Page 18 of Chasing Headlines
I pulled my hat low over my face, wishing I could just tune her out.
“You asking if I'm up for the challenge Ms. Reporter?” Meyers chuckled. Some other snickers.
Let's go.
“Just asking how you plan to contribute,” the reporter replied.
“I know whatIwant to contribute.” A harsh voice cut in. Finally. Someone to chase the nuisance out of here. I straightened and found the guy who said it in an instant. He made a show of pulling a gold chain necklace over his head and kissing one of the links. He shut his locker and turned around. The guy was built wide, kinda pudgy.
“She’s not asking you, Knox-out.” Meyers snarled.
“I think what she really wants is a little something-something,” Knox-out said with puckered lips and a shake of his head.
I groaned and ran a hand over my face.Not helping, ya shithead.
“I’m a pretty little reporter. Won’t you give me an interview of a lifetime? I'll show youexactly how I like it.” He held out one hand and thrust his hips like a fucking idiot.
A copper taste filled my mouth. I pushed away from my locker. “Leave her alone.” I bit out. My muscles itched to move. My insides screamed.You're asking for it.
He turned to glare at me.
“One star on this performance. Should've asked for a barf bag when I came in.” The reporter said with a laugh.
I advanced. Guys backed out of my way. “Knock itoff.” I growled at the pudgy-faced imbecile. “Or I'll?—”
“. . . the fuck up, asshat!” Meyers fumed. “She wasn't fuckin talking to you.” Red-faced, he pointed a finger in Knox-out's face.
“Come on, Tommy-man. Be cool,” Hester said. But he took a step back and ducked his head.
“Tommy Knox.” The pudgy moron sneered. “Twenty-second inlast year’s news'player ranking. I’m turning up the heat this season.” He crossed his arms and squared his shoulders at the same time.
“I’m coming foryou,Cooper.”
Olivia POV
His name set off a series of flares inside my abdomen. Hundreds of fluttering things beat their wings, took flight, then tumbled down in a chaotic mess. A small clump of players parted . . .
And there he was. Hat on, sunglasses atop the rim of his cap. The perfect amount of dark-haired scruff peppering his strong jawline. He didn't look at me, but he was my smirky sunglasses guy. I caught my breath. My brain spun in spinny circles.
“We're on the same team.” Coop glared at Tommy Knox, called “Knox-out” possibly due to the time he knocked out a base runner at the plate—the last time he played catcher.
“Do you even know what that means?” Tommy scoffed. “Always looked like The Coop show to me, not a Wildcats game.”
And just like that, smirky sunglasses guy and my longtime baseball crush Breslin “Coop” Cooper merged into one.Oh my God, I'd been so close. I'm wearing his shirt.
I stared at him. I couldn't help it. Wouldn't apologize for it. He was?—
Bam! The sound of man versus metal. I blinked and Tanner had a fistful of Tommy's shirt—holding him up against a locker. Shit, this wasn't good. Tommy was an ass, had always been an ass. But his parents were the super-rich can't-be-bothered type. Except when it came to their son's baseball career.
He didn't know me, but I'd been toted along to more than one dinner for my own can't-be-bothered parent—so Dad would have a built-in excuse to leave. The Knox's had been after him for years to buy a stake in their minor league team: the Golden Gladiators.
“What’s your deal, Meyers? She your girl? That why she’s in here—where she don’t belong?”
Coop’s eyes met mine. Narrowed gaze, tight mouth—nothing at all like the guy from before. I tried to shake my head, but he looked away.
“Sure she’ll be up for sucking your dick while she’s still down on her knees begging for what I got.”
My blood froze in my veins. A surreal buzzing sound whipped around me. “And he went there.”