Page 25 of Playboy

The waiter has just droppedoff our salads when my phone rings.

Across the table, Sara gives me a conciliatory smile. “The job never ends, huh?”

I turn the device over. I’m going to enjoy this meal before I allow myself to even take a peek at what disaster is waiting for me now. Though, in reality, not a whole lot has changed, this season feels so much worse than the last few. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m just tired of the constant go-go-go of it all.

Before Daniel asked if I missed writing during the season, I hadn’t really thought about it. For so long this career has been my life. My entire personality. Since I was young, I’ve been hell-bent on being independent. I can take care of myself—as well as the forty men on the roster and Beckett Langfield—thank you very much.

I never wanted to be like my mom—dependent on the man she was with at the time to pay the bills. Dependent on him to make her happy. No man or woman will ever be responsible for my joy, for my wellbeing. I’m more than capable of shaping my life into what I want it to look like all by myself.

But this job has lost its luster. Especially since I’m selling a pretty impressive number of books each month. Though it seems unbelievable, I think that if I could keep up with the readers’ demands, I could support myself solely on what I make as an author.

But what would that even look like? I’ve never been a homebody. I can’t imagine the company of nothing but a computer and a cup of coffee day in and day out would be enough.

If my career didn’t satisfy me, then would I fall into the rut my mother found herself in? Always searching for something more? So far, I’ve done well at trying to have a little less. Do I really want to risk throwing my life off balance?

Sighing, I push the thought from my mind and focus on my friend. “Why doesn’t your phone go off at all hours like mine? The guys on the hockey team can’t really be that much better behaved than my players.”

“Brooks just glares at them.” Sara shrugs and stabs at her salad. “It doesn’t hurt that because we’re engaged, I’m always around the guys. They can’t get away with anything, and I’m always sure to throw my two cents in before they disappear with a random puck bunny who has drama written all over her.”

Suddenly my appetite has vanished. “Hall and Snow must keep you busy.”

Sara’s fork pauses halfway to her mouth, and her lips quirk up. “You fishing for information? Thinking of going in for a repeat?”

Head dropped back, I bark out a laugh. Instantly, the tension I’ve been holding in my shoulders dissipates. God, that felt good. I swipe at the tears that form in my eyes. “I don’t do repeats.”

“Well, either way, no, they don’t keep me particularly busy. Hall’s been suspiciously quiet this year. They’re all a little on edge with the season coming to such an early end.”

“Is Brooks upset about it?”

She hums and tilts her head from side to side. “You know, I don’t think he is. He doesn’t like losing, obviously. But I think they’re all ready for a break. Between Aiden’s depression diagnosis and then War and Ava almost losing custody of Josie,it’s been a tough year. The whole team could use a reset, you know?”

Lips pressed together, I nod.

Shit.

On top of all of that, Brooks and Aiden don’t even know yet that their sister’s return isnotgoing to be a happy one.

My phone pings again, and just like that, the tension is back. Motherfucker. I can’t control the media. Might as well suck it up and get to work fixing the team’s next disaster.

I flip the device over and unlock it, and when the headline on the screen registers, I hiss.

“Fucking Jasper.”

“What?”

“Looks like the man might have knocked a girl up.”

“This is bullshit, I swear.”Jasper Quinn stalks back and forth in front of me, his hair wild from the way he keeps tugging on it.

It’s nearly four o’clock, and dealing with his bullshit yet again just may cause me to miss the game I promised Noah I’d attend.

Though maybe it would be better if I didn’t go anyway.

No. Daniel ruined a good orgasm for me. He’s not ruining my favorite sport too.

I’ll fix Jasper’s disaster, and then I’m going to the game. Somewhere between the two, I’ll find a secluded place where I can scream my head off, because god dammit, I need that right about now.

“It would be a lot easier to believe that if you didn’t continue to fuck up.”

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