CHAPTER 9 JOLENE

Don't fidget, Bailey.

I repeat the mantra in my head, but when you're sitting outside the owner's office of the Vegas Aces, it's hard not to fidget.

Especially when the owner is someone as hot as Jack Dalton.

I draw in a sharp breath as he turns the corner. He's wearing black pants and a red Vegas Aces shirt and damn, he's fine.

Pull it together, Bailey. He's a happily married man.

I remind myself of that mantra a few times, too.

He grins at me. "Jolene Bailey, here in my office again. Is this visit on or off the record this time?"

I smile back as I stand. "It can be whatever you want it to be. I just need a few minutes of your time."

"Come on in," he says, and he walks by first to lead the way into his office. He sits behind his desk and settles back casually into his chair as if he was born to play the role of businessman when he's always been known as such a force on the field.

"What can I do for you today, Ms. Bailey?"

"Word has it you've made a decision."

He presses his lips together and nods. "That I have, and we'll be releasing it publicly tomorrow evening. You're here for the inside scoop, I take it? I knew we should've confiscated your badge."

I laugh and shake my head. "No, not for the inside scoop, though you know I'll happily take any scoops you're dishing out. I'm here today to let you know that I'm the new VG-oh-three Vegas Aces correspondent. So I'll just go ahead and hold onto that badge, thank you very much."

He chuckles. "Well congratulations. What an accomplishment."

"Thanks, Jack. I appreciate it."

"I mean it. My wife is going to be thrilled. She was pulling for you all along."

"That's very kind of you to say."

"It's not lip service. She's lowkey obsessed with watching your news stories."

I force away the blush that fills my cheeks. "Well tell her I'll be around a lot more. Marcus filled me in on my duties as the correspondent, and he'd like me to be at every camp, practice, and press event along with every home and away game. He told me I need to become best friends with whoever you hire as your new head coach."

"And what if the head coach we decide to hire already has a best friend?" he asks.

"Then that person is about to be replaced." I lift my shoulders with exactly zero modesty, but Jack knows me enough to know it's all in good fun. I narrow my eyes as I stare down Jack and look for any clues as to who he hired. "Why, does he?"

"Guess you'll find out tomorrow."

I laugh. "I guess so. Is it Lincoln? Tell me it's not Lincoln."

He sighs. "You know I can't tell you. But what exactly is the history between you two?"

Oh, you mean like the fact that he took my virginity one weekend and broke my heart the next?

I decide not to voice that one to Jack.

"It's complicated. We were once close, and now it's been nearly twenty years since the last time we spoke. Our families were as close as two families could be, and then we weren't." I shrug. "But I'm not here to talk about me."

"Actually you are since you scheduled a meeting to let me know you're our newest VG-oh-three correspondent," he points out dryly.

I twist my lips, conceding. "Okay, true. So is it Nash?"

He laughs. "I like you, Bailey. I think this is going to be a great fit for the Aces, and to that end, I'd like to offer you the first exclusive interview with our new head coach. We're scheduling the press conference for tomorrow at four, so swing by around two to meet our guy and ask a few questions ahead of the rest of the media. That should give you a little time to produce it for a segment on the six o'clock news, right?"

"Are you serious?" I breathe. He's giving me the first exclusive with the new coach?

"I am. And you're welcome. Now clear on out of here. I have a lot of work to do since I just hired a new head coach." He winks at me, clearly signaling that he's not going to give me any more than that, and I laugh as I stand.

"Thanks for everything, Jack," I say, rising to a stand. "For the exclusive, for taking the time today…I know you're a very busy man and I appreciate your willingness to include the media in all aspects of the team. I look forward to working closely with you to share the very best of the greatest team in the league."

He stands and reaches out a hand to shake mine. "Thanks, Jolene. I look forward to working with you, too."

I head out after that, and I think about wandering the halls toward the head coach's office, but I also know there are cameras in here and the worst thing I could do right now is break the trust Jack has in me.

And so I force myself in the direction of my car. The boys are at school and Sam is at work today, so I head into the office and start doing some research.

Just as I arrive, a text comes through.

Jeremy: Can't take Jonah this weekend. Sorry.

I blow out a breath.

I hate him.

I wish with all my heart it wasn't him who knocked me up, but I can't change it, and if it was someone else, then I wouldn't have my sweet boy who means the entire world to me.

He's letting his son down again, and maybe my claws wouldn't come out so much if he was actually a good dad, but it seems like all he does is let the two of us down.

I wish I could cut Jeremy out of the picture completely, and I've been trying. He's basically useless given that the court ordered he takes Jonah every other weekend and it's hit or miss whether he'll actually take him. When he does, I usually spend the entire weekend either worrying about or missing my son while I'm eating ice cream with Sam since Cade goes to his dad's house every other weekend, too. I wait by the door for him to get back home. My house is too quiet without him, and I hate it. He doesn't like going over there because Jeremy is married with two little girls who scream all weekend and hang on their half-brother. He can't wait to escape and get back home, and Jeremy uses him to entertain the girls even though Jonah is only seven.

I was planning to celebrate my job promotion this weekend. I don't drink very often, but a night out with Sam at the local bars sounded like a whole lot of fun. And maybe we can still do that if my parents will take Jonah for a sleepover, but I hate the mom guilt of feeling like I'm using a sleepover as a way to pawn him off so I can get a night to myself once in a while. I have those nights every other weekend—or, at least, theoretically I do.

Parenting is no joke. It's the hardest job I've ever had, and having to do it alone makes it even harder given that Jeremy is such a waste of space. But it's worth it when I look my little boy in the eyes that match mine. I love him more than I've ever loved anybody before.

Aside from the Jeremy bullshit, my life is good. I have the sweetest little boy, incredible parents, and the best friend in the whole world, plus I just snagged my dream job.

Now if I could just find a guy who isn't a complete asshole, I'll really have it all.