The Ex Effect (Washington Wolves, #2)

by Karla Sorensen

Narrowing my eyes at him, one of my most effective weapons against men who were bigger, stronger, and a hell of a lot more intimidating than my five-six self, I took satisfaction in seeing him shift uncomfortably.

"Fine," I said after a long silence. "Give me your Twitter log in, and I'll do it." "What?" he yelped. "You can't do that, can you?" One of the veteran players, Dayvon, strolled past us, winked at me, and smacked Robinson on the back of the head. "She sure can."

My hand slid into the pocket of my dress and found my phone. Everything I wore had pockets because my phone was always, always within reaching distance. Like always.

Well, mine Aldo

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" No. I closed my eyes before I answered.

"I've missed you," I said into his chest, letting the work-shield down for just a second, just a tiny crack, just to say the words, even if they were so quiet that I hoped he didn't hear me. But he did. "Missed you too, Slim," he said back. I was so officially off-the-charts screwed.

Ava held up her hands and started ticking things off on her long, thin fingers, free of any jewelry. No wedding ring.

UHMMMMMM

When I could take a full breath, I lifted my chin and gave her an appreciative smile. "Holy shit, Ava." She blinked. "What?" I braced my forearms on my spread knees and leaned forward like she was. "You're really, really good at your job, aren't you?" She laughed under her breath and held my eyes. "Yeah, I am."

"Still keep chocolate within arm’s reach at all times?" "As do all intelligent people who enjoy being happy."

was one of the things I loved about living in the city. You could cross the street and find yourself in a completely different culture; some imaginary line that popped up years and years ago had held over time.

"There." I nodded decisively. "Meeting halfway between our buildings is super professional." My phone chimed again. Matthew Hawkins: It's a date. "Oh screw you, Hawkins," I said under my breath. If it wouldn't have been childish to reply with NO IT IS NOT, I would've done it. Just to hold on to the last few shreds of my sanity.

Matthew smiled, but it was clear he heard something in my answer, the something I most likely didn't want him to hear. It might have been the subtext that I'd fairly screamed out, there's nothing wrong with not having a boyfriend since college, okay? I don’t want to talk about it.

"I also found that you double majored at USC, got your masters at Arizona while working here, and in that locker room, you're respected as hell. Half of them are terrified of you, actually." My laugh came out as a soft breath, and I squinted up at the building next to us. "That's not true." I was being modest. It was totally true.

I reached for the wrapped flowers under my arm and held them out to her. "Here," I told her. Now her face went blank as she took them from me, her mouth opening and closing again. "You didn't get these for me, though," she said, but her lips tugged up in a smile regardless. Hadn’t I?

It made her smile, and that made me feel good. That was enough.

Once the camera cut off, I waited as patiently as possible for an assistant to take the microphone pack and unhook me from the wires they needed for sound. Once I was clear, I stood from my seat so fast, it fell backward, but it was too late. Ava was already gone. My instinct, the one I listened to without hesitation earlier, had my mind spinning and spinning. Maybe she was used to observing, to staying along the side and directing what happened in the spotlight—and maybe she was that without the influence of her family—but I still liked Ava, and I had enjoyed spending time with her. It was enough for me to want to learn more about the person she was now. Outside of the team, outside of her family. I wanted to figure her out. And I knew exactly how to do it.

"Are you kidding?" I shook my head. "Slim, I don't think you know how rare it is to be around someone who doesn't require you to wear a mask or keep up the façade that the rest of the world wants to see. You're the only person here who gives me that."

Ava’s eyebrows bent in briefly. “Not really. Not since college. I stay so busy with work, and I love my job. It’s been … enough.” Enough. What a safe, invulnerable word for such a smart, beautiful, and interesting woman to use. That no one had met her and felt this same urge to unearth the pieces of her that she didn’t show the world seemed unbelievable. It seemed … “That seems impossible,” I said under my breath, and even though I hadn’t intended to say it out loud, she heard me.

Because instead of telling her how beautiful I found her, I heard myself say something completely different. "You don't look anything like your sister."

PUTA QUE PARIU N ACREDITO

"And I won't blow smoke up your ass by denying that your sister was a beautiful woman." One of my eyebrows popped up. "Was?"

e como não consegue calar a boca pra não piorar ainda mais

I meant to say was that you are incredibly beautiful, Ava. It has nothing to do with who you're related to, or how I might've known you a handful of years ago. I'm just glad to be sitting across from you right now."

Não, agr já estragou pra mim. Quero é te dar um socão,isso sim

What did he expect? I was only human. A female human who had a raging crush on him years ago.

Why would I ever want to do anything that might make you cry? It would break my heart.

"Matthew," I squealed between breathless laughter. But did I protest? Sure did not.

E quem faria isso?

"You could put me down," I said quietly, tilting my mouth toward his ear, like it was a secret I didn't want anyone else to hear. His eyes burned gold in the darkened interior of the cab. "I could."

Whatever had been in him seeped into me, into my veins and through every pulse of blood through my body.

I had the unerring opinion that if I hadn't met Ava when she was a scrawny, sweet fourteen-year-old girl, I would've absolutely been attracted to Ava Baker, Senior PR Manager for the Washington Wolves.

I would've seen her and thought she was beautiful. I would've talked to her and thought she was smart and funny. Sharp as the edge of a knife and confident as hell. You had to be to put up with fifty-plus football players all the time. That was the bottom line. I would've wanted her regardless. Maybe it wouldn't have happened as fast. Maybe I would've asked her out after getting to know her for a few months. But knowing that was enough for me to be willing to try this if she wanted the same.

"I'm basically telling you to avoid the drama right now. You're making this so much harder than it needs to be."

"Well, shit," Paige said. She slumped in her chair and gave me a sympathetic look. "That's probably why I'm single." Allie snorted. "You're single because you eat men alive, and most of them run scared as soon as you open your mouth."

Hallelujah, me too girl

She didn't move, and I didn't make her. Between bites of food, we talked about our day at work. "Aww, you made a friend," she teased when I told her Luke invited me out to their place the following weekend.

How many people in the world got to do a job that brought such happiness?

"I wish I could bring you," she said, her voice trailing off. Then she shrugged her shoulders. "Pretty much impossible." "Yeah."

And this was your chance to make her let go of the barriers that surround her. She gave it to you, but it seems you're not ready either

What if I asked her? What if I invited her to share that stuff with me because I cared, and she still said no?

Than give her time and she’ll come around. DUMB

For the rest of the morning, I practically glided. I showered and got ready at his place, then made it to work early and greeted everyone I passed like I was Suzie freakin’ Sunshine, throwing veritable glitter bombs of happiness everywhere I went.

He started walking out of my office, then stopped and glanced back at me. "Listen, siblings suck sometimes. I don't know your sister, and I don't even really know you that well. But if I can help, let me know."

I love him, I think he will be the best one

"No. Not at all." I shook my head and laughed at how unlike her sister Ava was. "She's incredible, man. So damn smart. Beautiful. Funny as hell. And Mike, she'd keep you on your toes if you talked football with her. She ... she makes my head spin a little."

Much later, when she was tucked against me in bed, her breathing deep and even against my chest as she slept, I said the words quietly against the silk of her hair as it tickled my chin. "I'm in love with you, Ava. But I don't think you're ready to hear it yet." Only then could I relax enough to fall asleep.

can come to that party with you." He held my eyes. "If it helps you." Blink. Blink, blink. "Logan," I said slowly. But he held up his hand. "I know you're dating someone. I'm not … I’m not confused about what this is. But I'll help you if you want me to."

He is definitely the best of them

Me: Be there in 20. I was there in fifteen.

"No, crazy, it's weird that I even have something in my life that makes me feel that way." My body shifted to the side so I could prop my chin on his chest and stare up at his face. "What do you mean?" He stared hard at my face for a few seconds. "Because I've never missed anything except football when I'm not playing it." Well, holy shit. For some women, they'd think that sounded insane. To me? He might as well have proposed marriage.

But I want to be able to say that you're mine. I don't want things to feel so easy that I stop making an effort for you every single day. I want to be able to say that I have a girlfriend, a partner who gets all the best parts of me because I get all the best parts of her. That we've committed to something together."

"Yeah, people can change, but I also think they have to want to. We have to look at our relationships and know that what they show us, that's the real person.

When you try to make someone different than what they really are is when you get disappointed."