Page 60 of Ruck Me Harder

“I don’t think he likes this very much,” Al teases, slinging his arm around my shoulder.

Tony’s eyes meet mine and his hard glare softens. I’m not about the jealousy game. I never want him to question exactly how I feel about him.

Shrugging off Al’s arm, I make my way into the kitchen, wrapping my arms around Tony’s waist from behind. He leans back into me, turning his head so he can kiss me.

“Hey.” His voice rumbles through me. “You made it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “Whatcha making?”

“Chicken fajitas.” His shoulder lifts beneath my chin as he stirs the peppers and onions.

“Smells good.” I breathe him in, his familiar, spicy scent undercut by fragrant garlic and cumin.

“Can I get you a drink?”

“I’m good for now, thanks.” I’m content to watch him cook, but it’s not really safe to cling to him like a barnacle, so I move to the kitchen barstools.

Cari slides onto the stool beside mine. We had a good practice today. The team is really gelling and we’re starting to nail the plays. We’re still in the reconditioning period, where everyone is getting used to the intense physicality of the sport again. Not all of us had summer off for the Sevens season, so the few of us who did compete are still in pretty decent shape, but it takes a while to get back into the groove of things.

Our first match isn’t until early February. We’ve got plenty of time to get dialed in.

Al plops down at the kitchen table, looking at his phone. He makes a surprised noise.

“What’s wrong?” Cari asks her brother.

“My agent just got an offer from Pump It Up Protein,” Al says slowly. His eyes flit to mine, then Tony’s. “He’s asking if you have an agent, Car.”

“Not yet. I don’t think I need one.”

She had a couple of Name, Image, and Likeness deals in college, but she managed them on her own. I don’t think she’s done any sort of endorsement since graduating last spring.

Al laughs. “Well, you better sign, quick. They want to do a Gonzales family promotion campaign.”

Tony whips his head around. “They want to do what?”

“They’re highlighting the fact that all three of us are professional athletes.” Al shakes his head. “They specifically mentioned your promotion with them.”

“Did you sign the contract?” I ask my boyfriend, who nods.

“When I made the team this morning, I called Alycia and she sent over the contract. We’re all set.”

My smile stretches from ear to ear. As much as I’m happy about the endorsement campaign for my own selfish reasons, I’m happy for him too. I want him to receive the recognition he so clearly deserves for how hard he works.

“This could be life changing for you guys. I know the money is only part of it, the exposure opportunities are huge. This is only the start.” I wholeheartedly believe that. This could bring them to a whole new level. Alycia is a bulldog and will reach out to everyone to help get him opportunities. He can earn enough to pay for vet school.

“Do you do campaigns with your brothers?” Cari asks me.

“I did one with the twins for Pump It Up and I did another with Janine for an airline. She’s the swimmer,” I explain. “We did a few campaigns before the last Olympics, since we were both there. The press loved the sisters competing together, not against each other storyline.”

Janine did not have a good Olympic experience. She didn’t qualify for her best event, and the one she did qualify for, she didn’t win any medals. She likes to say just getting there was an accomplishment, and it is, but I know she’s on the quest for redemption. She’s ready to prove all the doubters wrong. I couldn’t be more ready to watch her dominate her field.

Al hums. “So you think we should do it?”

I shrug. “It’s up to the three of you. Pump It Up is a brand I actually believe in. They pay well, they treat me right, and I genuinely like the product.”

“She has, like, seventy different protein powders from them,” Tony comments from the stove.

I smile. It’s not that many. “It’s not a hardship to work with them.”