Law #3: Don't Fall for the Athlete: Sweet Second Chance Romance (Laws of Love) by Agnes Canestri (black books to read txt) 📗

distance from his feelings. “Your skills surely compensate for the loss of your physical peak.”

Not that I think Wyatt has reached his zenith. It’s enough seeing his bulging muscles to know he’s still in top form.

Wyatt responds with a stoic glance. “I’m slower than I was only a year ago. But you’re right. My experience makes up for a lot. That’s why I’m still in my coaches’ favors. But if I’m not at their training camp, they won’t hesitate twice to turn away from me. They’ll put Jamal into the lead position and that talented son of a gun will know how to use his chance.”

I’m surprised by Wyatt’s statement.

I know that athletes finish their career much earlier than in any other professions, but Wyatt is barely thirty-five, the same age as my brother. And Phoenix Business Weekly recently called Devon the youngest rising star in the ad industry.

It must be awful to feel that you’re over your best years in your chosen profession and not know what awaits you once you’re done.

I grab a pen and scribble into my notebook.

Wyatt’s tantrum = teammate’s comment triggered fear about losing his edge? To explore!!!

One of Stephanie’s cases pops into my mind, and I glance up at him. “You know my boss treated a beautiful model last year. She was rather famous, too.”

Wyatt arches his brows. “How does this have a connection with me?” Then he grins. “Are you trying to tell me you think I’m beautiful, too?”

I roll my eyes. “No. It came to me because this girl started to have temper problems after getting her first crow’s feet.”

Wyatt rubs below his eyes. “My first ones sprouted years ago. Also, I’m not that skittish about my looks. I wear a helmet most of the time anyway.” He chuckles.

I tilt my head and look him straight in the eye. “Don’t deflect my point with a joke. I think you understood what I’m getting at. That girl was terrified that she was getting too old for her job. Perhaps that’s at the root of your outburst too?”

Wyatt snorts. “You sound like Joe.”

“Joe Calligan, the running back on your team?”

Wyatt’s eyes round. “How do you know him?”

“I googled the members of the Kites before coming to the waiting room. I wanted to familiarize myself with any names you may mention.”

“Doctor Sparkling Grin didn’t lie. You’re good at what you do.”

Just as I want to impose a retort for the nickname he gave Bill, my phone chimes.

“Sorry,” I say while I pull the ringing device from my coat. “I’ll just mute this.”

I don’t usually leave the volume on at work, but I half-expect Stephanie to check on me before they roll her in for her C-section.

However, as I look at the phone, it’s my brother’s name flashing at me.

“It’s Devon,” I say to Wyatt.

“Go ahead, answer him,” he says, smiling.

“Okay, but stay quiet, okay?”

He slides his fingers on his lips in a zipping motion.

I press the green button, and my brother’s cheerful voice greets me. I’m tempted to switch to loudspeaker, but I don’t. Privacy trumps health this once.

“What’s up, sis? How did it go?” Devon asks.

My brother is a born CEO—in the best sense of the word. I only mentioned to him briefly my plan to speak to my boss today, but he still remembered it. He keeps track of all his subordinates’ concerns in the same way. That’s why his company has one of the highest employee retentions in our city.

“It went well. Stephanie gave me a client,” I say while my glance moves to Wyatt. He sits up straight and pats his chest with a proud expression, and I quickly add, “It’s a pretty boring case, but since it’s my first, I won’t complain.”

Wyatt sticks his tongue out at me, and I stifle a smile.

“Congrats!” Devon yells. “We’ll celebrate tonight.”

“So we’re still on for dinner?”

“Of course, sis,” my brother answers.

Wyatt bends forward, and an alert expression settles on his face. “Where are you going?” he mouths at me.

“None of your business,” I mouth back, then say loudly into the phone. “What time can you be there?”

“At eight,” Devon answers, but I almost don’t hear him because Wyatt’s not so quiet “Anytime” distracts me.

I pick up the small cushion from behind my back and fling it at him.

Of course, being the quarterback he is, he catches it, grinning, before it can land on his head.

I roll my eyes and focus on my brother again. And good timing too because Devon has just asked me a question. “Are you with someone, sis?”

“Tell him you’re with your utterly exciting client who’s as dashing as that super model your boss treated,” Wyatt suggests in a low voice.

That’s when I realize that either Devon’s baritone is too loud or Wyatt’s got exceptional hearing, but Wyatt’s caught every word my brother has said so far.

How lucky Devon didn’t say the name of the restaurant.

“Dream on,” I mouth back at Wyatt then answer Devon with a simple, “I’m with my client.”

“Jeez, Ellie,” my brother exclaims. “Why didn’t you just block my call then? I didn’t want to disturb you during therapy.”

“Don’t worry. The man is busy with a written exercise I gave him. And since he’s rather deaf, he doesn’t realize I’m speaking with you,” I say, partially because I’m sorry for Devon’s concerned voice, but also to annoy Wyatt.

I must’ve hit the bull’s eye because Wyatt hurls my pillow back at me. I know he probably aimed at my lap because that’s exactly where it lands.

I don’t waste a second, but lift the fluffy thing and thrust it back, this time trying to catch his chest.

Again, he grips it while it’s still propelling through air. “I could give you tips for your throwing skills, if you want,” he murmurs with a smug smirk.

“Ellie, what’s going on? I’m hearing weird hushing noises,” Devon says.

“Ah, it’s nothing. My client got frustrated with his task and started to hit himself with a pillow.” I meet Wyatt’s glance with a sneer of