Page 153 of ClickBack

“Thank you for tonight,” I say.

He kisses my temple. “You’re welcome.”

“I want to take you somewhere next.”

“Where?”

“I haven’t chosen.”

“You asking me to agree blind?”

“You trusted me with Malcolm.”

“That man had a point.”

I lift my head. “Do not start that in this car.”

Graves turns the music up without asking which one of us he needs to drown out. Jarrett pulls me back against him, his laughter warm beside my ear, and we let Graves have the song.

Chapter 28

Jarrett

Cam sends the confirmation Monday afternoon. Philadelphia has authorized the visit and the conversations. That gets me a flight to San Antonio, a meeting with the Storm, and another reason for people who don’t know me to say they know where I’m going.

It doesn’t get me a trade. There are still players, picks, and another team involved, and Philly hasn’t agreed to the return. Cam makes me say I understand that before he gets off the phone.

I understand it. I’m still glad to have something to do besides wait.

That evening, I go to Giselle’s house. The garage door rises slowly enough that I can hear her telling me to let it finish. I park, knock at the inside door, and find her standing there with a pencil behind her ear.

“You used it.”

“You gave it to me.”

“I thought you might forget.”

“I don’t forget when a woman gives me somewhere to park.”

She moves aside, laughing, and I kiss her before she can lead me into the kitchen. Her hands settle against my chest. She has been working all day, and I can feel the moment she stops thinking about whatever is on her screen.

“You finished?” I ask.

“With that?”

“With work. We can get back to that.”

“One thing to send.”

I let her send it. While she does, I take my fob out of my pocket and set it beside her bag. I have been rehearsing how to bring up San Antonio since Cam called. Now I’m standing in her kitchen watching her reread an email, and none of the rehearsing seems necessary.

“They approved the visit,” I tell her when she closes the laptop. “Friday through Sunday.”

“San Antonio?”

“Yeah. Meetings Saturday. Mom’s going down, too. She wants to see Von before his schedule gets full again.”

“That will be nice.”