Imaginary Lines (New York Leopards 3)

But now that I’d started, I wasn’t quite done, beyond even what Tanya had told me to ask. Loft Athletics might not be represented on the list, but they were certainly represented on the field this afternoon. “Is it true that players can get Loft Athletics—manufactured helmets quickly because of the Leopards’ new partnership with that company, but it takes multiple weeks to deliver any other brand?”

Coach Paglio stared at me with utter dislike.

Abe stepped up and spoke, soft but strong. “Why don’t I fence this one?”

I shook my head. “The question’s for t

he coach.”

“I got this,” he said to Paglio, and then stepped into the crowd until he stood right before, leaving Paglio to answer someone else.

I glared at him. “The hell was that? I was asking him a question!”

Abe ran a hand along his arm and glared back at me with exasperation. “You can’t just interrogate Coach like that.”

A stir of resentment swirled through me. “Um, yes, I can. I’m a reporter, it’s my job.”

He leaned closer, fierce opposition on his face. “It’s not your job if you make Coach hate you.”

“He’s not going to hate me just because I ask a few questions.” I didn’t think. “Besides, it’s not up to him. He’s not my boss.”

Abe snorted derisively, which made me rock back on my heels. “Yeah, but he can make it difficult for you to work here.”

Hmph. “Look, I thought my questions were reasonable. It isn’t safe that some of you guys are running around without the best helmets possible. I mean, thank God you wear one of the top models.” I was irrationally irritated by the danger he put himself in.

His brows rose and a smile tugged at his lips. “You know what kind of helmet I wear?”

“Google knows,” I said, with the intent to put him in his place, but that smile was irrepressible. Despite my strange finicky emotions, I felt a smile tugging at my lips too. “And good thing it’s a good helmet, because we don’t need your brain getting any more scrambled than it already is.”

He grinned. “There’s a zombie-and-omelet joke in there somewhere.”

I couldn’t help grinning reluctantly back, though I tried to keep my eyes narrowed. “You’re a zombie joke.”

“Your brains are hard-boiled.”

“I think I resent that. But I’m going to have to think about it harder.” I paused. “I guess it’s better than being deviled.”

“You’re the devil, here.”

“Ha! How did you end up with your helmet, anyway?”

He shrugged. “Rachael insisted I swap brands two years ago.”

“Rachael?” I was unable to keep some jealousy from crawling into my voice.

Abe just grinned, his eyes dancing. “Just admit it.”

I jutted out my chin. “Admit what?”

He held my gaze, and a flush rose in my cheeks. Fine.

He took pity on me. “Ryan’s girlfriend. She’s a force of nature.”

“Ryan Carter’s girlfriend?” I kept forgetting he hung out with all these famous people on a regular basis.

I kept forgetting he was famous.

“That’s the one. Hey, you want to go grab dinner?”