“I actually need a favor. Are you busy?”
“No, not really. I’m just sitting here…” I paused, reaching for the remote and turning down the volume. Even though we were past “formalities,” my boss didn’t need to know about my reality show obsession. “Just sitting here reading through emails.”
He chuckled into the phone. “I’m sure those emails can wait until tomorrow. I’m in a bit of a bind. Can you turn on ESPN?”
“ESPN?”
“The Western University-New York State game is on. Thatch and I can’t get the fucker to stream on the plane. I need to know what’s happening.”
Thatcher Kelly, the ever-mysterious financial consultant of Brooks Media. He worked as a contractor, providing expertise for several companies, or so I’d heard, but no big money decision within Brooks Media happened without him. I’d heard his husky voice and boisterous personality on several conference calls. Even received emails with his signature sarcasm. But I’d never met the man. Hell, I’d yet to successfully locate an actual photo of him. All of his social media accounts were private and most had some random sports-related profile picture.
“This is life or death here, Georgia,” Kline interrupted my thoughts. “Thatch is a big New York State fan, and I’ve got five on the fact that his Tigers are no match for the Mustangs.”
I scrunched my nose up. “So…what exactly do you need me to do?”
“I need you to give me the play-by-play for the next twenty minutes until we land.”
“Isn’t there anyone else you can bug? I’m probably not the best person for the job.” The last football game I’d watched had been the Super Bowl where Janet Jackson’s nipple had made its television debut, and I could honestly have told you more about her areola than the game. I literally knew zilch about sports, especially football.
“Please, Georgia.” He rasped his words, confusing me by making me think about sex. “I’m begging you.”
I held in my answer until I knew I wouldn’t stutter. “You owe me. Big time.”
“Anything you want, sweetheart.”
The promise of his double meaning oozed from his voice, but I ignored him, grabbed the remote, and switched the channel. “Okay, it’s on.”
Thatch waved his arms manically, trying to get an update. Our personal flight attendant flashed him a look of distaste, but with one quick wink, her contempt turned into consideration. I didn’t have much to my name that said billionaire, but the private plane sure did. With the amount that I traveled and the necessary fluctuation in timing, it was just easier.
When his attention came back to me, I flipped him off, putting Georgia on speaker. “What’s the score? How much time is left? Who has the ball?” I rambled, desperate to know if Western University was pulling through. Fucking Thatch wouldn’t let me live it down if New York State won this thing. It was a nothing game—early season, Thursday night, and unquestionably obscure teams. But Thatch could turn anything into a competition, and he’d created this rivalry out of thin air years ago.
She gave us the rundown in succinct, inaccurate terms, but I got the gist of it.
Fourth quarter. Tigers were winning.
I cursed.
Thatch shouted, “Victory is mine!”
I’d honestly never seen a guy that big Riverdance.
“All of this for five measly bucks?” Georgia asked.
Thatch’s loud, boisterous laugh echoed inside the cabin of the plane.
“No, not five dollars. A little more than that…”
“Five hundred?” Her voice was incredulous. I pictured Georgia’s nose scrunching up in that adorable way of hers.
“Actually…” I cleared my throat. “Five grand.”
“Five thousand dollars?” she shouted.
Internally, I cringed. Hell, externally, I cringed.
I probably sounded like a pretentious asshat. Betting exorbitant amounts of money on sports was not my usual M.O. “It’s Thatch’s fault. He won’t take no for an answer and never bets anything less than a grand. He could be the poster child for gambling addicts everywhere. His only redeeming quality is that he actually knows how to invest his profits.”
Thatch’s smile mocked me. He knew what I was doing, exaggerating his faults to help minimize my own.
“Whatever you say, Mr. Moneybags.”
Yeah, she definitely thought I was an ostentatious dick.
“Georgia girl, give me an update. What’s going on?” Thatch schmoozed, laying it on thick just to get a rise out of me.
“Uh…” she mumbled, trailing off for a brief second. “Boobear just tackled somebody.”