Page 2 of Enticing

“How will Hockey Tots help my image with sponsors?” I lean back in the booth and wait, skeptical. This feels like a stretch, even for my insane agent.

As long as I’ve known Hunter, and I’ve known him since I was a kid and he was Dad’s agent, he’s always had an answer. He’s that guy. The one who can’t help but think thirteen steps ahead. He’s won a game of chess before you make your first move, and I should know because he’s beat my ass on more than one family vacation.

“You’d be helping kids with a high-profile project for the team owner’s daughter. Trust me, kid. I can spin this shit into gold.”

“Okay, Rumpelstiltskin. Then riddle me this... how am I supposed to do that when we’re barely a month into the season? It’s November. Between practice, home games, away games, and the amount of time we spend traveling for the away games, I’d like you to show me where I can fit this in.”

Hunter clicks his tongue like he’s chiding a small child.The fucker.“Serena is using the Revolution’s ice, and she’s only asking a few key players to volunteer. She’s going to work around the team’s schedule, Sinclair.” His fingers fly across his phone before mine pings in my pocket. “Now you’ve got the schedule. Notice that there are very few events when you’re out of town, and the few there are will be handled by Kroydon University players. If you’re out of town for a game, you obviously can’t be there for the Tots.”

The way he over-enunciates eachTgrates on my last fucking nerve. “Well obviously,” I agree with a dramatic flair, confident there’s basically no way for me to say no. “Fine. Sign me up.”

And there goes that smug grin.Again.

“Hockey Tots...” I groan. “Seriously? They couldn’t come up with a better name? You think a bunch of little boys want to be called tots?”

Hunter stands and throws a fifty on the table. “Who said anything about boys?”

“The hell?” I practically trip over myself to get out of the booth. “You’re joking, right? I don’t know the first thing about teaching a bunch of little girls how to skate.”

“YouTube it, Sinclair. Serena Kingston is expecting you tomorrow at ten a.m., and we wouldn’t want to disappoint the kids.” He holds open the door of West End and shakes his head. “Have fun.”

I pull my phone out and shoot off a text to my group chat with my brothers and brothers-in-law.

Leo

Anyone else get roped into helping with the Hockey Tots?

Hendrix

Is that like tater tots?

Leo

Dude. That’s what I said. But no, it’s Serena Kingston’s new pet project. Be grateful you’re playing for a different team. Lucky bastard.

Hendrix

I don’t know, man. Serena Kingston is a fucking smoke show. I wouldn’t mind being her pet project.

Nixon

Sorry, brother. I’m not involved, and you better not involve me.

Damn.

I figured my big brother would be the sap who got suckered into doing this with me.

Cross

Nope. That’s all you, Sinclair.

Leo

Seriously? None of you?

Ares

I’m helping. I’ve got Molly signed up for it.

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