“Why not?” I pulled back, brow furrowed.
“Because he’ll ask why you’re pushing for it out of the blue and he’ll know I put you up to it.”
“But it wouldn’t be out of the blue. I know I don’t know shit about socials, but you’ve taken my profile from nonexistent to trending multiple times.”
“One of those times was because we became a meme, though,” she said, an eyebrow cocked.
“That’s beside the point. You’re good at what you do. And if he won’t notice it until someone points it out, I’m happy to do that.”
“That’s …” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “That’s sweet and I appreciate the acknowledgement. But if he evensuspectsthere’s any funny business going on, then I might as well kiss that job goodbye.”
“I don’t understand. Why’re you so sure Hansen would think there’s something going on?”
“The boys figured it out pretty quick, didn’t they?” she asked, brow raised like she had a point. But the way her teeth caught on her bottom lip made me question it.
“Is there some other reason Hansen doesn’t believe you’re a good fit for this job?”
Kodi let her head fall to my shoulder and huffed, her breath fanning over my chest.
“You know —” She paused to poke a finger into my chest. “I find it weird and unfair that you can read me so well.”
“Duly noted.” I hooked her chin with my fingers and lifted her face up. “What else is going on?”
“You’re not gonna like it,” she said with a sigh, confusing the hell out of me.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, given your attitude with Brooker, I’m guessing you’re the jealous type.”
I thought back to how it felt seeing her in another man’s jersey and nodded. When it came to Kodi, I definitely had jealous tendencies.
“Right, so don’t do that.”
I snorted and made no promises. Kodi noticed and rolled her eyes.
“I … got banned from the stadium five years ago,” she murmured, eyes dropping down.
“Banned?” I repeated, unable to think of a single way Kodi could have caused enough trouble to be banned. Normally, that sort of punishment is for unruly dudes who decide to take a loss personally and throw punches. I couldn’t picture Kodi doing that.
“Yeah, for … public indecency.”
Everything went white and the only sensory input still working was the tug of my shirt as Kodi fiddled with the hem.
“Did you — were you —” I couldn’t form a full sentence, I was too tangled up by all the possibilities.
“Ugh.” She pushed me away and hopped off the counter, grabbing her phone and tapping it a few times before handing it to me. “It’s easier to show you. And a little less embarrassing. A little.”
I took the phone and pressed play on the clip she’d pulled up. It was dated a little over five years ago and started with Marshall and Lowery bantering in the announcer's booth. It was Marshall’s first time in Destin, fresh off the injury that forced him into retirement. He was bitter and Lowery poked fun at him before the cameras turned to fans welcoming Marshall to Destin. I was about to ask why I was watching this when Kodi appeared on screen.
She was with a group of other girls, all screaming excitedly, faces red from sun and drink. And Kodi was in the center of the group, vibrant, wearing a well-worn Trevino jersey, eyes bright. I hadn’t had the opportunity to meet this Kodi yet, and knowing that we were getting to a place where I could made my heart warm, a soft comfortable heat.
That warmth twisted to something else when the Kodi on the video lifted her shirt.
I slammed her phone onto the counter, screen side down.
“Hmph, you seemed to like my tits last night,” Kodi huffed, snatching her phone back, lips pouted.
“I do, but …” My hands itched to take the phone back and see the rest of the video, but not sure I could stomach the reactions she got.
