“It’s called a wasted opportunity, if you ask me,” he drawls.
“That’s why I don’t ask you about anything other than contracts and money.” I toss the ball up in the air again, watching its spinning descent before catching it. “Speaking of money and contracts, we all set for the Houston trade?”
I still can’t believe it. I’m getting out of basketball no man’s land, and being shipped to the holy land. Houston went far in the playoffs this season, falling just a few games short of the championship. They’ll get even further next year with the addition of a few key pieces—me being key.
“Yeah. I have the contracts.” Jared hesitates, sliding his hands into the pockets of his expensively tailored slacks. “You’re sure you want to do this, right?”
“For real?” I eject a disbelieving laugh. “I mean, I’ll miss Decker and Jag and Kenan and all the guys, but it’s business, and we’re all getting something out of it.”
The Waves will get three great players they can continue to build their team with, in exchange for me. And I will get the chance to play for a truly contending team, in line for a championship.
Along with forty-five million dollars.
Did I forget to mention that?
I didn’t want to ask for that much, but Jared is a hard-ass and believed we could get it. Never will I complain about more zeroes.
Jared clears his throat, sighing and then looking at me.
“What? They’re bucking on the money now?” I toss the basketball once more, catch it and drop it to the floor, sitting up, slumping into the leather cushions.
“Nah, nothing like that.” Reluctance is smeared all over Jared’s face. “We agree that this is the best decision, right?”
“Of course.” I frown, crossing one ankle over my knee. “Why you keep asking me that?”
“I got a call last week.” He looks up from the floor, and I brace myself for whatever bomb he’s about to drop. “From Iris.”
Hiro-fucking-shima.
That’s the level bomb he just dropped on me.
“MyIris?” My question shoots out like bullet.
“Well . . .” Jared dips his head from one side to the other. “That’s up for debate.”
“This is not the time to play games with me.” I stand, anticipation humming through my blood, breathing life into parts I didn’t know were dormant. “Did she say where she is? Where she’s been?”
Jared heaves a huge sigh, like he might regret this. “No, and I got the distinct impression she didn’t want to,” he says. “She was more concerned about the future.” He fixes his eyes on me and then rolls them. “She called about a job.”
“A job?” I fire back. “With you?”
“Yeah.”
“Here?”
“Yeah.”
“And you gave her one, right? You said, ‘Yeah, I’ll find a job for you if I have to because my brother will peel my skin back if I don’t.’ Did the conversation go something like that?”
“I still don’t think she realizes we’re related, so you didn’t come up, but yes, I offered her a job. An entry-level job.”
“Entry level?” I flop my arms up and let them fall to my sides. “Is that supposed to entice her?”
“I wasn’t trying toenticeher,” he replies. “She’s a sharp girl, smart and ambitious, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s never worked in the industry beyond college. I told her I was no longer with Richter, but that I had my own agency now in San Diego.”
“Wehave our own agency,” I correct. “And? This entry-level position, is she accepting it?”
He tosses his eyes up to the ceiling, dropping his head and running his hand through his thick hair. “Yeah, she accepted.”
