Page 122 of The Penalty

The older man lifts an eyebrow and looks around the room at the players. “Oh really?”

“We’ll find our way back, promise.” I smile at him.

“That’s terrifying.” Coach sighs and everyone chuckles. “Porter, you’re on board with this?”

“Yes, sir. We’ll be fine.”

Coach looks around the room again, meeting everyone’s eyes. “If anyone ends up in the ER for dumb shit, is hungover in the morning, or is arrested, you’re all on my shit list.”

The room erupts in “Yes, Coach.”

He leaves, shaking his head and muttering under his breath.

“Where we going, Teddy?” Osha asks.

I send everyone the location in case we get separated on the way.

“How did you find this place?” Porter asks with suspicion I don’t appreciate.

“Uh…someone told me about it. A little birdie.”

“I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“Have some faith, my guy.” I clap him on the shoulder and lead the way.

“That makes me havelessfaith!”

That Ass: if this is a trap im gonna be mad

Top Me: It’s not a trap!

That Ass: we’re on our way

It takes a few cars, but we all manage to get to the location. I didn’t expect a brownstone but whatever.

Porter stops me with a hand on my chest. “What the hell is this?”

“Surprise! The Gods want to party with us.”

“Say what?” Shredder pushes his way through the boys.

“It’s definitely not a trap. I was promised.”

Half the team groans, and Porter drops his head back on his shoulders with a sigh.

“Teddy!” Rhys calling my name has me turning toward him with a smile. I’m trying to hold it back, but I can’t. As much as I was hoping to beat the Gods at least once this season, we didn’t.And that sucks, but it’s okay. This man, my man, is one person on the team. I’m proud of him for working as hard as he did.

I walk up the path to the deck, my teammates following slowly behind me.

“Howdy.” I tip my imaginary cowboy hat to him.

He smirks and shakes his head, but waves us in. “Come in, get a drink, relax.”

“Hey, you’re Godfrey, right?” Porter asks my boyfriend that he doesn’t know is my boyfriend.

“Yeah.”

“I’m Porter, captain of the Olympians. Where’s Wolfe?”

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