Page 6 of Instigator

Career-wise, I’ve stagnated the last few years, and I’m much happier when I’m busy. Gives me less time alone with my thoughts.

Heidi, our foundation chair, calls the meeting to order. There are about twenty people on the board of advisors, and not everyone shows up to every meeting. The two people I’m closest to are Colton Phillips, my MIT classmate, and Hailey MacGregor, the captain’s sister and fiancée of another player.

Hailey and I are in the same book club, although she doesn’t attend as often as I do. When the boys have a home game, she’s in the stands, rain or shine, cheering them on. I get it. If I had a player to support, I’d be right there beside her. Much less two.

Every once in a while, I book a suite and invite the book club to the game. A few of our members are married to players; Sadie’s partner works for the team as a broadcaster, Vanessa is on their logistics staff, and Bex consults with the team as a neuroscientist. It’s all very incestuous in the best way possible.

“The spring gala is coming up in six weeks,” Heidi continues, making me realize I’ve completely ignored the conversation for the last few minutes. “Hailey will be running point again, but if she needs help, I expect you to help her.”

“Aye aye, captain,” Peter says with a grin, giving her a sarcastic salute.

Heidi rolls her eyes. “Colt and Ceci, we need some publicity ideas. Something that gets the players involved.”

“We’ll get together and come up with some options,” I assure her, ignoring the way she mispronounces my name. It’s not CeeCee. It’s Ceci, short for Cecilia—pronounced the Spanish way, not the English way.

With anyone else, I’d presume it’s a mistake and correct them. With Heidi, I know it’s a none-too-subtle microaggression. She hasn’t made her dislike of me a secret. It’s been four years. Get over it; I’m not going anywhere.

Beside me, Colt nods. He’s become a good friend and colleague since I sold my company. We were a year apart at MIT, started our businesses at roughly the same time, and he cashed out about a year and a half before me, then turned around and immediately started something new.

Sometimes I envy him. His mind is brilliant. His work ethic is unmatched.

If only I were attracted to him, we’d be the world’s biggest power couple. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—I don’t like him that way. So we’re friends. Hell, I’m the one who suggested he join the board.

“I’ve got some time after this,” he says as the meeting draws to an end. “Want to grab a drink? Maybe dinner?”

“Sure.” I’ve got nothing else on my to-do list for the evening. “Hay, you want to join us?”

She checks her phone. “Ryan has a few of the guys over for video games. It’ll be nice to stay away from all that.”

Colton chuckles. “Boys and their video games. Will they ever grow up?”

I shove him playfully. “Like you can talk.” He designed an app that allows gamers from all over the world to play together. Two major video game companies fought like hell in a nasty bidding war until he eventually sold to Microsoft for ten billion dollars.

Yeah, he’s doing all right.

I drive the three of us to a nearby pub, where we get a discreet table in the back corner. We order sodas—neither of them drink, so I’m not about to in front of them—and chat for a bit before Hailey turns the conversation back to work. We hammer out a list of ideas, knowing Heidi will shoot down at least two-thirds of them, and Colt emails it to the rest of the board.

The three of us have a good evening, but by the time I’m dropping Hailey off at her apartment building, I’m ready to go home, take off my bra, and chill on the couch in my pajamas.

It’s still early, and I’m not sure if Wish is working late tonight, so I turn on our game and then open my book. It follows a personal-trainer himbo and his spunky client with massive body dysmorphia, and the two of them are just about to kiss when⁠—

“Annie?”

Wish’s deep voice echoes from my TV soundbar, and I jump.

“What the fuck,” I shriek, my phone flying from my hand. It skitters halfway across the floor and skids to a stop.

His rough chuckle shoots a frisson of warmth through my limbs. “You okay over there?”

“Fuck off,” I mutter, heaving myself off the couch to pick up my phone. I inspect the screen: not shattered. Whew. I can afford a new one, but transferring all the data is a monumental task I don’t have the mental energy for.

“I’m really feeling the love.”

“You startled me. I was reading a really good book.”

“Want me to leave you to it?”

I love that he even offers.