Traded by Lisa Suzanne

CHAPTER 8

“So what’s the job?” Kevin asks before the door even closes behind me.

“This is all on the downlow since I actually signed a nondisclosure agreement, so you two aren’t allowed to tell a soul.” They both mock zip their lips, and then I lift a casual shoulder. “Apparently Calvin has some new guy on the team he wants me to babysit—er, uh, he wants me to be his behavior coach.”

“Behavior coach?” Shannon asks. “Is that a real thing?”

I laugh. “Yes, it’s a real thing, though it’s unconventional to have a full-time behavioral coach. It’s usually more of a once-a-week type appointment, but I’m not just coaching his behavior. I’m helping him make smart decisions. Basically I help him turn his behavior, and thus his image, around, and I keep him out of headlines and handcuffs.”

“This is so freaking awesome,” Kevin says. “Who is it?”

“I have no idea,” I admit. “It sounds like whoever it is hasn’t been publicly announced as the newest member of the Aces.”

Shannon’s brows dip doubtfully. “Is this a good idea?”

“Calvin said he’s a good guy who’s just been making bad decisions. It’s not like he’s dangerous or anything. I think it’s fine.”

“Will there be anyone else around?” Shannon asks.

I nod, proud of myself for actually knowing the answer to that question. “House staff, a fiancée, and a kid.”

“Sounds like it’ll be crowded,” Kevin says.

“What about the wedding?” Shannon asks, and I force my eyes to stay steady on her and not roll them over the fact that she’s bringing up the wedding again. I mean, I’m totally happy for her. I swear. But it’s all we talk about lately. “Did you write into the contract that you need time off?”

Oh.

Shit.

I wasn’t thinking straight when I signed that contract. I was like a cartoon character with dollar symbols for eyeballs. I was blinded by the lure of the cash and the desperation to have a job.

“You didn’t,” she says. She points a scary finger in my direction. “Kathryn Elizabeth Harmon, it’s far too late to change the programs to delete you as a bridesmaid.”

I hold up both hands. “It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll figure something out.” Is there a babysitting service for adults? Can I find someone to fill my spot so I can attend events that were scheduled well before I took this job? Can I bring him with me to the wedding? Will he even go?

“Oh, wait!” she says, her eyes lighting up. “Bring him with! Can you imagine? A real celebrity at my wedding?”

“If it’s what the bride wants, it’s what the bride gets.” As long as I can convince the football player in my charge to agree to it.

I push the feeling of utter mortification that I don’t have a date to this shindig down, down, down.

This wedding is happening three weeks from yesterday, and I didn’t even think to mention at my interview that I’ll need time for the bachelorette party in two weeks plus all the wedding events in three weeks...and all the stuff Shannon will need help with leading up to the big day.

I’m sure I can find some time off. I’m sure he doesn’t need constant supervision. How bad could he be?

Should I call Calvin?

No, I can’t do that.

Maybe I can mention it on Monday morning.

Or maybe I can get someone else to watch him while I take part in these events.

I’m being paid to tag along with him wherever he is going, not the other way around. I’m not being paid to have a personal life, and the contract made that perfectly clear. I was okay with those terms when I signed it, but now I’m wondering whether I should’ve taken it with me and had someone else review it before I signed.

Too late.

It’s only ten months.

It’ll fly by.

I run with Shannon to her final wedding gown fitting, and we pick up her shoes and her veil. I play the part of a bridesmaid thrilled to be doing all the things with the bride even though I just want to go home, drink a margarita, and enjoy my last couple days of freedom with Netflix and pajama pants.

But even then I remember that home is currently Shannon’s couch, so even at home, I can’t escape all things Shannon’s wedding.

Which is fine.

This is an exciting, (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime event, and I will be there for my best friend every spare moment I possibly can be.

Which apparently means the entire rest of the weekend.

So even though I’m a bundle of nerves over the new position I’m starting on Monday, I don’t get much chance to talk it out or even really think about it since we’re flying from one vendor to the next, from one important decision to the next, from one hair trial appointment to the next.

And I will figure out a way to be at all the events so I can fully participate in everything I signed on for when I agreed to be her bridesmaid.

It isn’t until Sunday night as I’m packing up my stuff that Shannon sits on the recliner beside the couch that I’ve been sleeping on the last month.

“Are you excited for your new job?” she asks.

“Thank you for asking,” I begin. “And yeah, I’m excited. More nervous than excited.”

“Nervous about what?”

I lift a shoulder as I stare down into my suitcase. “What if the guy’s a real douche? Can I really do this for the ten months I’ve already committed to if I can’t stand him?”

“Can you back out?” she asks.

I shrug. “Calvin said there’s no backing out, but there’s always a way. It’ll just come with a pretty hefty fine.”

“It’s weird that you don’t even know who it is.”

“It doesn’t really matter.” I grab some eye shadow palettes to pack in my makeup bag. “Psychology is the study of the human mind and how it affects behaviors, and that’s something I have experience with.”

“Well, yeah, but with kids.”

I nod, conceding. “I might be a little rusty, but I used psychology all the time when I worked with Kennedy and Miles. This man sounds like a grown-up throwing tantrums, and those are something I have quite a bit of experience dealing with.”

“Dude, when I have kids, I’m coming to you for all the best parenting tips.”

I giggle. “Let’s just see how this all works out first.”