Page 172 of Untying the Knot
Banner smirks. “Well, thought I would try to pull some strings. Glad it all worked out, but they were most excited about doing it because you’d be the face of it all.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Ryot lets out a long breath.
“Okay, we’ve got to go, Kelsey,” JP says, pulling her away from everyone. “Come on, Huxley. Rehearsal time, now.”
Huxley gives Ryot and Banner a handshake and then takes off with Lottie clutching his hand.
“Sorry for interrupting, but I had to tell you.” Banner pats Ryot’s chest. “Dude, isn’t this amazing?”
“Yeah,” he says, but his voice doesn’t sound excited at all.
“I have to go send out some emails, but fuck, I’m excited.” Banner glances at me and then tilts his head. “You have your drunk smile on. Have you been drinking?”
“Wine,” I say while lifting my hand. “Yummy!”
Banner chuckles. “Okay, well, you two have fun.” And then he’s out of here just as quickly as he arrived.
Now Ryot turns toward me and says, “I didn’t know that Banner was contacting ESPN.”
I wave him off. “Let’s not talk about that.” I move my hand up his chest. “Unless you want to, but I’m going to tell you right now, I am horny and needy, and I want you to take me back to the hotel room.”
The furrow in his brow smooths out as he grips me tighter. “You’re horny?”
“Very.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want to talk about this ESPN thing?”
I shake my head. “Not much to talk about. What an opportunity.” I lift on my toes and kiss his jaw. “Now take me back to our room.”
* * *
RYOT
“CanI go to the bathroom and freshen up for a second?” Myla asks as we reach our room.
I hold the door open for her and say, “Do whatever you need, babe.”
She winks and then walks over to the bathroom, looking free and . . . tipsy.
Once the bathroom door shuts, I quickly pull my phone out of my pocket and shoot a text to Banner.
Ryot:What the fuck, man? I wish you would have talked to me about the ESPN thing.
I kick my shoes off and move over to the bed.
Banner:Uh . . . are you angry about this? You heard JP and Huxley. This is huge!
Ryot:Yeah, huge for you guys. Fuck, Banner, you know I’m struggling with Myla right now. This news doesn’t help my case.
Banner:Oh shit, I didn’t even think about that.
Ryot:Yeah, that much is obvious.
Banner:But this . . . this is the dream, Ryot. Slipping you into mainstream media with the business name slapped onto a segment will solidify our spot in communications. This was what we were aiming for.
Ryot:I understand that, and any other time, I would be jumping up and down, but I have no idea what’s going on with Myla. And having a spot on ESPN like that would mean a huge commitment, and one I’m not sure I’m able to take right now. I need to fix my marriage.
Banner:Not to be a shithead in the moment, but . . . aren’t you getting a divorce? I know you’ve been trying to fix things, but at the end of the day, do you really think you’ll be able to do that?
