I dragged a hand over the back of my neck, trying to shove football back into the front of my brain, but my patience was shot.
I didn’t want to give the asshole any more space in my head. I made a promise to myself that I would keep my distance and let my attorney handle everything. That was easier said than done. Brian knew how to push my buttons and didn’t know when to quit.
The conversation slowly shifted back to football. Jax and Ryder started bickering over a rookie who missed a block at practice and ran the wrong route.
I had barely settled myself back down when someone approached me from the side.
“Evening, gentlemen. How’s it going?”
I turned around slightly on my stool. Becca’s coworker, an older guy with slicked-back white hair and mustache to match, planted himself against the bar, like he’d been invited over for a drink.
Jax gave him a polite nod. “Evening, Joe. Didn’t know you were on duty this weekend.”
Joe chuckled, his belly shaking, and acting like that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “I’m always on duty.” He waved the bartender over. “I’ll have a Canadian Club on the rocks.”Then he turned around. “You fellas ready for the big game tomorrow?”
Jax leaned back, stretching his arms. “We’re always ready.”
His gaze drifted over to me. “How is the one-on-one going?”
“Fine. Why?”
He let out a hefty laugh. “Becca is an ambitious gal. She can get a little carried away sometimes, so if she gives you any trouble, you let me know, and I’ll handle it.”
There was something in his tone that was dismissive and condescending, which I didn’t like. Judging by the look Jax and Ryder exchanged, they didn’t either.
My grip tightened on my glass. “If I have any issues, I’ll take it up with her directly. I’m pretty sure she can hold her own.”
“Indeed, she can.” He smirked. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, she has a pretty face and gets doors open, but she’s still learning what to do once she’s inside. Those looks will only get you so far, if you know what I mean.” He winked.
A slow burn spread through my chest. I was pissed at how easily he was undercutting her. Jax and Ryder shifted beside me, sensing my dislike for this asshole reporting dinosaur.
I set my drink down carefully. “Becca is good at her job. Her looks have nothing to do with it.”
“Oh, I’m sure if you looked at her résumé, she has the credentials,” he said, not sounding very convinced. “But the industry sure has changed since I first started. Used to be about experience. Now, it’s more about appearance. Do you really think she would have gotten the job if she didn’t look the way she does?”
I tilted my head to the side, feeling my jaw tighten. “Becca wouldn’t have a seat in the press room if she weren’t qualified. It sounds to me like you don’t give her enough credit. Maybe it’s you who needs to hustle a bit more, Joe.”
He chuckled under his breath, like he didn’t know what to do with himself. “She’s a hard worker but still has a lot to learn.” He tipped his cheap whiskey back and pushed his protruding belly away from the bar. “Enjoy your evening, boys. Good luck tomorrow.”
Jax whistled once he was out of earshot. “Damn. That dude is a piece of work.”
Ryder smirked. “I do love how you came to her defense.”
“He was out of line.” I scoffed. And what the fuck was it with these assholes tonight?
Ryder barked out a laugh. “You defended her like she was your girl.”
“She’s not my girl.”
“Yet,” Jax said, clinking his glass with Ryder's.
Thankfully, the conversation shifted back to the game tomorrow. Chicago had one of the best defensive teams in our division. We knew we were the underdogs, and if anything, that gave us the motivation to prove the critics wrong.
The guys and I lingered a bit longer before people started peeling away one by one toward the elevators.
“All right, ladies, I’m out. Stay out of trouble.”
“You’re bailing already?” Ryder groaned. “C’mon, man. Fifteen minutes, then you can go to your room and do your crossword puzzles before bed.”
