Page 81 of No Wrong Moves

“Noooo,” I gasped, shaking my head. “You can’t be serious?” My tone seesawed somewhere between concern and edging-on-hysterical amusement.

“Damn straight I am. The guy wasn’t lying about being an organized freak of nature.”

“Really?” I struggled to marry that information to what I knew about Cassius.

“Yeah, really. Surprised the shit out of me a time or two.”

“Okay.” I winced as the word left me, not sure I’d be prepared for what I was getting myself into.

“Excellent.” He stepped away, grabbing his cell from the table, his gaze landing on the collapsed chair. “Do you mind…?”

I waved him off. “It’s fine. I’ll do this. You go deal with whatever Cass is doing.” I glanced at the time on my watch. “We don’t have to leave for another three hours.”

“Thanks.” He backed away, moving his cell to his ear.

“Pearce,” I called. When he stopped and peered back at me, I said, “Do we need to, I don’t know, rein him in or anything? Give him a ‘hell fucking no’ list?”

“Nah.” He scrunched his nose and shook his head. “Leave this with me.”

And then he left me standing over the broken chair, hoping like hell Cassius’s idea of a quiet wedding wasn’t one that would give me nightmares.

CHAPTER22

PEARCE

While Coach had listenedto what I had to say, I wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t interested in me breaking my contract. I tried to see his no as an ego boost and clasp tightly to his praise for the strong season we’d had and how essential I was to the team and next season.

Fuck, it sucked, but unless Rick managed to come up with a spectacular offer from the Jetts that Coach would be interested in, I’d need to swallow down my disappointment and make this year a killer one.

Free agency next year after an even more spectacular season would have to put me in an even better position, right?

What I hadn’t done was tell any of my teammates about my request or hope to be traded. I didn’t want to piss them off or cause any waves next season. It made joining in with the guys’ conversation a little more work, and I was beginning to think they’d started to notice.

“Who the fuck pissed in your cereal?”

Called out on my grouchy mood, I snorted. Joel frowned over at me. We’d headed to a local bar that was our main haunt for chilled drinks after our final meeting with Coach. Most of the team was here, a few taking over the pool table while the rest gathered around a few tables.

Cassius, though, was fixed to his phone, tapping away, every now and then making calls. He was in total planning mode. It was enough to have me smiling and my stomach flipping. In less than three weeks, I’d be getting married.

“Earth to Pearce.”

“Shit, sorry, man.” I glanced at Joel. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m okay.”

He studied me a beat before nodding. “If you say so. You just missing your thirst trap?”

I snorted while taking a pull of my beer, quickly covering my mouth to stop the spray. “Shit.” I coughed. “Really, thirst trap?”

Joel grinned and bounced his brows. “You know it.”

I shook my head, still smiling at my straight friend having the confidence to acknowledge how fine Eddie was. The moment of nearly choking eased some of my tension and did a decent job at pulling me out of my funk. “Yeah,” I answered, “of course I’m missing him.”

“It’s a good job we’re around to keep you entertained. When are you heading to Montview?”

“The first week in July. I’m driving down to Chicago on Sunday. Means I can get that photoshoot wrapped up and organize some other shit. What about you? You sticking around or jetting off somewhere?”

“Plan to spend some time with my family. Promised I’d take my kid sister on a vacation to celebrate her graduation.”

“You get on well with her?”

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