Traded by Lisa Suzanne

CHAPTER 6

Shannon gave me Kevin’s friend’s number, and he texted me first asking if I’d like to meet for a drink. I agreed to afternoon coffee rather than an evening drink, and I chose Starbucks because hell if I want to chance running into number five on the Broncos at some other coffee location.

That’s the extent of our texting conversation thus far, and I’m a little nervous. I have no idea what Vince looks like, but according to Shannon, he’ll be wearing a black shirt and he’s super cute. When I walk in, I take a quick survey of the place. My eyes land on a cute guy in a black shirt who’s looking at me with a bit of reticence.

That’s definitely the guy, and Shannon was right. He’s cute. Super cute. Dark eyes hidden behind black frames that make him look both sexy and intellectual, short, dark hair, a strong jawline, nice forearms. That’s about all I can see of him since he’s sitting, but so far, so good.

I cross my fingers this is my guy.

I walk up to the table. “Vince?”

His lips widen into a smile as he nods. “Kate?”

“That’s me.” I pull the chair out and sit, the idea of actually ordering coffee long forgotten as nerves about this date start to take over.

“Nice to meet you,” he says, and I smile.

“And you.” A beat of awkward quiet passes between us, and then I ask, “So you work with Kevin?”

He nods. “We’re in the same accounting division.”

“He’s marrying my best friend,” I blurt.

“You’re a bridesmaid, right?” he asks.

I nod. “Will you be there?”

“I’m a groomsman.”

“With a plus one?” God, how desperate am I?

He laughs and shakes his head. “No. Just me. One of the other guys in our department is going solo, too, so at least I’ll have someone to talk to.”

I give him a wink. “Maybe two people.”

He grins, and I excuse myself to order a drink. I decide to fire off a quick text to Shannon even though I’m next to order, and I tease Shannon in my message even though I’ve only known this guy a total of sixty seconds.

Me: Good work, Shan. He’s a hottie. Thinking our coffee date may end at his place. Hope his bed is comfier than your couch because I think I really see a future in it. Wedding bells, kids, the whole works.

I head up to the counter to order, and I glance over at the table after I pay. Vince is on his phone while he waits for me, and he glances up at me before his eyes move back down to his phone.

I wait at the counter, and I check my phone to see I don’t have a reply from Shannon yet.

“Order for Kate!” the barista yells, and I grab my coffee and head back to my date, excited to get to know him even though I don’t really think I’ll be sharing a bed with him the day I met him.

I did that once. It didn’t work out well.

“I’m so sorry,” he says as I join him at the table again. He stands. “I need to go.”

My brows dip. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” he says, and he seems flustered. “It’s fine. I just, uh, have a thing...”

It’s an excuse, and a poor one at that, but I’m not going to force him to sit with me. “Right, okay then. It was nice meeting you.”

“You too.” He barely squeaks out the words before he bolts, and I can’t help but sit in epic confusion for a beat as I try to reconcile what the hell just happened.

Surprise follows the shock, and then sadness creeps in as tears heat behind my eyes.

It’s me.

There’s something fundamentally undatable about me or else this guy wouldn’t have just bolted mere seconds after meeting me. My confidence takes a total dive right off the cliff. It’s barely back since that night with Jack, and this pretty much crushes it.

I click open the camera on my phone and check my face. Nothing in my teeth. No eye crusties. No lipstick on my teeth. Hair all in place, a cute sundress from Old Navy...

Sadness transitions over to anger.

What the hell happened from the smiling introductions and the promise of a little bit of flirting that might last us all the way to Shannon and Kevin’s wedding next month to him walking out just now?

I open my texts to let Shannon know she picked a real dick for me when I spot the problem.

My heart stops.

My chest tightens.

That text I sent while I was in line.

It didn’t go to Shannon.

It went to Vince.

I set my hand over my face in total embarrassment as I blow out a breath.

It was a joke! Just a joke!

But sweet, kind, super cute Vince couldn’t have known that, and I scared the shit out of him with that text about wedding bells and kids and sleeping at his place.

God, I am such an idiot sometimes.

Is this rock bottom? It feels like it.

And there goes another week.

And another.

Still, I have no job prospects. No dating prospects. Hell, I don’t even want to try dating after that last disaster. Kevin explained what happened to Vince, that it was all just a joke, but I guess he swiped right on some girl and he has decided to plow forward with her rather than the terrifying woman that is me.

It’s been a month of mooching off my best friend and I have to get the hell out of here for all our sakes. Shannon keeps giving me sad little looks that are supposed to be sympathetic but instead just remind me how damn far down I have fallen.

I need to take control back.

And then, the ringing of my phone wakes me bright and early at seven in the morning.

I click it off when I don’t recognize the number.

I close my eyes to go back to sleep, but a voicemail notification dings a minute later.

I decide to have a listen.

“This is Lily Park calling on behalf of Calvin Bennett of the Vegas Aces. I’m looking for Kathryn Harmon with a potential job opportunity. Please call me back at your earliest convenience.” She leaves her phone number.

I stare at my phone for a beat, and then I replay the message.

It says the same thing the second time.

I scramble to call her back.

The Vegas Aces have a job opportunity? Like the football team?

For me?

“Lily Park,” the same voice who left the voicemail answers.

“Lily, hi, it’s Kathryn Harmon returning your call.”

“Thanks so much for getting back to me. Your information was given to Calvin Bennett, the owner of the Vegas Aces, by Charles Van Astor. Given your history in both psychology and dealing with children, Mr. Bennett has an, um, unique job proposition for you if you’re still in the market.”

Mr. Van Astor did this?

I mean, I guess it makes sense. He’s well connected in the Las Vegas community, and he held season tickets. I guess I just didn’t realize he and Cal were old pals. Whatever the case, I’m grateful for this opportunity. I’m desperate for anything at this point.

“Can you come down to the practice facility to hear more about it today at noon?” Lily asks.

“I’ll be there,” I say.