Page 112 of Interference

Ugh. Well, there wasn’t much I could do to avoid it, so I just continued with my routine. I showered, threw on some sweats, and joined Simon, Nova, and some of the other guys for our post-practice meal. As we were eating, Megan from PR came into the lounge and stopped by our table.

“Hey, boys.” She smiled. “Just wanted to give you a heads up that Casino Night is coming up in February. We’ll be doing some training for card dealing, which will be a refresher for some of you.” She shot a pointed look toward Nova. “Since some of you clearly needed one last year.”

“What?” Nova spread his hands. “I know the rules!”

“I know you do,” Megan muttered. “But the refresher is still mandatory, and you’d better listen this time.”

Everyone just chuckled. Nobody really stuck to the rules on Casino Night. It was for charity anyway—the chips were exchanged for raffle tickets at the end, not cash—so being sticklers for the rules really wasn’t that important. And besides, the fans who came to play loved it, and they’d buy even more chips to play with those of us who screwed off, which meant more money for the charity. So who cared?

It really was a lot of fun, too. A nice night out. I hoped Wyatt enjoyed it.

Speaking of Wyatt, I pulled Megan aside on my way out of the locker room. “Oh, hey, can I get an extra ticket for someone?”

Megan took out her phone. “Sure. Just the one?”

I nodded. She jotted herself a note, then smiled at me as she pocketed the phone again. “Got it. I’ll email the info to you.”

“Awesome. Thanks!”

I made it all of two steps away from her before Simon headed me off. From his hard expression, he wanted to talk. Like, now.

I didn’t want to talk to him, but we weren’t going to argue here in the locker room. So, we stepped out into the hall, and once we’d made sure we were alone, I faced him. “What?”

Simon glared at me. “You’re bringing someone to Casino Night?”

“Yeah.” I held his gaze without flinching. “Is that all right?”

He set his jaw. “Let me guess—your ‘roommate’ who you’re totally not banging?”

A cold rush of panic shot through me before my brain caught up. Simon didn’t know Wyatt and I had slept together. He’d been suspicious since day one. He didn’t know a damn thing.

I shrugged with as much indifference as I could muster. “Is that a problem?”

Simon blinked. “Um. Yes? It is?”

“Why? He came to Thanksgiving, so the whole team has—”

“And you don’t think that’ll get rumors flying?” he snapped. “If he keeps coming to shit with you?”

“Uh, not if he’s just there like a normal person and we’re not doing anything incriminating, no?” I crossed my arms and inclined my head. “Would you be this pissy if I was bringing a woman?”

He scowled. “This isn’t about you being bi.”

“No, it’s about you being jealous and insecure.” I narrowed my eyes. “No one’s going to think anything of it if you don’t make anything of it. He’s a friend. Get over it.”

Then I turned and stalked away, not interested in getting into a pissing match with him. Not here. Not where someone could see or hear us. This wasn’t the time or place. If he wanted to have it out in the car later… eh. Whatever. I couldn’t even muster up enough aggravation to care.

As for bringing Wyatt to Casino Night, yeah, it was possible rumors might start. Especially when Cole Tandy was so hellbent on digging up dirt and splashing it all over the place for clout.

But Wyatt and I didn’t do anything in public that would lend any credence to those rumors. As I’d pointed out to both Simon and Tandy, I did have friends. I didn’t screw every man in my orbit any more than I screwed every woman who came near me.

And no one—not Simon, not Tandy, not the team, not the public—had any real, concrete reason to suspect Wyatt and I were sleeping together.

Admittedly, as much as I’d hated keeping my relationship with Simon a secret, the secrecy gave me a little thrill now. Maybe because I was rebelling against my ex and the rules our team had put on us. Or maybe because everything about this thing with Wyatt gave me a thrill.

I’d spent last night having the best sex of my life. I’d been spending all my free time lately with the sweetest, most laidback man I’d ever met. I was giddy to the point of distraction over this newfound connection with Wyatt.

And none of it was anyone else’s goddamned business.

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