Page 95 of The Keeper

“Oh?” My eyes widened. “That’s exciting for you. How long will he be here?”

“All week.” She flicked her wrist in a dismissive manner. “Anyway, we’re going out for drinks and I want you to come with us.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “It’ll be fun.”

“On what planet do you think asking someone to be the third wheel on their date is fun?”

“It’s not a date, it’s drinks.” She lifted her hands to stop me from interrupting. “He asked me to invite you specifically.”

I broke out into a cold sweat. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“I’m not an asshole, Victoria. Xavier won’t be there. Bennet is flying out after their game. Apparently it’s Xavier’s first match back since being suspended. Bennet told me what happened.” Her eyes narrowed. “And it wasn’t his first time getting carded for a fight. He’s got a temper. Did you know?”

“No, not really. I mean, he mentioned he got into fights when he was a teenager but never said anything more.”

“Bennet mentioned the same thing,” she said softly before adding, “You do know Xavier and the rest of the team will be here for a game against the Knights next week though, right?”

“What?” My heart pounded.

“The international series. You don’t remember the huge announcement in January?” She gave me an incredulous look. “Five big English clubs are going to five different American cities next week. Since the Knights use our stadium, we have Royal City. The others are going to Los Angeles, Dallas, Orlando, and Chicago.” She shook her head. “You wrote the press release. Remember?”

My mouth sort of did the thing where it wants to say words but just made gaping gestures like a damn fish gasping for air. After a second, I composed myself.

“I write so many press releases, Hannah. I don’t remember all of them. And if it was in January, we were in the middle of the playoffs and…I don’t think a soccer game was too high on my radar.”

The post-season, while routine in these parts, is always chaotic. Relatives who want tickets, national press coverage, interviews, behind-the-scenes exclusives. I probably did write the press release. But to be fair, I wouldn’t have known who or what Royal City Athletic was at the time.

That’s not entirely true.

As a media relations professional in the sports world, I’d have an idea of who they were. I just wouldn’t have paid much attention.

Because I wasn’t banging the star goalkeeper at the time.

“Royals and Knights,” I muttered. “Of course.”

“See? You do remember,” Hannah exclaimed. “You said it sounded like The Canterbury Tales or something. Royals, Knights, and Legends.”

“I hope I didn’t write that in the release.”

Hannah’s laugh echoed through her office. “No, you did not.” She grinned. “I have a call in five minutes. Thanks for hashing out the schedules with me.”

“Anytime.” I turned and walked toward the door.

“Victoria?”

I glanced behind me. “Yeah?”

“Please come out with us tomorrow.”

“I’ll think about it,” I promised, walking toward my office across the hall.

I sat heavily in my chair and tried like hell to focus on everything I had to finish before the draft started tonight. Instead, I scrolled through the shared files for stadium events. Yep. There it was. The announcement about five English soccer clubs coming to the U.S., including Royal City Athletic.

Even though I handled all the media requests for the Legends, I wasn’t the main contact for this game. The stadium has a small media team for special events.

It struck me as odd that neither Bennet nor Xavier mentioned they’d be here. Then again, I saw Bennet a grand total of one and a half times and spent all my other time climbing Xavier like a tree.

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