Page 8 of Their Greatest Strength

“You’ve got a deal,” he declares.

“It’s that easy?”

Coach chuckles. “You didn’t ask for enough, Jamie.”

“I don’t need more than that,” I say, jostling a shoulder.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Graham smile, but the slight twitch of his lips is close enough.

“You’ll get more from this agreement regardless. I’ll make the jersey happen, and in addition to that, you’ll get to be the one to help the team. Your name will be everywhere.”

“How long do I have to find someone?” I ask, feeling doubt wiggle into my chest.

I’m not doubtful that I can pull this off for the team. I know I can if I can find someone to help me. This will be a very insufferable few months if I can’t enter into this sham of a wedding with someone I like or enjoy being around.

Then, there’s my family. Shit, my brother is getting married next month to the woman he’s loved for decades, and here I am, considering announcing a marriage of my own with a potential stranger.

The owner of the BC Pythons puts the full weight of his stare on me, but I don’t buckle beneath it. “How long do you need?”

“Three weeks. I’ll find someone, and you can meet her, but I need to at least get to know a few things about her first. I’m not marrying a complete stranger, and I’m damn sure not doing it before my brother’s wedding.”

“I’ll accept that.”

“We need to talk about what his obligations are while in this marriage, Graham. Don’t be coy,” Coach grunts.

His support comforts me, even if I should be worried that I didn’t think to bring that up myself.

Graham stares at him and then me, tipping his chin. “This will be a PR stunt, Jamieson. We would need you to becompletely on board with attending public events, posting on social media, and speaking of your new wife in interviews with the media. The aim is to create buzz. To bring new and old eyes to the team and its players with a story of an unlikely romance between one of the league’s best players and an ordinary woman. If all goes according to plan, the public will fall in love with the story you create.”

I lean over my legs and dig my elbows into my knees. “And my sponsorships won’t be negatively affected by this?”

“We’ll ensure that doesn’t happen,” he swears.

“Well, shit, guys.” I huff out a laugh. “And I don’t suppose either of you have any ideas of where to start looking for a wife?”

Coach barks a laugh. “Not unless you want to spend a few nights in a sports bar or outside of the game Saturday.”

“I haven’t been to a sports bar since college.”

“You’ll figure it out, Jamieson,” Graham says.

I knock my knuckles against the edge of his desk. “You might as well call me Jamie at this point. Considering everything you’re asking me to do, I’d assume that makes us friends.”

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t think about talking to the man in control of my entire career with such nonchalance, but like I mentioned, this should make us friends. I’m taking a giant risk for him and this club, and I think that earns me some points.

It doesn’t help that I’m fully aware of how heavy my contract was. I cost this organization a shit ton of money, and while it might not be fair, I do feel like I owe them this. It’s only three months of my life. I’m young and have much more time left. It could be worse.

They could be choosing someone for me. Someone I might hate and dread spending however many months with. At least I’m in control of this choice. And they did give me the chance to turn them down and leave it up to another player to deal with, not to mention my impromptu demand.

“Why didn’t you ask Jaxon or any of the other guys to do this instead?”

“We’re interested in it being you,” Graham answers.

“Okay, but why? Jaxon’s more popular.”

Coach is reluctant to meet my curious gaze, and I grow more confused.

Graham isn’t as reluctant to look at me, but I suppose that comes from being such an intimidating mofo. I doubt he gets nervous about saying anything to anyone.

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