Page 76 of The Big Puck

“Spence… please.” I slip a hand against his crotch and clamp down. “Oh my God, you’re so big and so hard and so—” He shuts me up with another kiss and pulls my hand from him.

“Not here and not now, sweetheart.” He pulls his hand from under my skirt, and I can’t help my groan… Just as the door bangs open.

I never saw anyone move as fast as he does when he turns, blocking the view of me to face the door.

“Bingo.” I’d know that horrible voice anywhere. It's Gavonza, and he laughs. That’s all the man says as I slide off the table to stand next to Spence.

“What the hell do you want?” Spence keeps his voice low, and it sounds all the more menacing.

Gavonza ignores him and stares me straight in the eye. He knows what’s going on. I feel the rumble of rage in Spence’s chest and the growl of frustration that escapes. But he says nothing as Gavonza laughs again, and then he leaves.

Spence moves quickly to close the door. “I’m sorry—not for the…kiss. For Gavonza barging in and disrespecting you.”

“It’s not your fault.”

He shakes his head, moves behind his desk, and sits, dragging me down to sit on his lap where he holds me.

“I’m afraid it is, sweetheart. Gavonza is using you to intimidate me—or trying to. He’s succeeding in angering the shit out of me.”

“Why are you two such enemies? You’re supposed to be on the same team.”

“He has no plans to renew my contract.”

“So I gather. Why not?”

“I’m afraid our contract negotiations were a bit contentious. He expected me to grovel and be grateful for crumbs. I told him I wanted a clause—a pipe dream clause. If the team wins the division, he renews my contract. He found it laughable enough to agree to it. We’ve despised each other since.”

“Congratulations on having good judgment. I know you’re going to win.” I stop, and I’m not sure what to say next because it’s time to confess, to tell him about my escapade with Tina and what we found now that we got the report from the attorney.

“I have a confession,” I say. Reaching into my bag, I pull out the manila envelope and hand it to him. Then I tell him everything.

* * *

My phone rings, surprising me as I finish cleaning the kitchen after lunch. Spence is on a road trip. The team is playing in Chicago and then Buffalo before they come home in two days. I check my phone to see it’s a call from Tina, the text queen. Strange.

“What’s up?”

“I’m sick.”

“You are? I’m so sorry. What’s wrong?” Concern chases everything else from my head.

“It’s a cold—the kind that makes you miserable and only semi-functional at best. The worst is that I’m supposed to go to Buffalo and do some videos for social media posts, but I just can’t. Can you cover for me? Pretty please?”

“Me? I don’t even work for the team. Surely there’s someone else on the staff who can cover—”

“No one. They all have an excuse not to go to Buffalo. But I promised Dad I’d take care of it, and I don’t want him to be suspicious and pay attention to me if I tell him I’m sick. I’ll text you the ticket and the app with the hotel room key. It’s all automated now. Your flight leaves in three hours, and Aunt Hildie will care for Krissy.”

“She will? This is crazy.”

Aunt Hildie limps over to me without her crutch. “What’s crazy is a young girl like you spending too much time in this house and not living life. Besides, I want some alone time with Krissy. I have my friends nearby if I need help or company. Take a couple of days and enjoy the trip.” She smiles and folds her arms.

“Enjoy a trip to Buffalo?” I’m horrified because it’s the opposite of a vacation spot, especially this time of year with cold weather coming in. However, part of me is warming up to the idea of getting out and doing something fun and different—especially when it involves being in the same zip code as Spence. Because he left right away for his road trip, we haven’t had a chance to talk—or do anything else—not since our Gavonza-interrupted episode.

“Even mothers need breaks from their babies now and then,” she says gently, touching my arm.

Tina yells from the phone I forgot I had in my hand, “That’s right—take a break, Lainey, and bail me out. I’m texting you everything you need, including your media pass and the passwords to the official Whalers social media accounts.”

“All right. I’ll do it,” I say, half laughing. We end the call, and I’m part suspicious and part giddy with excitement. To preserve the excitement, I don’t think too deeply about what just happened or why. No questions. Just go with it.