Quarterback's Surprise Baby (Bad Boy Ballers Book 2) by Imani King Page A

star.
    In any case, while my mind is working overtime, nothing sounds better than some stress relief: relaxing with my girl Sandra over some fat burritos.
    I slide into my side of the booth.
    “I ordered us Margaritas,” Sandra grins. She’s looking happy and relaxed. I’m a bit jealous, but at least she wants to take me along on her good time.
    “Are you serious?” I laugh. “I'm was planning to go back to work today, and Carlton is already on my ass!”
    “Carlton?” she scoffs. “That blowhard. Never mind him.”
    “Sure but he does have the power to make my life miserable...” I mutter.
    “Only if you let him!” She points her finger in my face. “Never let a man like that forget who you are. For real, girl, you have more power than you think. You're a leader, a partner. Don't be intimidated by him.”
    “I guess. But he’s been there a lot longer than I have. So long that he’s practically a dinosaur. At least in terms of his views on women,” I say. The waitress puts down a sizable Margarita in front of me. It's icy, and dripping. It looks delicious. We raise our glasses, and Sandra clinks mine with hers. “Bottoms up!” She grins.
    The cool liquid sliding down my throat feels great, but it hits me fast and I know that I won’t be making it back into work.
    “A lot of these good ol' boys are total sexists,” she smiles knowingly. “They grew up in the past, and soon they’ll be ancient history. The future is ours, girl,” she nods.
    “Yeah, I hope you're right. Right now my future is hanging in the balance.” I play with my garnish, picturing Griff and I on one side, happy together, and on the other, me getting fired. When I look up, Sandra is looking at me intently.
    “Yeah, you’ll make it through, Odell. I believe in you. You’ve faced a bunch challenges head on, and you almost always come out on top. By the way, how is that first case going?” she asks, as she plays with her straw. “Who did the huge star turn out to be, the one that you're trying to get off?”
    I blush furiously. “Oh my God, I haven’t even told you yet! You're never going to believe this,” I begin. Her eyes get as wide as saucers as I recount the whole story of how my first case is also my first sex partner in ages, the guy I picked up with her at the bar, and by the end she’s laughing so much that she almost falls out of her seat.
    “Only you, Odell,” she says, when she finally gets a hold of herself. “Only you would be in this position!”
    “Tell me about it,” I smile grimly. “And with the way things are going, it's either going to make or break me at this firm.”
    “I told you, you should have gotten this guy's number for some regular action. I wasn’t thinking for evidence!”
    “I know it.” I sit back. “How the hell does something like that happen?”
    “So have you seen him again?” she asks. “Like, how do I say this in polite company— socially ?” Her eyes dance, but they search mine, and I know there's no use to lie. I can’t fool my best friend.
    “Yes,” I concede. “Actually I have.” Her eyes widen. She wants details. “A few times. And I'm pretty certain that he's innocent of his charges.”
    “Wow, what a mess. If he’s innocent, that’s good… but are you sure that's not just the sex talking?” she queries me suspiciously.
    “Honestly? No,” I admit. “But I'm going to find out for certain.” I cast my eyes down, feeling a little shy about just how good the sex has been. “I’ve hired a private eye, and I'm going to find out everything there is to know about Gryphon James, his accuser ex, and their relationship.”
    “Good for you. Take matters into your own hands, girl,” she says. “Be the person who knows the most about the whole situation, and you can't ever be wrong.”
    I nod. Sandra is wise. “So how 'bout you, any new men in your life?”
    “Well as a matter of fact,” she smiles. “I did go out with somebody.”
    “Oh is that