A Shot at Love

Showtime

I shove the door open with a sharp push, stepping into the media room, instantly hit with the chaotic energy of game day hustle. On one side, platters of food are laid out—croissants, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit—and a fancy coffee station that makes my pulse quicken, reminding me of this morning.

Assistants are racing around, phones glued to their faces, ensuring everything's in place. Videographers are filming B-roll, and photographers are testing lighting, all while prepping for Shohei Ohtani's Sports Digest spread.

I take a second to absorb it all, and I can't help but feel a little jolt in my stomach. The creative direction for this shoot is mine, and suddenly I'm aware of just how much is riding on it.

Noah and I push through the crowd of photographers, and I start scanning the room for Shohei. But before I can spot him, my eyes land on Breaker. True to form, he's leaning casually against the wall, flashing that too-cool grin of his, chatting with a bubbly brunette intern who's absolutely eating up his every word.

"Settling in quite nicely to the sportswriter life, I see," I giggle, watching Breaker whip his head around, his face briefly flushing as I catch him mid-flirt with the intern.

"Kingston! Hey!" Breaker stammers, straightening up. "This is Mindy. She's been showing me around the stadium—it's remarkable," he adds with that trademark British charm, his eyes darting nervously between me, Mindy, and Noah. "Noah, good to see you."

Breaker and Noah shake hands, and yes, the tension between them is as obvious as ever. But they're both pros at playing nice—at least for now.

"Breaker, you too," Noah says, his tone relaxed. He turns to me, looking almost more at ease around Breaker than I've ever seen him. "I've got to head to a meeting. You're going to do great. Call me or Conrad if you need anything," He gives my shoulder an awkward pat before heading toward the door.

I trail behind Noah, my voice low as he walks away. "Thank you. Really. For everything. I'll see you tonight, okay?"

Noah's gaze flickers to Breaker, then back to me, his expression unreadable. "Just...be careful around him. At least he's distracted with the intern." His eyes soften, and for a split second, his look feels almost...gentle. "Hey, I'm proud of you. Just be yourself. This moment is yours." Noah pauses, his voice shifting. "I'll see you at your place at 6p."

My heart warms at his words. "I really appreciate all your help today," I begin, but my voice drops to a whisper. "And Noah? Don't ever pat me on the shoulder again." A playful laugh escapes my lips.

Noah's tone lowers—almost to a growl. "Be careful what you wish for." He leans in slightly, his voice seductive. "I'm ready to risk it all, baby. Right here, in front of everyone." His eyes gleam with a dangerous edge, flirting with the wildly inappropriate idea.

My stomach does a flip, a spark shooting up my spine. The flash of thoughts that follow is anything but work-appropriate, and I can feel my cheeks burning as I try to mask the rush of heat.

"Goodbye, Westbrook," I say with a teasing grin, swinging the door open for him but lingering just a little longer than necessary. Our eyes lock, and there's that unspoken spark between us.

He slides his hands into the pockets of his black peacoat, taking a moment to glance around the room, clearly in no rush to leave. Then, he shifts toward me, his tone deepening, "You have no idea what's in store for you tonight." A mischievous grin tugs at the corner of his mouth as he adds, "My meeting's on-site, so don't hesitate if you need me. Bye, beautiful."

I watch Noah walk away, the cool breeze hitting my face as the door clicks shut behind him. That's enough distraction for now—time to put my game face on.