Page 24 of Match Penalty

"Autumn would love that. And what about if we turned those items into a live event?" I suggest. "We could make the whole experience more interactive."

Brynn's eyes light up. "Oh! What a great idea. Though the Santa lights might be off the table. I doubt Coach Haynes wants his players on slippery ladders."

I turn to JP. "Do you think they'd do it?"

He thinks for a second as he finishes a bite of food. "Probably. It’s for a good cause, and there are a lot of players on the team who’d eat up the attention of marching onto a stage while people bid on them."

Brynn does a fist bump into the air with her chopsticks. "Perfect. Oh my God, Autumn is going to freak out when she hears about this. We'll have to ask Juliet to rent a bigger stage for the event. Would a catwalk be too much to ask?"

"Yes," JP and I say in unison, chuckling.

Juliet is Coach Haynes' wife and the official event planner for the Hawkeyes, along with many other sports teams around Seattle.

I clear my throat and look back over the list on my notepad. "What should we ask the players to donate?"

"I could donate dinner with a player," JP says.

My stomach drops at the thought of someone else getting a night with JP.

"No," I say instantly, without thinking. "What I meant to say was that I’m sure we can find something unique to you that you could offer instead. Leave the dates to some of the other guys."

JP’s eyes stay on me as he finished his bite. If he saw through that, he’s not saying, but he certainly is thinking something.

"I bet Luka and Hunter would love the idea of walking on a stage and having women beating each other with bid paddles to get a date with one of them," Brynn adds.

"What about a slapshot challenge?" JP suggests. "During the event?"

I pause, chopsticks hovering over my food. "Go on."

"It’s simple. Guests make a donation, and they get three shots to score past the goalie." His eyes light up as he explains. "Bozeman and I could trade off covering goalie as long as Dr. Hensen clears him in time. It'll be interactive, and anyone can do it."

Brynn claps her hands together, nearly spilling her wine. "I love it! People will eat that up."

"Not bad," I admit reluctantly, though my mind is already running with possibilities.

His grin widens. "Not bad? I think it’s genius."

I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the corner of my mouth from twitching. We fall into an easy rhythm, bouncing more ideas back and forth. JP's actually helpful, suggesting things I wouldn’t have thought of.

Before I know it, I find myself leaning closer to JP, riffing off of each other's ideas. Adding all of our ideas onto a shared notes app that Brynn and I have been using.

When I look over to Brynn, I see a sparkle in her eye, as if she's been watching us.

"Oh, look at that. Seven just texted and needs me to come home and help with Milo," she says.

"Brynn, your phone's on the coffee table. And it hasn't gone off in over an hour,” I remind her.

"Oh right," she says, biting the inside of her lip. "It's more like momma telepathy. Turns out I’m good at that,” she says, sending a wink in JP direction. “I should go.”

I know it's an excuse—Milo's fine with my dad—but before I can stop her, she's gathering her things.

She stands up, swiping her phone off the coffee table and taking her wine glass and empty food container to the kitchen.

"Do you need a ride home? I can take you if you want?" JP offers.

He's seen the empty bottle of wine that Brynn and I split, and the offer to make sure she gets home safe isn't lost on me.

"No need, and don't stop on my account. You two are on a roll," she says, sending off a text. "I live just across the street, and I sent a text to Seven. He'll be watching for me."

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