Free Seamless by R. L. Griffin Page A

all the concussions really take a toll of players’ bodies—shit, man.”
    “I know,” George agreed. “You got your doctors on it?”
    “They do what they can, man. What can I say? It comes with the territory, you know?”
    “Yeah, I guess it does.” George pulled up his email and was sifting through them when he saw an email from his ex-girlfriend, Jessica. Curious, he opened it.
     
Will,
I hope things are going well for you. I’ve noticed you’re writing again. I think I have a job that you may be interested in. Call me. My number’s the same.
Jessica
    He noted that the signature of the email was from Senator Ashby’s office; she must be working for him now. He was re-reading the email again and thinking about the things they did to each other when they both worked on the House side of the Hill when Jesse’s voice brought him back to the present.
    “George?” he heard Jesse saying.
    “Oh, sorry, dude. What did you say?”
    “I said I haven’t gotten any closer to the Jamie situation, but I have two bodyguards that have gotten rooms next to Stella and Millie’s room in New York.”
    “That’s awesome, man. Thanks.”
    “Have you told her we’re doing that yet?” Jesse asked.
    “I think I’ll tell her when she gets there and meets them. You know her, she’d pitch a fucking fit about being independent and shit.” George smiled just thinking about her likely reaction to bodyguards for her and Millie in New York. He wouldn’t have done it if she hadn’t been such an ass about them going by themselves.
    “I’d hate to be you during that call.” Jesse laughed. “I gotta go, man, I need some more pain meds.”
    “Feel better,” George said.
    “I’m trying.”

Chapter Ten
Porn Martinis
    Stella brushed her teeth and looked in the mirror. She’d just taken a sleeping pill so hopefully she’d sleep soundlessly. George downplayed her nightmares and talking in her sleep, but she was sharing her hotel room with Millie and didn’t want to scare the shit out of her friend. She was dreading it, but didn’t know how to force Millie into paying for her own room in New York when Stella was the one who’d invited her.
    On the outside, she’d perfected the calm, composed façade. In direct contrast to the outside, Stella’s insides were churning. Therapy, which was supposed to help her mind, was forcing her to face things she didn’t want to and her nightmares had actually gotten worse.
    Reluctantly, Stella walked to the left side of the bed and grabbed her iPod. She selected a soothing playlist full of The Civil Wars and Ben Harper. Hitting play, she got into the bed and smiled at Millie, who was reading on her Kindle.
    “What are you reading?” Stella asked.
    “Oh my shit, it’s so good. It’s about a con artist, a tattoo artist and a drug lord.”
    “Um…okay.” Stella sunk into the bed.
    “You’d love it. I’m Team Camden, but whatever,” Millie said, knowing Stella didn’t care.
    “You’re on a team for the book?” Stella asked, her eyebrows raised in skepticism.
    “There’re teams for all books,” Millie responded flippantly.
    “I wasn’t aware of that, Millie. I’ll keep it in mind next book I read.” Stella laughed and put her earbuds in. She only heard a few songs before her sleeping pill kicked in and she was asleep.
    Her body tingled with the feeling she got right before she threw up; she felt both hot and cold. It was that feeling that makes you want to vomit so bad just to get it over with, to feel better; the feeling that there’s something sitting on your chest and pressing down on your organs. She looked around quickly, taking in her surroundings. It was Finnegan’s, but no one was there except her. All of a sudden, she heard a shot ring out from the back of the bar where the office was located. She went to spring into action and run to where the sound came from, but her limbs were moving at a pace only a turtle would be proud of. She looked down to see why