Page 25 of Forever Relentless

“Morning.”

“You’re late.”

“I don’t think so.” I bit my tongue. I wasn’t supposed to be challenging, but after one conversation with Noah Matthews, I’d forgotten the role I was playing.

“The guys were here at six.”

I waited. I’d never been here at six. I didn’t need to be here at that time.

“We want you to shoot certain stuff for us.” He started to walk away, and I took that as my cue to follow him.

Dante Spence, Dustin Slater, Noah Matthews, and Jason Moore were all sitting on the sidelines. I refused to make eye contact with any of them. A week ago there had been a professional distance. Today, it felt like something else entirely.

“As you know, these are the Lions’ stars—” Kevin started.

“Not just us,” Dante cut in smoothly. “The first team behind you are all stars.”

I saw Kevin roll his eyes. “She isn’t rolling. You aren’t on camera. You can stop with the BS.”

I glanced at the QB, saw the slight tightening around his eyes, confirming what I already suspected. He wasn’t bullshitting.

“Coach wants each of them in the new away jersey for sneak peeks of what’s coming. The spring game is soon. We want new merchandise available.” Kevin looked at me. “He said you’d be able to do this.”

“I’m a social media content creator,” I told him, keeping my gaze on his hip, not his eyes. “If you want an actual media shoot, I suggest hiring a photographer.”

Kevin rolled his eyes again. “Coach said you were to do it — Media. Just get it done. Spence, tell her what we need.” He walked away, leaving me with the four ‘stars’.

“I’ll talk to Coach Hembry,” Dante said as he stood. “Hey, Jason, I need a word with you anyway.”

“Sure.”

The tall tight end unfurled himself from the bench. He was six-five, built wide, with a trim waist and biceps that invited drool-inducing tendencies. His dark skin was made darker by his sleeves of tattoos, but they suited him. Tight cornrows in an intricate pattern set off the sharp angles of his face.

He was amazingly photogenic and a fun guy. I’d taken a ton of his images for the content creation I was doing, and he’d been really helpful and friendly throughout. Zero douchebag ratings for Moore. His own social media following was insane; he knew how to play to the market.

I looked at Dustin and Noah, who were watching me. Unlike Jason, these two could improve their social media presence. Well, not Dustin so much. He knew the game. Matthews, on the other hand, was quite clearly not interested in social anything. He was so similar to my brother in certain things, it wasn’t funny.

“Have you seen the new uniforms?” I asked, aware that Kevin was talking to Coach Sutherland and pointing at me.

“It’s shit,” Dustin said flatly. “We’re the Blues, the Alabama Lions. Blue and white at home. White and blue away.”

“I’m going to guess it’s not blue?” I joked lightly. “Or white?”

“It’s yellow,” Dustin said flatly.

I glanced at Noah, who was watching me. “Yellow?”

He nodded grimly. “Yellow jersey, yellow pants.” He exchanged a look with Dustin. “Bright yellow. We’re going to look like giant bananas.”

I snorted out a laugh, my hand flying up to cover my mouth as they both looked at me, wearing identical frowns.

“I wasn’t expecting a banana reference.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, remembered where I was, and pulled it back out.

“You don’t look like him,” Noah said quietly. “I mean, you do, but it’s been, what, four years since he was here? It would be hard to place you.”

I swallowed. “Better safe than sorry.” My hands gripped my camera. I saw movement — Coach Sutherland was heading my way. “Fuck.” I raised my voice so it carried further. “Well, I better see you in your new skins.”

Dustin caught on immediately, his smile wide at my pun. “Alright, we’ll change. Then where do you want us?”