Married With Me
Bailie Hantam
Contents
Married With Me
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
The With Me in Seattle Universe
Also by Bailie Hantam
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Married With Me
A With Me In Seattle Universe Novel
By Bailie Hantam
MARRIED WITH ME
A With Me In Seattle Universe Novel
Bailie Hantam
Copyright © 2020 by Bailie Hantam
All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect are appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Cover Design: Kari March Designs
Published by Lady Boss Press, Inc.
Chapter 1
Angela
All good things must come to an end. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. Not that I have any idea what’s supposed to come next. All I know is that if I don’t quit, I will never get out of the rut I’m in. At least not until injury or age forces me out.
I’m twenty-seven years old and doing the same thing I’ve been doing since I was twelve. The only difference now is that I get paid, and I don’t have to worry about homework getting in the way.
Watching the rest of the cheer squad gather in the studio waiting to start our final rehearsal, I inhale a long breath as I steel myself. I’ve captained the Vegas Dynamite professional cheer squad for about two years. It has been an honor; I cannot deny that. When I got chosen for the squad it had been the pinnacle of my career. But I knew it wouldn’t be permanent. And my time has to come to an end.
I’ve been traipsing around in skimpy skirts and carrying pom-poms since my first week of middle school. I’ve been part of a national championship winning squad, cheered a professional football team to their own championship before joining the show squad with a Vegas residency. The pay is lousy, the hours excruciating, and the only reasonable next step for me is coaching. Something I have no interest in.
Dropping my duffle bag on a bench outside the entrance of the studio, I take another breath. There’s no need to be nervous. The squad will be fine without me. I’m not indispensable. Yes, it’s scary walking away from the only thing I’ve ever known, but it’s time to make changes in my life.
Changing careers is, of course, step two. Breaking up with Carl, my boyfriend of two years, was step one. It had been nearly forty-eight hours since I told him that it was over. Not that he understood. He even suggested he move back to Seattle with me. Something I really don’t want.
Cheerleading and Carl are examples of a life I’d envisaged in high school. I met him in the same week I signed my contract to captain the Dynamite. I thought I had it all then. I had the perfect job and pretty good life. Two years later? I am bored out of my mind.
Carl and I had become stale. We went to the same restaurants, socialized with the same people. Even the sex was predictable. Breaking up was the most exciting thing we’d done in a long while.
Shoving my hands into the pockets of my zip-up hoodie, I entered the gym. I placed two fingers between my lips and whistled to draw the attention of my teammates. “Right everyone, gather around.”
It was our final show week of the season. The team owners and the coach already knew about my decision to not renew my contract. I’d also spoken to Lilly, my closest friend on the team. Lilly would likely take over as the squad’s captain.
Cassie Lincoln, our coach, nodded as I approached. Cassie was only a few years older than me at thirty-four. She was gorgeous with dark hair and pale eyes. Her small frame ensured that she was always at the top of the pyramid.
A poor landing as she dismounted caused a career ending knee injury when she was in college. She shifted straight into coaching and teaching, wanting to stay in the game even if she couldn’t fully participate. She’d fast become one of my closest friends. A mentor and confidant who happened to be the occasional drinking buddy.
We stand alongside one another and face the squad. Everyone is wearing the official training uniform. Black leggings with a blue stripe running down the outside of the leg and a plain blue tank top with a built-in bra. I unzip my hoodie and match my teammates.
With one last deep breath, I silence everyone, lifting my hand. “Cassie has a few words for us.”
Cassie’s lips lift in the smallest smile. “We have two performances each day of the competition. Five days and ten performances. You will dance as if you’re the ones competing. Show those cheerleaders what they’re working towards. I want everyone to dance their hearts out and have fun. This is the last event of the season, let’s make it a good one.”
I nod, agreeing with Cassie. “I know it’s a middle school competition, but we do get paid for it, and we all should give our best. These kids look up to us.”
As professional cheerleaders, we are paid for our performances, but we’re not allowed to compete. We often did exhibition performances at competitions. Each one carefully chosen with the routines choreographed to inspire the age group we were performing for.
Cassie gives me a look, expecting me to carry on and give the team my news. I just shake my head. I will announce my resignation at the end of the pep talk.
Instead she rolls her eyes as she addresses the team
