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“I keep telling you to call me Jerry.” Then he turns his attention to Mr. Hanover. “Shayna Kudrow, this is Giles Hanover, owner of the San Francisco Kingsmen. Shayna is our newest addition to the medical team.”
Mr. Hanover holds his hand out to me.
I set my clutch on the auction table since I have a glass of wine in my other hand and shake his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hanover.”
“Welcome to the team. I trust you’re enjoying your time with us thus far?” His voice is deep and somehow suits his tall and intimidating persona.
“I am. Everyone has been very welcoming.”
He gives a sharp nod. “Glad to hear it. We would have crossed paths sooner, but my wife’s mother passed away, so we’ve been in Europe taking care of all the arrangements.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I say.
He waves away my concern. “The old bat had it coming. She was in her nineties and hated everyone and everything. I think it was pure spite that kept her alive this long.”
Not knowing what to say to that, I give him a wan smile.
“Well, I think you’ll be pleased when you see the guys on the field for the first time this year. We’ve got a good group to work with.”
Mr. Hanover clamps his meaty hand on Dr. Carlisle’s shoulder. “As long as Burrow’s arm remains in top form, we’re bound to make the playoffs, right, Shayna?” He winks.
I smile, though I’m not sure how genuine it looks since his mentioning Lee has thrown me off. Lee is his star player and commands the largest salary of anyone on the team. Of course his hopes for a great season are riding on him.
“That’s right. The Kingsmen have a real shot this year, no doubt.”
Mr. Hanover nods as though he’s happy I’ve agreed with him. “Tell me, are you a fan of football, Shayna, or did you accept this job because you wanted to be an athletic trainer?”
“My dad made sure I was a football fan, but I must admit that I grew up a Green Bay fan.” I cringe and both men laugh.
“We won’t hold it against you,” Mr. Hanover says.
We chat for a few more minutes about some of the more memorable plays in the league from last season before both men get pulled away by someone else.
My hand dips to my stomach as we say goodbye.
It’s okay, you did all right.I had to meet the team’s owner at some point, but that was nerve-wracking nonetheless.
I head back to my table, and since Bryce isn’t there, I chat with a couple of the wives of my coworkers. Apparently, the guys are off at the bar getting another drink.
At some point I spot Bryce in the crowd. I stand to join her, but the crowd parts and she’s talking to Miles and neither of them looks too pleased. On second thought, I’ll stay here. I have enough of my own drama I’m trying to avoid tonight. I don’t need to get sucked into anyone else’s.
Deciding that I have to force myself to socialize and not sit here at the table all night, I top off my wineglass with the bottle from dinner and walk around the perimeter of the ballroom. Guests are dancing and mingling around the tables. I don’t see anyone I know, but when I stop to observe the people on the dance floor for a minute, an older woman in her eighties approaches me and strikes up a conversation.
Turns out the very nice woman is Giles Hanover’s mother, and I get stuck talking to her forever. When she insists on introducing me to her husband and their friends at her table, practically forcing me to take a seat with them, forever feels like it turns into infinity.
By the time I manage to extricate myself, at least half of the guests have already departed.
Shit.I’d better find Bryce.
I head to our table but don’t find her there, so I check the couples slow dancing on the dance floor. She’s not there either.
Maybe I’ll text her to see where she’s at and if she’s ready to leave.
I set my wineglass on our table and reach for my purse where it was most of dinner. My stomach slides to the floor when I realize my purse isn’t there. The sick feeling spreads through my abdomen and my eyes widen.
Where the hell is my purse? I lift the tablecloth, searching under the table and all the chairs. Nothing.
My mind frantically runs through everywhere I’ve been tonight. I remember I had my clutch with me when I was perusing the auction items. I leave my wineglass on the table and rush back over to the auction item tables, only to find they’ve all been packed up and my purse isn’t anywhere.
