Page 95 of Pucking My Grumpy Accidental Husband
"Your mom threatened a reporter with kitchen violence," I tell Dax.
"That's my ma," he grins. "Protective as hell and twice as scary."
"You realize this book thing means more media attention, right?" Martinez asks. "More scrutiny, more people analyzing every aspect of your relationship."
"Good," I say firmly. "Let them analyze. Let them scrutinize. Because when they're done, they'll see two professionals who found each other, made each other better, and refused to apologize for it."
"And if some people still don't like it?"
"Then fuck them," Dax and I say simultaneously, which makes everyone laugh.
"Besides," I add, a new thought occurring to me. "Harrison's not done with us yet. That press conference was just the opening round. If we're going to be in a fight anyway, might as well make it worth fighting for."
"What do you mean?" Martinez asks.
"I mean Harrison's probably planning his next move right now. And when he makes it, we better be ready with something bigger than just denying his bullshit."
"Like what?"
"Like a platform. Like a voice. Like the ability to change how the entire industry thinks about relationships and professionalism." I look around the room at these men who went to war for us today. "Like the chance to make sure no other woman has to choose between being excellent and being loved."
Dax's eyes blaze with something that looks like pride and desire and determination all rolled into one devastatingly attractive package.
"About this book deal," Martinez says, his expression growing serious. "You two need to understand what you're signing up for. This isn't just one interview or one press conference. We're talking about a year-long media campaign—national book tour, television appearances, magazine interviews, speaking engagements."
My stomach clenches as the reality sinks in. "A year?"
"At minimum. Maybe longer if the book takes off. You'd be the poster couple for workplace romance, relationship equity, challenging gender norms in sports. Every relationshipmilestone, every career decision, every argument would be scrutinized by people who think they own your story."
"That's..." I swallow hard. "That's a lot of pressure."
"It's also a lot of opportunity," Rebecca's voice comes through my phone speaker as I put her on conference call. "The publisher is talking about a significant advance—enough to provide real financial security regardless of what happens with your careers. Plus speaking fees, consulting opportunities, maybe even a documentary deal."
"But the personal cost," Dax says quietly. "Having our entire relationship dissected by strangers for the next year or more..."
"There's something else you should know," Rebecca continues. "We'd want to move fast on this. Strike while the story's hot. That means interviews starting next week, writing sessions between your regular jobs, media appearances during playoff season. Your private life basically becomes public property for the foreseeable future."
The room goes silent as the weight of the decision settles over us. Financial security and the chance to create real change, versus months or years of having our relationship examined under a microscope by millions of strangers.
"We don't have to decide right now," Dax says, but I can see the conflict in his storm-gray eyes. He wants to fight for this cause as much as I do, but he's also terrified of what it might cost us personally.
"Actually, you kind of do," Rebecca says apologetically. "The publishing world moves fast. If we don't announce this partnership within the next few days, the moment will passand someone else will write the definitive book about sports relationships."
My phone buzzes with another text, this one from an unknown number:
Dr. Bennett, this is Harrison's attorney. My client would like to discuss a settlement regarding recent media statements. Please contact our office to arrange a meeting.
I show the message to Dax, whose jaw tightens dangerously.
"He wants to settle?" Martinez asks, reading over my shoulder.
"Probably trying to buy our silence before we can tell our side of the story publicly," Dax growls. "Classic intimidation tactic."
"Or he's scared," I realize, a new thought occurring to me. "Maybe he knows his leaked statements won't hold up to legal scrutiny, and he's trying to make this go away before we can expose him further."
"All the more reason to take the book deal," Jamie points out. "If Harrison's running scared, that means you two have real power here. Use it."
I look at Dax, seeing my own internal war reflected in his eyes. We could take Harrison's settlement, fade back into privacy, keep our relationship out of the public eye forever. Safe, quiet, normal.
