The Boy, The Girl, and The Game (Artemi Panarin)

Book Release

-Annabelles POV-

"I need your help" I sigh into the phone. I know this was basically me asking to be miserable but I needed my girl.

"Oh my god you actually need me. This never happens, quick, someone call the press" Amanda jokes and I roll my eyes.

"Please don't make me regret calling you" I laugh playing with the ends of my hair.

"I'm sorry. I'm here for you. What's up" she asks quickly.

"I need help finding a dress" I say quietly hoping she didn't hear me. I hated shopping and I hated wearing dresses but I knew Amanda would make it fun. After she stoped screaming I heard shuffling and a door close.

"What's going on" I laugh at the commotion on the other line.

"I'll be there in 5" she yells before hanging up.

Maybe this wasn't the best idea...

Thank god Amanda was the same size as me so we could both try dresses on and hopefully be done twice as quick. What I overlooked was the fact that she took this as a sign to pick out twice as many dresses.

"Can we please stop. I played 10 sports throughout my life and this is by far the hardest thing I've done" I whine from the stall next to her. We've both tried on over 20 dresses and I liked all of them and she hated all of them. I don't care what I looked like, I just needed a dress because I didn't have any.

"No, I'm going to make you the sexiest woman alive if it's the last thing I do" she sing songs from beside me.

"It might be" I mumble pulling on yet another dress.

"Heard that" she shoots back causing me to laugh.

"I'm releasing a book, not releasing myself down a pole. I don't want to be sexy. I want to be sophisticated" I said zipping up the dress.

I look in the mirror while Amanda goes on about fashion and what she's looking for, but I get lost somewhere in the conversation. I stare at my reflection and love what I saw. I had on a long black dress that went to the floor and flowed a little at the bottom. It had short sleeves and a beautiful sweetheart neckline then the top was lace. The sides and back was lace also and it fit perfectly.

"Are you ignoring me" Amanda sighs.

"I think I found the dress" I say lowly.

"I'll be the judge of that" she insists coming out her stall and into mine. "Oh. My. God" she whispers as I turn around. I let a smile grow and Amanda throws her arms up. "She found a dress hallelujah. Now we must celebrate with food" she announced and I roll my eyes.

Was I with Patrick or Amanda? I may never know.

After purchasing the dress I go to lunch with Amanda and enjoy having a lady friend to talk to.

The book release came quicker than I expected and I was admittedly a little nervous. Of course I had my right hand girl next to me the whole time. After slipping on the dress and black heels I curl my hair and Amanda does my make up because I'm clueless in that department. After adding diamond earring and touching up my hair I was ready to go.

"Anna! Your boy toy is here" Amanda screams as she leaving to pick up Patrick. Always the lady. I run down stairs as fast as my legs in these shoes would carry me.

"You ready" I ask as Artemi tried fixing his tie.

"Yeah just abou..." he trails off when his eyes meet mine. "Wow" he whispers as I come over to fix his tie.

"You're not looking too shabby yourself" I laugh.

"Wow" he says again causing me to giggle.

"Lets go before you forget some more English words" I joke pulling him behind me.

My publisher did a great job decorating the UC, it looked sharp. The team was here along with people who I wrote with, friends from college, other athletes from around the town I've worked and talked with, then some people I didn't know who I assumed was a part of media. After talking to almost everyone and doing a few interviews and autographs I find Artemi by the punch table.

"This is crazy" he says looking around.

"It is. I can't believe my book is finally out" I sigh. It was a long process but I enjoyed every moment of it.

"How exactly did you do it" he asks curiously.

"I don't know. I wrote down my thoughts, ideas, opinions, and one day my English professor asked to see them. He liked them so much he sent them to his friend who was a publisher and one thing led to another. I compressed my ideas and he got me to meet up with some athletes for insight, next thing I know I wrote a book" I shrug.

"You're truly amazing, you know that" he asks dead serious.

"I'm not, but thank you" I say kissing his cheek leaving a little lipstick on there. I lick my thumb and rub it off his stubble before I hear someone calling my name. I go up to the podium and make my speech and hand out some books to the people there. No one besides my editors and I have read it so I was excited.

"The Team and Me" Artemi says as he ready the cover. I look at the graphics on the front of all the different sports, I really like how it turned out. Writing and sports were my two favorite things.

"I can't wait to read this" Artemi smilies.

"I can't wait for you to read it" I smile back