Page 33 of In Too Deep

“You work in Public Engagement, Tori. Think about this with your work brain,” Logan prompts, his teaching voice coming through, as if she was one of his players and he’s trying to get her to understand a skill or play.

Tori closes her mouth for a moment, the rest of us silent. I can see the wheels turning behind her mismatched blue irises, but I don’t have her training or insight to know where this could be going.

“If he knows, then he could fire me,” Tori says at last, digging her heels in.

“He could, or he could understand why this is important to you and help you guys build a strategy for going public.”

“I lied to him, told him straight to his face that I didn’t have anything to hide or that would cause a scandal for the team.” She doesn’t back down.

Logan shrugs. “So you apologize and come clean. It’s better that he finds out about this from you, rather than reading a headline later down the road.”

Tori opens her mouth to retort, but stops short, brow furrowing.

“Dee was with the team when I was a player. He was always a really understanding guy, and just wanted what was best for the team. Has that changed while I’ve been gone?” Logan asks.

My lips turn down in a conceding frown for a moment as I incline my head. It’s easy to forget that Logan was just like us, not that long ago. Tori’s shoulders slump as she sits back in her chair, shaking her head.

“Then I think you need to at least try. If shit hits the fan, then we can deal with the fallout.” He gives Tori a warm, comforting smile.

I’m struck by how strange the expression is on his features, having never seen anything like it during practice or a game. I manage to pick my jaw up off the floor as Logan turns his attention back to me and my teammates.

“For the rest of us, it’s going to have to be business as usual. You focus on getting better and back out on the ice,” Logan pauses to give Oli a stern look, which he returns with a glare, “and you two have games to win. Don’t forget about your All-Star prep.”

Logan glances at Spencer meaningfully. He was the only player on our team to be selected for the exhibition weekend that’s being held in just under two weeks. Spencer’s and Tori’s eyes meet for a moment, sharing a commiserating look.

Thankfully, Logan doesn’t stick around for much longer. The pizza arrives, and he leaves hot on the heels of the delivery driver. But not before he snags a single slice of pizza and a blisteringly hot kiss with Tori. The rest of us settle back in the living room, and I’ll be the first to admit, when Logan walked in tonight, not for one second did I think this would be how the evening would go. I was prepared for tearful explanations and some good, old-fashioned begging. But he’s remarkably chill about the entire scenario, and having his help to form ourpack without him getting any immediate benefit is a pleasant surprise.

I want to know more about what’s going on between him and Tori, just because I don’t want her getting hurt, but that’s a fight for another day.

It’s been almost aweek since our come-to-Jesus conversation, and it’s the first time I’ve had to speak to Dee alone. I’m sitting in my car, trying to calm my racing thoughts before I head into work. I’m going to tell him about my relationships today, even if every self-preservation instinct I have is screaming not to. But I know Logan was right; it’s better for me to get ahead of this and be able to control the narrative, rather than waiting for someone to catch us in the act and then have to do damage control.

I take a deep breath before I slide out of my car and head into work, slinging my new work bag over my shoulder. I was already scheduled to meet with my boss today, with the morning dedicated to getting me up to speed on projects Dee has cooking, and Mardi Gras season planning after lunch. Hopefully, I’ll be able to squeeze this bomb somewhere into the schedulebetween approving centerpieces and getting updates about the construction of the parade floats.

My heels clack loudly on the concrete of the parking garage, and it’s easier to push out the intrusive thoughts when I can focus on the steady, confident steps echoing off the walls.

Don’t do it. He’s going to fire you on the spot, and you’re going to get blacklisted, and you’ll never find a job in the league ever again.

I swallow as the thought sends a shiver down my spine, but I take another deep breath, acknowledging the worries without giving them validity, like my therapist taught me, before rebutting it.

Even if Dee fires me, he is not the petty type. He would be mad, but he wouldn’t stoop so low to ruining my career.

Pressing the button to the elevator, I slide my phone out of my pocket as it buzzes with an incoming notification.

Logan

I’m in the building if you need me, baby girl.

I smile despite myself. Today is supposed to be a mandatory day off before the team leaves for a two-game road trip on the East Coast. The boys are doing some sort of “team building” activity, though they were mum on the details. I didn’t think to ask Logan about his plans, but I can’t say I’m surprised that he’d choose to be here on his day off.

Thank you. Shall I come see you after my meeting?

You read my mind. I’ll be in my office with a surprise (winky face emoji)

The elevator doors open, and I enter the car, still smiling to myself. At least I have something to look forward to, regardless of how this conversation goes.

Not if Dee walks you to the door and bans you from the premises.

I frown, nerves returning, but this time accompanied by the elevator muzak. The jazzy trumpet solo is a harsh counterpoint to my internal angst, but my intrusive thoughts are nothing if not persistent in the face of irony.

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