Page 6 of So Pucking Over You

“Good. You’re hired. We need a class act who knows sports, sports players and PR to work with Phil. He hates the on-camera shit and you’re a damn site prettier, so you can handle that. I’ll have the office send you the contract. Sign it as soon as you can. You’re on the payroll as of this minute.”

He looks toward the door where my brother and Dash stare in shocked silence.

“The bus is full,” Coach continues. “Dash, take her with you when we leave in the morning. Gordy, you stay the hell away from Markel but you and Dash start working with Fitch as much as you can on the side. We’ll start bringing him in more and more to give Markel a rest.

“This situation may or may not go viral. We play it down. Get some sleep, all of you. We leave early because of the potential snowstorm.”

Phil and Coach Nugent head out the door. Gordy puts his hands on my shoulders. “I’ll respect your wishes for now. When the season is over, I’m beating the crap out of him for hurting my little sis.”

“Not necessary. I think I’m more embarrassed for not seeing him for what he really is than hurt. This may have been the best thing to happen to me. I’m not missing him at all.”

“Where are you rooming?”

“I was hoping with you. The motel is booked.”

“Shit, I’m sharing with Fitch and we’ve got a poker game going in our room. We could put you in?—”

“She’s staying with me,” Dash cuts in. “The press already has her with me. Moving her around will just cause more questions and make things worse. I can run interference and make sure she’s left alone. You can trust me with your sister.”

“Sis?” Gordy asks.

“I agree with Dash. We go with this at least until the story dies down. But Gordy, you have to play your part.”

“What do you mean?”

“If this started before the holidays, you had to have known that your best friend started seeing your sister. Dash was with us for two days during the holidays. You can’t go after Trevor when your sister has moved on.

“The story—your response—is Trevor and I were a couple but broke up and we’ve both moved on. No hard feelings.”

“I’ll still break his pretty boy nose after the season,” Gordy responds as he pushes out the door.

Dash steps in front of me. “How about I order us a pizza and go pick it up. You snuggle in and find us something to watch on TV. The bus leaves at four in the morning so calling it an evening early would be wise.”

“Why are you in your truck and not the bus?”

He smiles. “Sanity. I’m the old man of the group and they’re like a bunch of frat boys. My truck is more comfortable. I also need to stretch my legs a little more often than the bus can stop. Our team plane is different, there’s more leg room and the flights are short. Hopefully, it will be back in action after these games are over.”

I nod, knowing at his height of almost six-four and well over two hundred pounds, leg room and the size of a seat is always anissue. He doesn’t move like a big man though. In fact, he’s damn agile for a goalie. I’ve seen part of his workout routine including his yoga and Pilates. He takes good care of himself. But the position always takes its toll.

“Are you still into pepperoni and black olive, thin crust?”

“How do you remember that?”

He shrugs. “You still mainlining coffee?”

“My drug of choice. But it has to be from a real coffee shop. Gas stations are emergency only.”

“I saw a cute little coffee shop earlier and they had a drive through.”

“Perfect. Extra-large, double shot of espresso, double the cream-whipped, and extra extra extra hot. And get it after the pizza so it doesn’t get cold before you make it back. Actually, make it two of them. I can always drink what’s left when we leave in the morning. Do you need to write this down?”

“I can remember. Are you going to be able to sleep?”

“It’s never stopped me before.”

Shaking his head he pauses at the door and looks over his shoulder. “Don’t open the door to anyone. Could be a reporter, and you don’t want to risk an interaction with Trevor. You’re the media person, think about how we can handle this while I’m gone. We can brainstorm together while we eat.”

Pulling on a hoodie from my suitcase I curl up on the bed and turn on the TV, stopping at the first sports program I come to for background noise. Closing my eyes I lean my head against the headboard.

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