Page 39 of Backup Plan

I look out the doors to the pool area, and my eyes land on Penny.

For just a second, I contemplate what to do.

It’s not like I’m going to get offers from teams at home in Chicago. The flight home from San Diego is about three hours longer than it was from Pittsburgh, but it is what it is. Maybe we can keep this thing going, or maybe not. Either way, it’s not enough to base a decision about my entire career on it when we’ve slept together twice.

I don’t have a choice.

“It’s a yes from me.”

CHAPTER 12: Penny Calloway

Twinkle

I'm lying on a lounge chair with a margarita in my hand when I spot Liam walking from inside the hotel back into the pool area where we're all hanging out.

“Where'd you go?” Madden asks him, and my ears perk up as I listen but pretend like I’m not.

“My agent called,” Liam says. “San Diego wants me.”

“Holy shit, bro,” Madden says, and he holds his hand up for one of those bro slap high-five handshake things that boys do.

I'm watching the entire exchange from behind my sunglasses, and while my heart leaps for him that he got a contract when I know how badly he wanted it after our conversations both at the bar and after the night we shared on Wednesday…I still feel a small personal sense of loss. Having him in the same city as me meant unfettered access, but now he'll be over two thousand miles away.

It’s a ridiculous thought.

Still.

It's not like Pittsburgh, where he could hop on a plane and be back in Chicago in under an hour and a half. This is more like four and a half hours, and I do not have an easy escape route to be able to travel back and forth from California to Illinois. Nor do I have the funds to make that happen.

Not that it's an issue anyway. He didn't invite me.

But he did invite me to stay at his place in Chicago, and maybe that means we have a little more time together until he has to go.

In fact, it's like Madden can read my mind, because his next question to his brother is, “When do you report?”

“OTAs are Wednesday through Friday the week of Everleigh's wedding,” he says. “They want me on site next week to start studying the playbook. Plus workouts and meeting my teammates.”

“You're welcome to stay with Kennedy and me until you can find a place of your own,” Madden tells him.

“I might take you up on that, bro. It would beat living out of a hotel until I find a place to settle.”

“The Storm is lucky to have you, but I should also say you're lucky to sign with the Storm. They are far and away the best team I ever played for. And I know you've got Tanner in front of you, who I respect the hell out of. But all you have to do is prove yourself at camp, and you've got a shot at QB1.”

Liam nods slowly as he contemplates that, and I get the very real sense that even though everyone loves Tanner—Liam included—this is his chance to finally prove himself. A ripple of excitement travels up my spine for him.

I'm still pretending like I'm not eavesdropping on their entire conversation, but I'm dying to throw my arms around his neck and congratulate him as I press my lips to his. This is a really exciting day, and it feels like we have something to celebrate—aside from Everleigh and Maverick's upcoming nuptials, of course.

“What are you two telling secrets about over here?” Dex asks, walking up behind them and clapping them both on the shoulders.

“I just accepted an offer from the Storm,” Liam says.

“Holy shit, man, that's fucking awesome.” He pounds Liam on the back. “Let's get this man a drink. We've got some celebrating to do…until I take your ass down on the field.” He laughs a little wickedly, and Liam shakes his head as he contemplates his brother coming at him from the other side of the line when the San Diego Storm play the Vegas Aces.

“We’ve got some celebrating to do?” Everleigh asks from behind them. “I thought we were here celebrating,” she says, and the three brothers look at her and roll their eyes.

“Of course we are, Ev. This is still all about you,” Madden says, his voice a little sarcastically condescending the way big brothers only talk to their little sisters. “But Liam is signing with the Storm, so we thought maybe he could have a moment to celebrate that.”

“Holy shit, Liam!” Everleigh screams, tossing her arms around her brother.