Page 36 of Puck Off, She’s Mine

"Oh, really? Interesting, considering that there's more gossip going around about you right now."

"Really? How strange."

"Mmhmm. Did you know you rushed into a burning building to rescue children yesterday?"

"Sounds like something I'd do."

"Phoenix!" she cries through laughter. "You went from a drug-dealing future convict to a hero who rushes into burning buildings in the space of a week. Stop spreading rumors about yourself and fess up already!"

"I told you already, baby," I murmur, grinning like a fucking idiot, "I'm not rich enough to answer expensive questions yet. I'll let you know when I am."

"It better be soon," she grumbles.

"I hope so, gorgeous. Christ, I hope so."

Chapter Ten

Cara

"Did you hear?" Corey asks, strolling up to me with a shit-eating grin on his face on Friday.

"Hear what?" I ask, tucking my phone into my pocket.

"The rumors."

I narrow my eyes at him, growling like a wild animal. It's the only response I have because, yes, I've heard the rumors. All nineteen of them, actually. They're flying around the arena like a freaking cold, and every single one is more ridiculous than the last.

Phoenix has gone from a drug dealer on his way to prison to a hero who saved five children from a burning building to a secret billionaire to the next Sexiest Man Alive in the space of a few short days. Frankly, I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by his ingenuity or by how quickly fake gossip travels around here.

Somehow, he's still managed to avoid fessing up to any of them. Though that's less of a mystery than how fast he's managed to spread them. He's crafty, I'll give him that. Every single damn time I try to bring up the subject, I magically end up naked. The practice arena has seen more of my ass than any practice arena rightly should.

"So…you have heard?" Corey asks, eyeing me sideways.

"Heard what today?" I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. Seriously. We have got to do something about this. Phoenix is having way too much fun at my expense. "Was he nominated for the Nobel Prize? Is he running for Congress? Has he adopted an orphanage full of starving children? Cured cancer? Ensured world peace?"

"Uh…no? His dad is in town."

"Uh-huh. And they both won Sexiest Man Alive, right?"

Corey blinks at me and then chuckles. "So, you heard that one, huh?"

"Yep, I heard it."

"I'm serious about this one," he says. "Papa Michaud is in town."

"Right," I grumble, shaking my head. "And I'm sure they probably saved a kitten from a tree on the way to… Holy shit." I gape down the hall, not sure if I'm seeing things or if Phoenix and his dad really are standing there with Coach Mitch, their big bodies taking up the whole damn hallway.

"Told you," Corey says, chuckling when he follows my gaze.

I gulp, my mouth too dry to offer a suitable retort. All I can do is stare in shock. Phoenix's dad is here. Not in town, but here right now. They look so much alike, it's unreal.

Phoenix shifts as if he's going to turn in my direction.

"Um…I gotta…" I don't even finish the sentence before I basically sprint in the opposite direction, my heart pounding so hard it's the only thing I hear. I don't think I breathe until I'm around the corner, bursting out into the bright sunlight.

Jesus Christ. Phoenix's dad is here.

What is he doing here? Is it the rumors? No, of course not. That'd be ridiculous. Is it because Phoenix is benched? God, that has to be it. Jonas is here because Phoenix is riding the bench.