Page 90 of The Boyfriend Zone

"Easy for you to say," I replied under my breath. "You're not wearing a tie that's trying to strangle you."

Sean laughed, reaching up to slightly loosen the offending garment. "Better?"

"Marginally." I smoothed down the front of my dress shirt, still feeling oddly formal despite knowing most of the attendees. "I just don't want to embarrass you in front of your team and their families."

"Not possible," Sean assured me, pressing a brief kiss to my temple before leading me further into the room. "Besides, after your sign at Senior Night, I think they're all well aware you're my biggest fan."

"The sign was Nate's idea," I protested, though we both knew I'd enthusiastically embraced the concept once suggested. "He said it needed to be 'appropriately embarrassing' for the occasion."

"Mission accomplished," Sean grinned, nodding toward the slideshow where, sure enough, a photo of us from that night had just appeared—me on the ice with the sign draped cape-like over my shoulders, wrapped in Sean's enthusiastic embrace.

"Oh god," I groaned, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. "Who took that?"

"Ava, probably," Sean guessed, looking far too amused by my embarrassment. "She has a talent for capturing moments people would rather forget."

"Speaking of Ava," I said, scanning the room, "I should find her and deliver some well-deserved vengeance."

Before I could implement this plan, we were waylaid by Coach Barnett, who greeted Sean with a firm handshake and me with a nod that felt more approving than I'd expected.

"Sean, Lucas," he acknowledged. "Glad you could make it. Your piece on the championship game was well-written, Lucas. Captured the tension without being melodramatic. Good work."

"Thank you, sir," I managed, thrown by the unexpected praise. Coach had always been professional but distant in our interactions, maintaining a careful boundary between his team and the press.

"You earned it," he said simply, before turning back to Sean. "How's the shoulder?"

"Much better," Sean reported. "Another week of rest and I should be cleared for normal activities."

"Good, good." Coach nodded, a hint of genuine warmth breaking through his typically stoic expression. "Enjoy the evening, both of you. You deserve to celebrate."

As he moved on to greet other guests, I turned to Sean with raised eyebrows. "Did Coach Barnett just approve of me?"

"Told you," Sean grinned, guiding me toward our assigned table near the front. "Everyone already likes you. I'm the one who had to win them over after being an ass to you at the beginning."

"Ancient history," I waved dismissively, though the memory of those early, tense interactions now held a certain nostalgic charm. It was hard to believe that the guarded, almost hostile athlete I'd first interviewed was the same person now holding my chair for me with a tender smile.

Dinner progressed pleasantly, with speeches from the university president, the athletic director, and finally, Coach Barnett, each praising the team's dedication and accomplishments. The atmosphere was warm and celebratory, a fitting capstone to the championship season.

As dessert was being served, Zach suddenly stood, tapping his fork against his glass to draw attention. "If I could have everyone's attention for a moment," he announced, a mischievous glint in his eye that immediately set off warning bells.

"Oh no," Sean muttered beside me. "This can't be good."

"I'd like to say a few words about our graduating seniors," Zach continued, "particularly my good friend and flat mate, Sean Mitchell over there."

All eyes turned to our table, where Sean was attempting to look both appreciative and wary—not an easy combination to pull off.

"Now, I've had the pleasure of living with Sean for three years," Zach began, "and I can tell you, there's more to him than meets the eye. For instance, did you know he's secretly a drama queen?"

A ripple of laughter went through the room as Sean groaned softly beside me.

"No, really," Zach insisted. "Think about it. Gets injured, hides it for weeks, then stages this miraculous comeback just in time for the championship run? Talk about a flair for the dramatic! The man wanted a storyline worthy of a Hallmark movie!"

The laughter increased, and I found myself joining in despite Sean's mock-glare in my direction.

"But that's not even the most committed thing he did this season," Zach continued, warming to his theme. "No, the real dedication was finding himself a boyfriend just to improve team dynamics. That's right, ladies and gentlemen—Sean Mitchell went out and got himself a relationship purely for the sake of the team."

I covered my face with my hands in mock embarrassment as the room erupted in cheers and laughter. Sean shook his head, shoulders shaking with suppressed mirth.

"Look at them now," Zach gestured toward us with a dramatic flourish. "Disgustingly happy. The power of positive thinking, folks. And excellent taste in partners, if I do say so myself."

---