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“I’m all done,” Kennedy calls out to me with the wave of her hand as she makes her way toward the bleachers. I get up from the bench, and she stands next to me, her eyes pointed at the basketball court as she speaks. “This was a successful day for my paper. Dante West did an interview with me. How about that? I never thought I would see the day.”
“That’s because Dante loves the shit out of Coach.”
She turns to me, the corner of her mouth curling up into a smile. “I can tell her clients really love her. She’s an awesome agent. The deals Coach has made in the past few years are impressive for someone so young.”
“Are you kidding me? Coach is my girl. I remember the day she tried to steal me away from ASG like it was yesterday. She has some moves when it comes to dealing with athletes. I found it impossible to say no.”
She smirks. “Yeah, I’m sure it was a tough decision for you. I bet you hit on her the first time you met.”
I look away from her, somewhat embarrassed at the memory. “Yup, she turned me down hard. And she did it in front of my teammates.”
Kennedy tilts her back and laughs. “I would’ve paid good money to see that. I knew there was a reason I liked her.”
“Doing it in front of my team made it even worse, but I respected the hell out of her the way she handled the situation. She has that killer instinct that makes her the best.”
Despite her frumpy and bizarre wardrobe choice, I kind of like her and don’t want this conversation to end. I like talking to Kennedy because I can actually have a real conversation with her and not have to put on the Tyler Kane show, the image the rest of the world expects of me.
“I’m starving,” I say, shoving my hands in my pockets. “Do you want to get something to eat with me?”
She glances down at the notepad in her hand before meeting my gaze. “No, I have to get home and work on these articles. I was hoping to get at least two of them finished by Monday. Thanks for the offer.” Her tone has a finality to it, which makes me want to change her mind.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s just food, not a date. And I kind of want to pick your brain.”
My last statement catches her attention, and she perks up. “What could you possibly want from me?”
“I want to know more about your paper and sports reporting. Is that all right with you?”
She shrugs, nonchalant, and swipes a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I suppose so. But I’m not having dinner with you. How about coffee? You can get something to eat at Broad Street Beans. It’s just down the street.”
She’s referring to the coffee shop on the Strickland University Campus located at the corner of Broad Street and Greek Row and within walking distance from the arena.
I offer my arm out to her. “We can walk together. Are you ready?”
She raises her eyebrows in confusion. “What are you doing? You don’t have to escort me down the street on your arm.”
Unsure of why I made such an odd gesture, I try to shake it off, laughing and pretending like I didn’t just offer to escort her like we are going to the damn prom together.
It has been a long time since I met a girl who I want to spend time with for more than a booty call. Kennedy is the complete opposite of the usual puck bunnies. Well, because she’s not a puck bunny.
I was nineteen when Payton and I split, only for us to go back and forth for months, maybe even years, before her games and torture became too hard for me to bear after a while. Our relationship was killing my career. The choices we made were destroying me though I doubt I will ever come to terms with our actions. We were toxic together.
When she broke my fucking heart, she took more than a piece of it with her, before giving away the one thing we shared together, the one thing that could have kept us together. Instead, we let it tear us apart. I haven’t been in a relationship since because I still carry the pain with me and the anger I have over allowing her and my parents to help me make a horrible decision. But I still made that decision, one I will regret for the rest of my life.
There’s something about Kennedy that gives me a sense of home, makes me comfortable around her. The feeling is nice, welcome even.
“C’mon, let’s get going before they close. I’m a growing boy who needs to eat.” I rub my hand over my stomach, and she laughs.
“Well then, I guess we better get you fed.”
I nod, and a tiny smile plays on her lips as she falls in line with me as we exit the gymnasium.
Chapter Five
KENNEDY
Tyler Kane has to be one of the most annoying people I have ever met. No, scratch that. He’s one of the most infuriating men I have ever met. After coercing me with his sex god body, blond hair that always falls perfectly back into place and blue eyes that make me forget to breathe, Like an idiot, I agreed to have coffee with him.
What was I thinking?
