sure?” He’d probably spilled something on the seat. She would sit down and end up with a wet ass. But inspecting the cushion, and then his face, she could find no evidence of foul play. “Thank you.”
He nodded. After she sat, he stayed next to her, occasionally shifting from foot to foot, not saying a word.
“Sooo.” Hara couldn’t bear the awkward silence. “Now that you’ve had some time to process, what do you think about the game?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Hara sipped her drink stoically. This was shaping up to be the exact opposite of a good time. Every bit of her wanted to walk away while she still had some dignity left. But there was Charles, who was much nicer than Derek. Right there, across from her. All she had to do was tap him on the knee, interrupt Naomi, and see if she could get the star to talk to her alone for five minutes. Go big or go home.
She bent forward and said, loudly, “Hi, um, Charles? Would you mind if I talk to you for just a minute?”
He didn’t answer. Granted, it was impossible to hear anything over the music, but Charles was immersed in Naomi, his fingers in her thick hair. He didn’t even know Hara was there. She was going nowhere, fast. Charles was ignoring her. Derek was ignoring her—and he could use some good press in order to build his reputation. What was she doing wrong?
Derek stared at his beer bottle like it was talking to him. On the couch, Naomi had her lips pressed against Charles’s ear, either offering words or a tongue. It was hard to tell. He wasn’t hating it, letting his fingers trail down her side.
If Hara tried to engage him now, she’d just come off as a freak.
The rest of the basketball crew, the friends and hangers-on, laughed and gossiped, clumped in small groups around them. Hara struggled to not be envious of her new, younger acquaintance. Naomi, unashamedly going for what she wanted. The girl knew she had an audience and made the best of it, running her hand through her hair, or licking her red lips with a slow, languid motion—Charles was mesmerized.
When Hara grew up, she wanted to be able to flirt like her.
Charles was a baller but Naomi was, frankly, a bombshell. The power of a woman over a powerful man.
Hara sighed. Maybe it’s time I found myself a boyfriend. Or at least a date. She’d settle for someone to talk to right now. The young reporter glanced at Derek standing next to her, his hands in his pockets, face averted. He wasn’t interested in talking to a human.
She tried again, anyway. “This is a fun place. Is this where you guys normally hang out after games?”
“Not me. Not my scene. Everyone trying to get with someone else.”
“I don’t know, I guess it’s not so bad when you find someone you get along with.” Someone who was at least interested in good manners.
He shrugged. “Maybe. But desperation isn’t attractive. And everyone here looks the same, acts the same. Even you, all dolled up. Beautiful and dressed for attention. You sure you not here looking for a star to warm your bed in a brand-new house?”
“You—” She stopped herself, but not for long. “Are you serious right now? I’m out here because I’m trying to launch my career; I need to look like a rag while I do it? I’m not allowed to be attractive and successful? Pretty women can’t be smart and independent? Because I sure the hell don’t need some man to complete me. But, like a normal woman, I don’t mind having one around. As long as he’s not a dick.”
It was disappointing, really, another successful male exposing his feet—and brain—of clay.
She turned her back to him, fuming.
* * *
There is no reason for me to stand here and look stupid, Derek thought, glaring down at his beer bottle again, trying to avoid looking at Charles and his fling, or the sight of the humping couple in the corner, or the hot, quarrelsome woman next to him.
This was ridiculous. Charles was determined to fuck up. Who was Derek to stop him? And now he had to make sure this reporter didn’t walk out with a story. Charles could not afford any unnecessary attention right now.
A light perfume floated up to him. He breathed in deeply, almost unconsciously. Mmmm. She wore something that reminded him of lathered soap and a sunny