"I'm not going."
"Coach was very specific. He said, and I quote the message directly,'Tell Declan if he tries to skip this, I will personally duct-tape him to a chair and livestream it.'"
Beck howls with laughter. "Oh, I like Pearson sometimes. He's funny when he's annoyed."
Fuck.
I know I'm not getting out of this. Coach's been riding my ass since the meeting, and if I skip the first real thing Josie's organized since she got here, he'll make my life a living hell.
Josie.
Just thinking her name sends a complicated jolt through my chest. I haven't seen her since the dog incident on the boardwalk. Haven't talked to her. Haven't done anything except replay that moment in the conference room on an endless loop in my head.
The way she looked at me. The way shedidn'tlook at me.
Like I was nothing.
Like that night never happened.
Deep down, I know that's the part that's really eating at me, isn't it?
Not the awkwardness. Not the fact that she's still probably the sexiest person I've ever met in my life.
It's the fact that she's been here for nearly a week, and still, she hasn't said a damnwordabout what happened between us.
Not even a glance. Not a single flicker of recognition that would acknowledge that I was inside her, that I made her come so hard she screamed bloody mercy into the hotel pillow.
I shift on the lounge chair, my jeans suddenly uncomfortable.
"Oh yeah, I heard about thismediathing," Beck says, stretching his arms above his head. "Apparently she's been running around the building all morning, setting up for some big training thing. Travis Campbell and Finn told me she's got a whole presentation planned. Slideshows. Role-playing scenarios. The works."
"Role-playing?" Mason raises an eyebrow. "Like, improv?"
"Like, 'pretend you're being interviewed by a hostile reporter and don't say anything that'll get us sued.'" Beck grins. "I'm gonna beamazingat it. Naturally."
I drain the rest of my beer and stand, the lounge chair creaking in protest. "Fine. I'll go. But I'm not participating."
"Sure you're not." Beck's voice is singsong. "You're just gonna sit there and grunt. Real productive."
"I'm the captain. And you jerks should be following my example."
"Then lead the way, Cap. Show us how it's done."
I grab my keys off the outdoor table, ignoring the way Biscuit looks up at me with those big brown eyes.
"Don't even think about sleeping in my bed," I tell the dog as I stalk back inside.
"He wouldn't dream of it!" Beck calls after me. "But hey, wait up! We're coming too. Can't let our captain face the media wolves alone, right?"
I freeze mid-stride, turning to see both Beck and Mason getting to their feet, Biscuit trotting after them.
Beck's grin is audible even without looking at him. "Besides, wouldn't want you to haveallthe fun with Josie."
Fucking hell.
The Bear Cave is buzzing with activity when I push through the player's entrance.
And I meanbuzzing.
