Page 10 of Hard Count
“What is?”
“The gap is fucking huge. He seems like a total asshole off field.”
Noah set the tablet down. “Most players are the same person. Piper’s gap is where you find something. He seems misunderstood to me.”
Darius studied him. “You’ve thought about this a lot, haven’t you?”
“He’s our biggest game at the end of the season and he just beat us.”
“Sure,” Darius said as he gave Noah a look trying to understand what was going on here.
Darius stood, cracked his back, and looked at the ceiling. “You know what your problem is?”
“Tell me.”
“You focus too much on other dudes, mapping their every move.”
Darius headed for the door. “Most guys want easy. You specifically want to solve the unsolvable.” He left.
Noah sat with that, then picked up his tablet again. He ran the end zone throw with a perfect shot of Piper’s ass that lookedlike a juicy peach Noah wanted to eat. He had a feeling about this guy, and the curiosity was growing now that they were division rivals.
He didn’t know if Piper fucked dudes, but he was going to find out.
Chapter Six: Los Angeles
Vivienne Cross arrived exactly ten minutes late.
Carmen Vale never got tired of being annoyed with Vivienne. Ten minutes was Vivienne’s signature act, not late enough for someone to leave, but late enough to establish that she was a bad bitch or so she thought. Carmen had known her for fourteen years, and Vivienne had never arrived first.
She slid into the seat across from Carmen at The Ivy like she was bothered to be there and had better things to be doing. Her Prada sunglasses stayed on just long enough to feel intentional before she removed them and placed them on the table. Carmen was more focused on her burger and fries than the show being put on by this woman who she could not stand.
“Sorry,” Vivienne said. “Traffic.”
“Bitch, you live four blocks away. Eat something you look like the ghost of Karen Carpenter.”
Vivienne smiled faintly. “So I am on the shot, so that will be anofor food. You know if I arrived early, you might think I was excited to see you.”
Carmen lifted her martini. “Facelift is finally settled, I see. Congrats. I was starting to worry.”
“Nice play, I see what you are doing here with your jokes and your burger,” Vivienne said. “I don’t get facelifts. I get results.”
Vivienne’s smile widened just slightly. They had been doing this long enough that the insults had lost their edge but it still gave both of them life.
The waiter appeared with sparkling water. Vivienne waited until he left before speaking again.
“Your quarterback,” she said.
Carmen took a slow sip. “Your quarterback.”
Vivienne’s eyebrow lifted. Carmen slid her phone across the table. ESPN headline.
THE LEAGUE’S NEW RIVALRY: ASHTON VS. REYES.
Vivienne read it. Laughed softly. “Well.”
“Opening week of the season and it’s official,” Carmen said. “That’s how long it took.”
“The league loves this shit and so does my bank account.”
