Read Online Game For Love: Devil of the Gridiron (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Melissa Blue - Free Book Online Page B

bill.”
    “Well, that definitely hasn't changed.” He smiled. “I was always the one who foot the grocery bill.”
    They settled into their chairs and continued to catch up. Food came and went, but eventually, Kent dug into his back pocket and laid out a bent manila folder.
    Adam knew it was a point of pride for him to ask for money. Food was one thing. Making your own way, another. Something they'd shared. Here Kent was asking for money when it should be the other way around.
    All those years ago, Adam had slept with a cute girl. Turned out she dated one of the guys on the opposing team—a moose of a lineman. The other team did their best to punish him. Kent had stepped up to cover him every play. The opposing team didn't stop until a hit meant for Adam broke Kent's leg in three places.
    “What do you have for me?” Adam asked, knowing he'd say yes to anything his friend requested.
    “I'm branching out to a franchise. Tires, rims, seat covers.”
    Adam raised a brow. “Pimping out rides?”
    Kent laughed. “Pretty much. I'll keep the mechanic shop open, but some of the guys I have on body and paint are real artists. I'll start small here in the Bay Area. I need the money, and the bank isn't willing.”
    Adam put his hand out to look at the business plan. It was pretty solid, which told him more about Kent than any conversation they could have had. His friend hadn't been the best at planning for the future.
    “Marriage has made you organized. I never knew that kind of miracle was possible.”
    Kent snorted. “She's good for me. What about you?”
    Charlotte had pulled him out his funk. If she hadn't been there, he probably would have paced his home, his stomach in knots at the upcoming meeting. They'd kissed, he'd groped her, they’d eaten, he’d groped her again. Every time she would laugh, he'd feel awed, drawn into her.
    But they'd just met. He couldn't take their relationship public. He was not the man she should be with.
    “No women,” Adam answered.
    “That, my friend, was a pregnant pause. Who is it?”
    Adam pulled out his checkbook. Kent muttered, “She must be special if you'd rather hand over money than answer the question.”
    “Charlotte,” he bit out. “We just met. We're not even dating. I like her.”
    “Interesting.”
    He pushed the check over to Kent. “What?” The question came out sharp.
    “I've never known you to get this uncomfortable when you're talking about just a fling.”
    He worked his mouth into telling the lie right on the tip of his tongue and then sighed. “I'll take back the check.”
    Kent picked up the money, shoved it in his pocket, and then said, “Tell me about her.”
    Right. He forgot that about his friend. He was like a dog with a bone. Adam scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I don't know.”
    “You don't know about her, or you don't know how to talk about her without swooning?” Kent raised his glass to his lips and let that settle in the air.
    He glanced at the baked potato remains on his plate. They'd done something fancy to it, but a potato was a potato. “I like this place. I come here at least once whenever I'm home. Throwing my leftovers at you would be childish and get me banned.”
    Kent grinned. “You have matured. Back in the day, you would have thrown it at me.”
    Adam chuckled. “I'm tempted to do it anyway. So let's just leave it at that. I like Charlotte. Under different circumstances, I'd go the traditional route and date her.”
    Kent frowned at him. “Can't you?”
    He straightened at the question. “What?”
    “What's the wording in your contract?”
    “How'd you get to that conclusion?” He was hedging since his friend had hit the mark.
    “First, you were traded, and then I saw your post-game interviews. Something was up.”
    Adam tried to swallow the laugh and failed. “So around the same time I started being polite to the media, there weren't any more women.”
    “Exactly.” Kent chuckled. “Had to be something