Beside him, JJ’s smile has grown, while Anson’s evaluating gaze moves between us.Right.
“Well, the court’s warmed up for you. It was wonderful to meet you both,” I say a little too brightly as I skirt around them.
“Hold up.” JJ’s voice cuts my escape short.
My eyes close in disappointment before I school my face and turn around.
“You don’t have to leave,” he says. “Happy to share the court. We’re not kicking you out.”
“I don’t feel kicked out. It’s just—” An excuse about having plans runs across my mind, but Grayson and Anson know I have no friends or family here. “I have work to do.”
Grayson’s brows crash together. “It’s Saturday.”
My chest tightens again, because he’s right. It’sSaturday—aday for seeing people you love and laughing and smiling. “Exactly. A great opportunity to get ahead,” I push out.
He crosses his arms. “No. A great opportunity to give yourself a break, because Anson was just giving me the stats from your first three weeks, and they’re pretty damn good. ”
“Extremelygood,” Anson clarifies, though he’s frowning. “And I don’t want you working beyond your contracted forty hours per week. That’s why it’s in the contract.”
“Okay,” I say, because being the reason for a frown on my boss’s face is never a good thing. I flounder for a new excuse to leave. “I don’t want to crash your game. And I have, um, grocery shopping to do.”
I don’t.
I did it last night, when I had zero Friday plans. I’d technically had a video call date with Jane, but she cancelled on me.
Oblivious to my plight, JJ waves me off. “You won’t be crashing our game. If anything, you can make it happen. Our friend dropped out on us, and we can’t play with just three people. Wanna step in?”
The wordnois dying to burst from my chest, but I’m out of flimsy excuses, and Anson’s involved.
The anxiety filling my chest drops into my stomach, tying it in knots. If my two shooting attempts are any indication, I’ve lost every ounce of basketball ability I ever had. And there’s no intoxicated Kenny around to save me in the middle of another game.
I go with some honesty. “I’m a little rusty.”
“So are we. You’ll fit right in,” JJ says.
Icertainlydon’t fit in with these three chiseled bodies. Grayson isn’t the only one with arms that belong on a protein powder label.
“I really don’t want to intrude,” I try.
“Well, there’s no game without a fourth person.” When I hesitate, JJ has the wherewithal to look a little sheepish. If a sturdy, six-foot-something man with a tattoo sleeve can look sheepish. “Sorry, I don’t mean to pressure you. It’s just an invitation.”
Grayson jerks his chin. “What is it? You nervous?”
I stare at him, wishing it was appropriate to throw the ball straight at his face. He should be cheering at my attempted departure, not daring me to join them. Yet here he is, poking at my pride like an annoying five-year-old.
It works, like I’m sure he knows it will.
“Not nervous,” I say, committing to my demise. I’m not pretending to be any good, so I can handle losing, but Iwon’t balk in front of him and Anson. “Just managing your expectations. I’m a liability, not an asset.” I glance at Anson who seems intrigued at this turn of events. “I also want to note that my basketball abilities are not in any way correlated to my professional abilities.”
God, I sound like such a loser.
The smirk that ghosts over Anson’s lips is either appreciative or amused. “Noted.”
JJ points at me. “You’re with me, Eliza. We’re gonna kick their asses so bad, they’ll have to change their last name fromGoldtoParticipation Trophy.”
Leaves rustle in the wind. A bird squawks overhead.
Then Anson says, “Was that supposed to embarrass us, or you?”
