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Shay hugs her brother and smiles like she doesn’t have a care in the world but as our eyes lock, I see it—a shadow. A flicker of something that belies her bravado. Like she’s trying to put on a brave face.
Though I’ve steeled my heart to callous women like Shay, I feel a strange tug. A sensation that’s both uncomfortable and familiar, and it fucking irks me. From the time Miles and I became best friends, though I tried to hide it, I always noticed his sister.
Noticed. Hell. More like obsessed over her. After what happened, I even convinced myself I was in love with her for a hot minute.
Shay played me for a fool. Drew me in and made me feel like I was cool. Convinced me I was good-looking and desirable. Gave me confidence…
Possibly the most profound moment of my life was a fucking joke to her. Oh, I learned the hard way that someone as beautiful as Shay could be so, so cruel.
“Shay, did you and Austin get a chance to connect after lunch?” Miles glances between the two of us, his brow furrowed.
I can hardly even muster up an excuse. “Nope. My meeting with Brad went long.”
“Brad Pitchel, our Chief Revenue Officer.” Miles directs his comment at Shay before looking back at me. “Well, I’m late for a meeting with Mona White, our Chief Technology Officer. Austin, if your schedule is still clear, maybe you and Shay can chat about the budget and expectations for the launch campaign.“ He stops at the door with parting words, “Can you please be a good leader and explain to Shay who’s who on the executive team? We don’t have a full sit down until the retreat and there’s no point in hiding the eight ball when she’s got to plan the schedule.”
I could kill him. Literally kill him.
“Austin, I hope we haven’t gotten off on the wrong foot.” Shay’s voice is shaky. “I do want to thank you for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to contributing—“
“Save it.” I interrupt. “Let’s get real. VP of Marketing? A big leap from ‘girlfriend of NFL big-shot quarterback.’ I’m not going to lob softballs at you so you can feel good about yourself. This is a demanding, relentless job. A critical job. No offense, but I don’t have the time to make niceties and pretend I’m happy Miles brought you here when you aren’t qualified for this role. I mainly hope you don’t fuck up everything your brother and I have built.”
Shay’s face flushes, but she maintains her composure. “I don’t need you to coddle me. I’m going to give everything I have to the team…”
“Oh, undoubtedly.“ My voice drips with sarcasm. “Word of advice? Try not to distract the team with cheerleading routines. Or drunken orgies.”
Shay nearly chokes and her eyes grow wide. I feel a pang of guilt. I’ve cut her to the quick and can’t deny that part of me enjoyed it. But another part of me—the part that’s never stopped desiring her—feels horrible.
I push those thoughts away. Hungry Llama is my life. My passion. I won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in the way of its success. Most of all, not Shay.
“Let’s talk marketing budget.” I motion for her to sit at the small table adjacent to Miles’s desk.
Shay stoically sits across from me and we dive back into our discussion. I try to throw her off her game, but she holds her own, surprisingly, and her ideas are insightful and fresh. She’s crammed in a wealth of knowledge of the company and our products in a few short hours.
When we’re done, she gets up to leave but turns back toward me. “Austin, Miles did me a big favor by hiring me, but I understand why you’re not on board.”
“Do you?” I try to reconcile the snarky girl I knew in high school with the reticent woman standing before me now. I’ve seen glimpses of vulnerability. Hints of something deeper. Could she have changed?
She shrugs. “Of course. I’ve never had a real job before. Now I have a big title with even bigger responsibilities. It stands to reason you’d be worried.”
Jesus. She’s so far off the mark it’s not even funny.
“What the hell have you been doing all these years?“ I can’t stop myself from asking. “It’s pretty selfish to drag Miles into whatever drama you’re involved in. Not after you essentially ditched him when you left for college.”
Shay shuts her eyes. Bites her lip. “You’re correct about one thing. I got so wrapped up in an idea of what my life was supposed to be and lost track of everything else. Including Miles.”
“Why would you do that?” My lingering disdain gives way to slight curiosity.
Her eyes blink open. “It’s complicated. Look, I’ll do my best to change your mind about me if you’ll give me a chance.”
Before I can answer, Shay disappears into the hall.
Huh. She seems different from the arrogant, take-no-prisoners girl I once knew. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that she’s truly lost. Struggling to find her way.
It doesn’t matter though. I won’t allow myself to get lured into feeling sorry for her. Whatever happened to make her this way, I bet she deserved. A big slice of humble pie never hurt anyone, least of all someone like Shay.
Anyway, there’s work to be done. Games to be created. A company to run. Like it or not, Shay’s a part of Hungry Llama until she quits or Miles says otherwise. He’s my ride or die so I’ll have to find a way to work with her, even if I can’t trust her.
Even if I can’t forget the way she annihilated me.
