Page 51 of Hot Receiver

Not today.

Not now.

Not fucking ever.

It’s behind me. Buried.

“I’m gearing up for the game. Just like everyone else.” My lips pull into a tight smile.

Jake nods and casts a curious look at Ryan, who’s moving toward the buffet of food set up along the back of the box. “I hope you considered what we talked about. As the owner, you set the tone for the team and the performance. They need you, Zak.”

My fingers tingle at my sides. I really want to punch him in the face.

Anything to stop him from talking.

“These guys are paid a shit ton of money to do a job,whether or not I’m involved. They don’t need a pep talk from me to win a game.”

“You’d better hope so. Today isn’t important from a stats perspective, but it gives the world a first glimpse of the team. You know sportscasters form opinions early. The team needs to pull it together, especially for the Raptors. Because if things go south today, the media won’t care about pointing fingers at anyone but you. And I don’t think you want to be the scapegoat here.”

I swallow hard, tiny prickles of anxiety piercing my chest.

The Raptors… and their All-American running back, Brett fucking Travers.

I’m not sure if Jake says anything else after that. All I can hear is that name thrashing between my ears the way my heart pummels the side of my ribcage in a frenzy.

Jake moves past me, clearly finished with his speech, and glad hands some other guys in the box. I walk over to Ryan, my mouth dry. Clearing my throat, I twist the cap off a bottle of water and guzzle it. Like I really needed anything else to make this day more stressful.

“Listen, hang out here for a while, okay? Eat, drink. But don’t tell anyone where I’m going.”

“You got it, boss.” Ryan grins, then stuffs a forkful of salad into his mouth. “You can count on me to be discreet as fuck.”

I smile at my top hedge fund manager and one of my trusted colleagues. “I’m pretty sure everyone will want to know more about you than me, anyway.”

And I planned it that way, too. Parading Ryan through here, allowing us to be photographed by the paparazzi. My hope is that it’ll take the eyes off me and focus them on him.

Let the world speculate about my romantic life while I clear the air with my new team.

Not because Jake or Marc strongly recommended it.

But because it’s my dad’s legacy, and I need to do it for him. He won’t ever be able to watch his team play, scream from the sidelines, or celebrate the wins.

I can do it for him, though. I can do everything in my power to make sure those wins happen, to give the team the boost I know Dad would.

With all the newfound clarity from my therapy session with Dr. Forest, I know it’s my only way forward. It’s time to put the past behind me, and that includes Matt Harrison.

I have the power to shape my future. I don’t need to be a victim to the past anymore. Dr. Forest was right. Self-acceptance is my greatest strength. And the strength that I need is already inside of me. I just need to channel it.

What better way to start than by giving my new team the support and encouragement they’ve been lacking?

I repeat the thoughts over and over, making them my new mantra, as I slow to a stop in front of the elevator.

The elevator doors open after a few seconds, and I stab the button to take me down to the lower level of the stadium. As soon as the doors creak open, my eyes are assaulted by flashing camera lights. I barely have a chance to step off the elevator before questions are pelted at me from all directions.

Fuck, why did I ever think I could fly under the damn radar on my own turf?

“Mr. Kacey, how do you feel about the upcoming season?”

“Do you think the players will be impacted by all the controversy about you in the media?”

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