Page 8 of The Puck Contract

"Mateo, this is Brad Harrison and Elaine Choi from Kingsport," I introduce. "This is Mateo Rossi, my boyfriend."

Mateo shakes their hands with perfect politeness. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," Harrison says, studying Mateo with calculating eyes. "Ansel tells us you're a student?"

"Anthropology at State," Mateo confirms. "Junior year."

"Fascinating," Choi says in a tone that suggests it's anything but. "And how did you two meet?"

"Mutual friends," we say in unison, then exchange a quick glance that probably looks like cute couple synchronicity but is actually mutual relief at getting our story straight.

"Mateo was friends with my teammate Ace's boyfriend," I elaborate, building on our agreed-upon backstory. "We met at a team barbecue last summer."

"But only started dating recently," Mateo adds, then looks at me with a smile that seems so genuine I almost believe it myself. "Sometimes the right person is right in front of you, but it takes time to realize it."

Harrison and Choi exchange a look I can't quite interpret. "Well, we won't keep you from enjoying the party," Harrison says. "Ansel, we'll be in touch."

They glide away, and I release a breath that’s been trapped for way too long.

"How'd I do?" Mateo whispers.

"Perfect," I assure him. "That bit about the right person being right in front of you? Nice touch."

He grins. "I watch a lot of rom-coms. Figured it sounded believable."

"Very believable. You're a natural at this."

"At lying, you mean?" His smile falters slightly.

"At adapting," I correct. "Big difference."

Before he can respond, Washington appears with his wife Leila, a stunning woman who somehow manages to wrangle both a successful law practice and their two kids.

"Mateo! We've been looking for you," Washington says. "My wife wanted to meet the man who's finally tamed our Groover."

Leila extends her hand with a warm smile. "I've heard so much about you."

Mateo looks momentarily panicked—since no one had heard anything about him until tonight—but recovers quickly. "All good things, I hope."

"Marcus says you're in anthropology? My sister studied that at UCLA."

And just like that, Mateo is swept into a conversation about academic disciplines while Washington pulls me aside.

"He seems great," Cap says quietly. "Different from your usual type, but in a good way."

I raise an eyebrow. "I have a type?"

"Yeah. Emotionally unavailable pretty boys who disappear after two weeks." He glances at Mateo, who's animatedly explaining something to Leila. "This one seems like he might stick around."

The observation hits me with unexpected force. Because Mateo won't stick around—that's the whole point of this arrangement. Three months, and then a clean break once Kingsport signs the deal.

"Yeah, well, early days," I mutter.

Washington gives me a knowing look. "Just saying, it's nice to see you with someone who actually seems interested in you, not just the NHL player part."

I'm saved from responding by a commotion near the entrance. A swarm of reporters has broken through the event security and is now spreading through the ballroom like a plague of locusts with press badges.

"Shit," I mutter. "Mateo, we need to—"

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