Chapter 8

WHITLEY

Okay, I know it’s cliché, but I’m having such a ~Pretty Woman~ moment right now. Kendrick says go shopping, so I go shopping. Kendrick says buy a dress, so I go looking for a dress. I haven’t found anything I like yet and decide to step into this little boutique.

As soon as I walk in, everyone stops what they are doing, turns, and stares at me. One woman even looks me up and down. I swear I see her snarl at me. A young, gorgeous woman, with her hair in a bun, comes out from the back with a genuine smile on her face. Her eyes are striking. They are such a bright blue in contrast to her black hair.

“Hello, my name is Aubrey. I own this establishment. Can I help you?”

“I’m not sure. What’s with the looks?”

She waves her hand in the air and rolls her eyes.

“Oh, don’t let Brenda deter you. She always looks constipated, and Angela over there hates anyone more beautiful than her. Good help is hard to find these days. So, what are you looking for?”

“A cocktail dress.”

“Girl, with that figure, I know the perfect one. Follow me.”

***

Ten minutes later, Aubrey has me in the dressing room, wearing the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. It’s black with a plunging neckline and goes to mid-thigh. Luckily for me, I am curvy up top too. There is a diamond-shaped cut in the back, leaving my back partially bare, and it hugs all my curves. I step out of the dressing room.

“I knew it!” Aubrey says. “This just came in yesterday.”

I hate to spend so much on a dress, but it’s absolutely beautiful. I can’t walk out without it.

“Shoes?” I ask.

“Absolutely! I knew we’d be fast friends!”

I laugh. Of course she’d think that. I’m shopping in her store, but she does have the kind of personality I find addicting. We find the perfect pair of strappy heels that are actually pretty comfortable.

As I’m paying for everything, she looks at the name on the card. Since Kendrick had gotten me my own card, it has my name on it.

“Barrington. You don’t happen to be related to Kendrick Barrington, do you?” she asks.

“Do you know Kendrick Barrington?”

“I wish. The man is hot as sin. I heard he’s close to his sister which is such a turn on. A man who cares for family just does it for me.”

She hands me my card and bags. I hold out my hand for her to shake. She looks at me oddly but shakes my hand anyway.

“Nice to meet you, Aubrey. My name is Whitley Barrington, and you just met Kendrick’s sister in the flesh.”

“I knew you looked familiar, but it wasn’t until I saw the name that it clicked. I’m glad to have been able to help you, Ms. Barrington.”

“Whitley, please.”

Before I leave the boutique, we exchange numbers and plan on meeting up for lunch one day next week.

***

After I return home and put away all my purchases, I hear the guys come in. Kendrick hollers my name as he comes up the stairs and pokes his head in my bedroom.

“Hey, I am going to grill some chicken breasts to top the salads for dinner. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay with that, or if there’s something else I could cook for you.”

“Salad?”

“Yeah,” he says. “Unfortunately, you’re going to see us eat differently now that practice has started. Healthier every day, unless it’s the day before a big game. Then you’ll see us with pasta or pizza.”

“You mean a shit load of carbs.”

He laughs.

“Pretty much. Since it’s burned off the next day at the game, the day before is our cheat day.”

“Does everyone do this?”

“Pretty much. So, what do you think about grilled chicken salads?”

“Sounds perfect actually.”

“Great, I’ll start up the grill.”

I grab a quick shower and put on pajama shorts and a tank top before heading down. The food is just about ready as I step out onto the patio where Kendrick is setting the table. I grab the plates.

“Where’s Gabriel?” I ask.

He chuckles.

“On the phone with our coach. He has a dinner with a sponsor on Friday night, and our coach is riding him hard about taking a date.”

“What’s so wrong about that?” I ask.

“Gabriel doesn’t want just any date.”

“Who does he want?” I don’t notice that Gabriel has walked in behind me.