Page 110 of The No Try Zone
“Get your fucking hands off my wife.” The words are out, then my fist launches.
Chapter40
Sam
Four Hours Earlier
He looks tired. Thick slashes of blue have taken up residence beneath his hazel eyes, visible even in the reflection of the elevator doors. His khakis are rumpled, a day of plane travel and coaching unmistakable in the creases.
I blink the thoughts away. I’m here to get a divorce.
The doors open and I exit, going left and left again to find my room. Colin follows, and when we both stop at our rooms, of course he’s next to me.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter. Any luck the two of us had all those months ago has left me high and dry. I can’t wait to get exactly no sleep thanks to the knowledge that Colin will be mere feet from me. Shirtless and in his ridiculous boxers, one arm thrown above his head.
“Sam.” His voice is pained.
I’m halfway in the room, but I stop.
Nothing more comes. It’s obvious he wants to say more, but I can’t begin to know what that is. I know what Ihopeit is, but hope isn’t helping here. With a sad shake of my head, I leave him in the hallway.
The view from up here is disconcerting. It’s the same Strip I stared out at nearly six months ago, the bluish gray of the mountains serving as an immovable reminder that even when the glitz of Vegas fades, life goes on. Matthew becomes Colin. Rules get broken. Love blooms and tears you apart.
Only a few wispy clouds dot the sky, as if even nature itself isn’t interested in fighting the inevitable. My hand goes to my neck, feeling for the necklace that no longer rests there. A pang of sadness unfurls in my belly. With a sigh, I turn away from the windows and lay down on the bed, setting a thirty-minute timer. I’ll take a quick nap, and when I wake, mopey Sam has to be banished.
I meet Neesha on the conference room floor, the both of us gushing over each other. I’m in a yellow knee-length chiffon dress more suited to winter than March in Vegas, but I’m not going outside, so I figured why not. Neesha is in a teal-blue suit with a black sequined tank and black and white Nikes with teal accents.
“Do you ever not represent the Granite?” I tease as we walk to the banquet room.
“It’s rare,” she answers. “Unless I’m at home. Then I’m in pinks and greens for my sorority.”
“That’s a college thing, right?”
She nods. “I’m an Alpha Kappa Alpha.” She says it like it’s supposed to mean something to me, but when I don’t react, she laughs. “Don’t worry, Sam. I’ll teach you yet.”
I smile gratefully. Neesha is a wonderful work friend. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her, and she’s incredibly warm and welcoming. She’s the perfect person to run the tiny HR department. In fact, the only reason she’s on this trip is because of me; she said she wasn’t about to let me be the only female, especially when this was a new type of travel arrangement for the league.
We round the corner. Colin is the only one there, clad in dark blue dress pants and a crisp white button-down. Even from here, I can see how the fabric strains against his shoulders, the way the rolled-up sleeves show off his forearms. His braided leather belt has been replaced, too, with a sleek brown belt to match the dress shoes he’s in.
My steps falter for the barest moment, my brain skidding offline at the deliciousness of him.Get it together.I recover, walking tall and reminding myself that tomorrow, I’ll be divorcing the man who’s currently looking at me like he’s starving.
“Good to see you both,” he says when we reach him.
Neesha smiles back. “Don’t you clean up nice, Coach. I was beginning to think you didn’t own anything other than khakis and the occasional track pant.”
His grin is knowing, but tight. “Close.”
I throw him a bone. “Fewer clothes just mean fewer decisions.”
Neesha hums good-naturedly. “If you say so.”
We head inside, Colin following, and join the short queue for the food. Dinner is quick, with a few of the Granite players joining Neesha and me at our table when they come in late.
Leaving takes too long, with table after table stopping the two of us to chat. It’s obvious what they’re doing, and the both of us are over it quickly.
“Can we be done?” I mutter after the fifth table.
“Need some help, sis?”
