’re going to be on video calls with agents, other general managers and players. I left my jacket at the office, but the starched dress shirt will hinder a good massage. I unbutton the cuffs first, then the front and shrug it off.
Juniper moves behind me on her knees, her fingers going right to my shoulders where they start a deep, slow undulation into my muscles. I can’t help the groan of satisfaction.
We used to give each other massages all the time. This was usually done fully naked and ten times out of ten, it led to an amazing fuck after. I forbid that thought from going further because this isn’t that kind of massage and truly, I’m so fucking tired I’m not sure I could take advantage of any situation that might present itself.
“You should be really proud of yourself,” Juniper murmurs as her fingers press into the base of my neck. “The sports world tomorrow is going to be stunned with the moves you pulled today.”
Juniper knows what they are because yesterday as we were out and about and then over dinner, she asked a bazillion questions about what I wanted to do. It was a good way for me to go over all the players I wanted to gain and offload, the road map I intended to follow and the pitfalls I hoped to avoid. Juniper about choked on her salmon when I told her the amount we’d be offering for Navarro and then had a dozen more questions about how I was going to afford it.
One of the things I miss most about her is that she was always so fucking interested in me and my career. Even in those few years when I was on the road and she was working back home, our conversations always spent a good deal of time focused on my job and all that it entailed. And I was just as interested in her job too. I was into everything about her and yes, I was a fucking idiot to have let her go.
I lean forward, causing Juniper’s hands to slide free. I shift on the couch to face her. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Juniper flinches and then sits back on her heels, palms resting on her thighs. She says nothing, but I don’t expect her to.
