Page 51 of Hard Count
“You always have obligations.”
“That is how careers work.”
“Come anyway.”
Piper leaned back against a parked car that was not his.
“Seattle, this time of year?”
“Not as bad as you think.”
Despite everything, Piper smiled. Noah took the smile as a reward.
“I cannot just disappear.”
“I didn’t say disappear. I invited you.”
“That is not helping.”
“Liar.”
Piper laughed. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
“You are fucking impossible.”
“That is not a no,” Noah replied. “Go home. Sleep. Win your game.”
“I will try,” Piper replied.
“After the game,” Noah said quieter now. “Come to Seattle.”
Piper paused, then because he was tired and angry and suddenly more honest than he liked being he said, “Fuck, I’ll think about it.”
Piper grabbed his overpriced smoothie inside Erewhon, and headed to his Lexus LX 700h.
“I gotta go,” Piper said.
“What are you so afraid of Piper?”
“Maybe I am nervous some fan will get an iPhone shot of me in Seattle, which would be the exact evidence that social media needs to light our careers on fire,” Piper replied.
“What’s the worst thing that could happen if you come to Seattle? It’s not that?” Noah laughed.
“Bye, Noah. Hope you beat Nashville.”
“Bye sexy. See you tomorrow. Destroy Dallas for me. They have never been good at away games,” Noah said before he hung up.
Piper pressed the start button in his car, the track flooded his car,Jesus Take The Wheelby Carrie Underwood.
Joan, Jesus better take the wheel in Seattle, Piper thought to himself.
He knew he was going to get on that plane tomorrow night.
Chapter Nineteen: Los Angeles to Seattle
The small jet was already running when Piper stepped onto the tarmac. There were no logos or identifiers.
