Page 22 of Penalties and Proposals

NOAH

“Isit always this chaotic around here after practice?” a familiar voice bellows nearby. Looking over from my perch on the bench in the middle of our locker room, past the giant otter who is also our team’s mascot, I can just make out Travis Richards. My agent and the man I credit with saving me from myself most months.

“It’s usually way more zen,” I say with an easy grin, kicking off my skates and standing to shake his hand. “We were just burning sage and talking about our feelings in a circle of trust. Is that what you’d like to hear?”

“Fits with the idea I have in mind for good team bonding.” He laughs, tossing his thumb over his shoulder. “Why the otter?”

Cooper, who happens to have his locker next to mine, suddenly pulls his head out of it, staring at Travis incredulously. “Right?Whyan otter?”

He slams his door, making the bank of metal lockers in front of us jump, and walks away shaking his head. Turning back to Travis, I lift my shoulders.

“Well, guess I can’t say we’re all fans of the otter.”

“Duly noted, but I bet the kids love it.”

“I hear they do,” I say, pulling my Renegades sweatshirt fromthe locker and tugging it over my head. “So what have I done that required you to stop by in person?”

“Does a guy need a reason to stop in and see one of his favorite people?” Travis says, trying to pull some of his smooth agent-y vibe on me, but nah. I won’t have any of it.

“Yes.” Slipping my feet into my sneakers, I grab my backpack from the hook before slamming my own locker door closed. Tossing the bag on the ground at my feet, I cross my arms and put Travis square in my sights. “You’re more of a texter or ‘Let’s meet for dinner’ kind of guy.”

“You’ve got me all figured out, huh?” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps it a few times, turning it around to show me the screen. “I’m down here meeting someone else, if you really want to know. Figured I’d remind you of your engagement this evening.”

“Dinner with the Arnolds. Yes, I am still planning on going.”

“Good. I know it’s not the usual for you, but the family has been vetted by me and several of my colleagues. We even went so far as to run a background check.”

“Dude,” I say with a snicker, “it’s dinner.”

“At their house. You’ll be required to make small talk.”

When I roll my eyes, Travis taps my shoulder. “Buck up, little camper, I know you can do it.”

“I thought you’d be with me?” Which was literally the main reason I’d said yes to this. Being with fans who want me to sign an autograph and then go our separate ways is one thing. I can do that standing on my head with my eyes closed all day. But sitting across from them at a small table, in their home, is another. “I know they won this as part of a charity thing …”

“Their kid, Charlie, wrote an essay about being your biggest fan and it won a contest for the Renegades, not a charity. Man, I need to prep you better,” Travis says as his phone rings in his hand. Glancing at the screen, he shakes his head. “Sorry, Noah, but I need to go. My meeting starts in a few minutes and it’sabout that assistant coach position. I need to hop on that. Call me later to debrief?”

I watch Travis as he navigates his way out of the locker room, leaving me standing in disbelief.

“I’m going to be alone? For this kind of one-on-one?”

A voice beside me whispers, “I’ll go with you, if you want.”

I nearly jump out of my skin, clutching my heart, I swivel around to find Murray grinning at me as he pushes a broom.

“Dude, you need a bell,” I manage to eke out as I take deep cleansing breaths to calm my nerves.

“And you need to find a friend you can actually talk to, and not just do it with yourself,” he tosses over his shoulder as he pushes past.

“Touché.”

The pit in my stomach tells me this is the kind of thing I know I can do; I mean, I’m confident in myself, right? But it kind of fills me with dread to be alone with these strangers. There is always a worry of letting someone down once they do meet me. That fear is real.

My phone sounds off in my hand, pulling my focus away from myself, as well as my revenge plot for Murray, and when I see who it is I grin. A text from Willa. Even better, it’s an invitation to come by her hotel tonight.

Instead of texting, I hit the button on my phone to call, her voice surprised when she picks up.

“I didn’t expect you to respond this soon,” she teases.

---