Page 6 of Their Greatest Strength

“You looked good out there today,” he tells me.

Suspicion ripples through me. “Yeah? My releases were a bit lagged.”

“Slightly. But I’m not concerned.”

“Thanks. Were you down watching practice today?” I ask Graham, searching for the reason he’s here but not trying to be obvious about it.

“No. I came down a few moments ago and wanted to catch you before you left.”

“You’re just in time, then.”

Coach taps his clipboard to his thigh and turns to Graham. “Do you want to go up to your office to talk about this?”

“That might be best,” Graham agrees, focusing on me.

Even with my bulk, the way he’s looking in my direction has me feeling like a kid again.

I hang behind the two men the entire way through the field and into the stadium. Coach attempts to create conversation in the elevator, but I’m not up for chatting, and neither is Graham.

Once we step into the large office, I work to keep my limbs loose despite their desire to tighten up. “Alright. Let’s hear it.”

Graham Warren unbuttons his suit jacket and sits behind his desk, swallowing the chair with his huge frame. From what I know about him, he never played football and was handed his father’s Pythons legacy when he passed a few years back, but with his intimidating-as-fuck height and hulk shoulders, he’d have been useful on D.

“I’ll keep this short, Jamieson. Have you ever considered getting married?”

3

JAMIE

“Come again?”I ask, positive that I’ve heard him wrong.

Graham doesn’t so much as blink before repeating, “Have you ever considered getting married?”

Coach leans against the closed door and blows out a breath, his nose pinched between two fingers. Something unsettling churns in my gut.

“Uh, yeah, I guess. In like ten years from now. I’d have to have a girlfriend before considering that type of decision,” I say cautiously.

Graham props his elbows on the glossy wood desk and clasps his fingers. “What are your thoughts on marriage for business?”

“Like for a work visa?”

It’s not completely unheard of for international players to marry for work visas. But I’m Canadian, and unless they’re wanting me to marry a man, I don’t think I’m on the right track here. I wouldn’t have necessarily said no to marrying a guy, though?—

“No. Not a visa. For the team itself,” he says, interrupting my train of thought.

I furrow my brows. “I’m confused.”

Coach steps up beside me and pats my back, providing a bit of stability in a sea of confusion.

“You don’t have to do this, Bateman,” he mutters.

“He’s right. You don’t. But the entire Pythons team would be in your debt if you did,” Graham adds.

I blink rapidly and sit in one of the plush chairs across from his desk with my knees parted wide. “Back up. You still haven’t even told me what it is exactly that you need from me.”

“I’m sure that you’re aware of the empty stands at our home games and the lack of media interest,” Graham says.

“I think the entire country is aware of that.”

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