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She frowned. It was as if he’d completely disregarded everything she’d texted.
That’s good.
It was an important tournament. I talked to some potential partners.
Could you maybe call me?
Sure, babe. But I can’t talk for longer than five minutes. I have meetings in the morning.
Her phone buzzed and she answered right away.
“Hey, Jordy.”
“Babe, how are you doing?”
She walked to her bedroom and quietly closed the door behind her. She sat on her bed and took a deep breath. “You may regret asking that question.”
“Before you do that, my boss is having a little shindig this Friday night. He insists you be there. It’s not a big deal, just about thirty or forty people.”
She gasped. “I need to lie low right now. I shouldn’t be going to parties.”
“You’re going to hide away for weeks instead? Maybe months? Over this stupid little thing?”
Her jaw dropped, but she quickly closed her mouth. “I’m not sure you’re fully understanding my situation. People are trashing me for being a bully. I’ve had retailers tell me they’re about to drop my athletic line. I’ve had to put a hold on new projects, including the launch of my new line. Right now, my reputation is in tatters. So maybe a party isn’t a good idea.”
“Look, some other scandal will come along, and you’ll be forgotten.”
She blinked a few times. He couldn’t possibly be this obtuse. “If I don’t sort this out soon, I will always be associated with this. Kids see me as a role model. I don’t want to let them down.”
“It’s a no to the party?” The irritation flowing from his voice singed her like lava.
“I’m sorry, but it’s a no.” She hated herself for apologizing for it. He should have understood.
“I don’t ask you for much, Reese, but this is important to me. I guess you’re going to put yourself first. Fine, do that. I have to go.”
He hung up before she could say another word.
ChapterSix
Reese didn’t sleep for two reasons: the first, her conversation with Jordy, and the second, the fact she couldn’t break into her own old email address. She could hear Cam quietly puttering around in her kitchen, likely looking for the coffee. She wanted to get some sleep in, but she knew it wasn’t going to happen. She slid out of bed and met him in the kitchen. By then he’d found the coffee and was working on omelets for breakfast.
Cam smiled when he saw her. “I would have made some bacon, but you don’t have any. I don’t see any potatoes either. I make pretty good hash browns.”
“I remember,” she said with a smile as she headed for the coffee maker. “I would do groceries, but people will recognize me. I’ll do an online order later.”
“Why don’t I go get some groceries? It won’t take me long.”
“Thanks, but only if you want to.”
“I’ll give you some alone time,” he said as they settled at her island to eat. “You can ponder the future and your relationships with people.”
She looked up and met his gaze. His sea-green eyes were looking mischievous. “You overheard my conversation with Jordy?”
“You know I can hear a pin drop, right?”
Reese set down her fork and massaged her temples. “He’s a little dense sometimes.”
Cam scowled now. “Dense? No. An asshole? Yes. You know I’m going to tell you like it is, so here it goes. He’s never been there for you. He’s never cheered you on, and never been proud of you. You’re like a trophy to him, something he parades around when he needs something. And here is the brutal truth. He’s a lot like your mom.”
