Page 155 of Off Camera
“I have to thank you.” She laughs into my shoulder, and I fucking love that sound. I’d do anything to hear it again. “The Thunderhawks’ account would be what it is without you. You made me want to work harder. Your DMs were the highlight of my day, and I love that you give me shit.”
“Worth it,” I tell her. “Worth it to see you happy. Worth it to see you get the recognition you deserve. Worth it to have been on this journey with you from the very beginning.”
“Do you think I should send Andrew a care package with a note that says ‘fuck you very much’?”
“I’ll drive it to New York myself.” I set her on the ground. “You really do deserve this, Ave.”
“What happens to your bet?” Emmy asks. “You each won a part of it.”
I look at Avery. There’s a smirk on her mouth, and I bend down to kiss her. “Call it even?” I suggest.
“No way.” She tugs on my shirt, lips on mine again. “We’re just getting started.”
FORTY-FOUR
REID
“What’sthe plan for the Super Bowl?” Maven asks, cuddling up to Dallas on the couch in their apartment. She rests her head on his chest and smiles. “I know you all are taking the team plane to Pasadena, but what about the rest of us?”
“Never fear, Mae. Puck Daddy Mav is here,” Maverick chimes in, and I roll my eyes.
“No one calls you that,” I say. “No one hasevercalled you that.”
“That’s not true.” He flips me off and drapes his arm around Emmy’s shoulders. “There’s a whole thread on the internet dedicated to my nicknames.”
“Are you sure you didn’t make the thread yourself?” Emmy asks. “Seems like something you would do.”
“Fuck me, I guess.” He pouts and scoots away from her. “Iwasgoing to mention the private jet I chartered to get us out west, but you assholes can get there on your own.”
“Wait! What if I’m an innocent bystander? Can I still come on the jet?” Avery asks.
“Yes. Only Avery is allowed,” he tells all of us. “And June Bug too. The rest of you can drive or take the train. Maybe the bus.”
“Careful,” I murmur in Avery’s ear. “Being stuck in a metal tube with him for six hours might be a new level of hell.”
“I can hear you, dickbag.” Maverick throws a pillow at me, and I block it from hitting Avery in the face. “I hope you have to fly economy.”
“Almost hurt my girlfriend again, and we’re going to have a problem,” I warn him.
“Oh.” Avery tugs on my shirt. “That was hot. I didn’t know I was into nerds who were protective of their women.”
“Guess that means I need to do it more often.”
My phone buzzes with a notification at the same time as Avery’s. I look at her and roll my eyes. “You didn’t tag me in something when I’m sitting right next to you, did you?”
“I thought we were past that, Duncan,” she says, tapping her screen. “Holy fucking shit.”
“What?” I glance over her shoulder. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“You know how Griffin Harrison announced next season will be his last year and inked a huge broadcasting gig that’s worth more than he ever made playing?” Avery asks.
“Yeah. Ten years, three hundred million dollars. It’s fucking insanity.”
“That might be in jeopardy now.” She turns her phone so I can read the alert she’s showing me. “His OnlyFans account got hacked. Turns out he’s been sending money to some girl for months now. She’s the only one he follows on there, and one of the tips he left was four thousand dollars. Oh, shit. Some of their messages got leaked too.”
“What?” Dallas jumps up and grabs the phone from Avery. “No fucking way. Griffin barely talks to anyone. I’ve seen him smile three times, and I’ve played next to him for months.”
“Wait, why is this a big deal?” Maven asks. “Whoever this girl is, she’s legal, right? Who gives a shit who the guy is sendinghis money to. I wish I had that kind of cash to dole out to hot women.”
