“Well I can’t use my social channels or an interview as a premise. That only works when it feeds the egos and?—”
“Like Brandon, hm?”
My face warmed and I gave him a stern look. “Brandon was different than I envisioned. He was humble and kind.”
Jeff made a mocking face and said, “Sure.”
“You’re the worst.” I smiled when I said it, but it didn’t make it less true.Huh, this bantering is fun.
“Okay, new plan. When you were hooking up with guys, what was your game?”
“I was drunk most of the time.”They were too. It was easier that way. Less sting if they said no.
“Still, you had to say or do something.” He smiled and tilted his head to the left a bit. “Did you have a one-liner or a routine or something?”
“No!” I scoffed and tried to remember what I did. “It was more like…buying shots for guys at the bar, or grabbing one by the hand and dragging them to the dance floor. It wasn’t talking.”
He laughed. “Okay, Amber. That’sdefinitelya move.”
“I guess.”
“Oh, it is for sure. You wearing that dress and not even speaking before taking someone to the dance floor is big-dick energy. Well done.” He gave me another appreciative grin and it took me a second for me to digest his words.
You wearing that dress.
He thinks I look good. Oh my god.
Concentrate. Investigation.
I cleared my throat and recapped to help refocus the purpose of why we were doing this. “Groupie route is out, social channels is a no. What else is left? What do you suggest?” I moved to sit on the edge of my bed and he span the chair so he faced me—scooting closer in the process so he could reach out and touch my leg if he wanted.But why would he want that?
“I think you build up his ego. Mention how strong he is, how it’s a shame he wasn’t on the team, and see what he does. Feel him out.”
“What if…” An idea struck me. A brilliant one. I stood up and snapped my fingers. “Get this. I’m going to tell him I heard he knew a guy. I have a sister back home who needs to come here. I’ll say I’m from money and just need a number.”
Jeff’s forehead furrowed. “No.”
“Why the hell not?”
“You’re not putting yourself in danger. I won’t allow that.” His entire demeanor changed. Gone was the laid-back, almost arrogant baseball player. Instead, he looked ready to pounce and every muscle on his face tensed. “If he suspects anything and reports back to my coach or your uncle, it could be bad, Amber. We really don’t know how deep or involved this goes. We need to stay under the radar.”
“I’ll use a fake name. Hold on—Laney has some extensions I could put in my hair to disguise myself more.” I yanked open my door and called to my roommate. She appeared from her bedroom and whistled.
“Dayum,mama. It’s been a minute since you’ve shown off your figure. You look amazing. You help pick that out, Jeff?”
He grunted his response, but I didn’t lose my momentum just to chastise him for being a grumpy-ass. “Can I borrow your dark extensions?”
“Oh, for sure!” She shoved me into her room and said, “You can follow if you want, Jeff, or you can watch from the hallway. Your choice. But we are going to gossip while I put them in.”
“What kind of gossip?”
He followed us into the room. Laney pushed me onto her vanity chair and laughed. “Who is she going on a date with tonight?”
“He set me up with one of his teammates, Brandon.”
“Is he hot?”
“God, yes.”
