Page 73 of Just Say Yes

Her smile bloomed, soft and genuine.

I held out my arm. “Ready?”

“Let me grab my coat,” she said.

I shook my head again. “No need. Nivori is inside the hotel.”

With her hand tucked into the nook of my arm, we left our suite and rode the elevator to the mezzanine level, where the restaurant was located. I gave my name to the host at the stand, and we were escorted through the restaurant to a private dining area. Most of my teammates were already there, laughing and talking over one another.

MJ was shy at my side. I hadn’t introduced her to any of my teammates yet, and when we walked through the door, all eyes shifted their attention to us. Thankfully, Maria cut the tension by standing and eagerly waving us over.

The way she smiled at Maria made my chest feel too tight. She was already weaving her way into the lives of the people around me, and I didn’t know how to stop it—or if I even wanted to.

MJ smiled at me as I pulled out her seat and took the spot next to her.

The lighting was low and moody. Stars twinkled on an inky black sky through the panoramic windows. We were seated at one of two round tables, and another long table stood across from us. The sheer mass of a team of rugby players plus their spouses and guests made the space shrink.

I overheard a young teammate talk about plans for finding a bar or club after dinner. I leaned toward him. “Take it easy tonight. Tomorrow’s a big game. The Reapers won’t be hungover, and neither should you.”

The young fullback stifled an eye roll. “I’ll be fine, old man.”

Old man?The jab stung and I scowled.When did I become the old man of the team? Cocky older brother, sure, butold man?

I focused my attention on MJ, who was smiling and listening to a story Maria was telling. She didn’t even realize how effortlessly she’d slid into the conversation, laughing at Maria’s jokes and asking thoughtful questions. The team loved her already, and watching her charm them made my chest swell with pride—and dread. Trent had no idea what he’d lost, and the thought of him ever coming close to her made my blood boil.

The waitstaff offered drinks and appetizers—spiced edamame, pan-seared shishito peppers, and Japanese cucumber salad in a soy vinaigrette. Platters of ornate sushi, crispy rice, and thinly sliced Wagyu beef tartare were passed. Thankfully the staff understood the clientele they were serving, because the sheer volume of food consumed was staggering.

An hour flew by as conversations overlapped—stories of brutal injuries, heroic plays, and missed calls. Excitement and anticipation of tomorrow’s game were palpable. I had done my job at the Captain’s Run.

They were ready to kick some ass.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I glanced at it to see Trent’s name flash across the screen. I’d been waiting to connect with him and MJ was still wrapped up in a story, so I stood, brushing my fingertips across her shoulder.

I silently gestured at my phone, and she nodded.

I took a few steps away from the crowd and answered. “About time, man.”

He scoffed. “Don’t bust my balls, Mav.”

It was loud in the confined space, so I left the room in search of a quiet area. The fact that Trent had taken so long to call me back had grated on my nerves.

Was he avoiding me? Had he caught wind that MJ and I had—hell, I didn’t even know what to call it—fooled around?

“What’s up, brother?” Trent asked.

“Just checking in, man. It’s been a while. What’s new?” I asked, trying to gauge the conversation. It was loud wherever he was, and the din of chatter behind me wasn’t helping. I stuffed a finger in my ear and tried to listen.

“Ah, the usual. Kicking ass and taking names. Heard your exhibition season was off to a rough start.” His words were garbled, but I think I got most of it.

Frustrated, I pressed the speaker button on the phone. “Can you hear me?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I’m out,” he shouted.

I rolled my eyes. Trent had calledme, but it was nearly impossible to hear him over the background noise.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Do you remember that redhead, Stacy? The one with the huge tits.” He laughed, and it was clear he’d already been drinking. I looked around, glad no one had overheard his crass comment, and slipped into a dark hallway that led to the bathrooms and staff area.

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