Page 10 of The Fine Line
“Only enough to eavesdrop on me?”
That gets her to spin around. “I wasn’t eavesdropping.”
“Bullshit, Baby Bear.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t aware you owned the hallways of the entire building,” she snaps. “Is that a new clause in the captain contract?”
I roll my lips together and tilt my head toward the press room. “I saw you in there.”
“Yes.” She gives me nothing else, but she doesn’t have to. I know she goes to every press conference she can.
She doesn’t miss a thing.
“And?” she eventually asks when I keep staring down at her.
I rub the back of my neck. “Was it as bad as I think it was?”
Her eyes stay on me longer than I expect. That look—it’s different. Makes me feel unsteady, like she’s seeing through something I hadn’t realized I was showing.
“Yes,” she says bluntly.
“Did I at least look good doing it?”
I try to keep it light, like that’ll undo whatever just passed between us.
“Do you really think you need to ask me that question?”
“No,” I exhale. “I know I did.”
She turns to leave again, and something makes me call out after her. “Cub?”
Nothing.
“Hey, Cub?” I jog a few steps to catch up, reaching for her arm. She shrugs out of my touch, spinning around.
“What, Rhett?”
“Have I already blown it?”
She exhales sharply, her feet coming to a stop, and her voice shifts—back to professional mode. “A significant portion of the fan base is very excited to see you as Captain. Your new jerseysales are already through the roof. There are a fair number of media sources bringing up your reputation, of course, and some questioning if you’re the best fit when looking at the records of other players on the team, but?—”
“I’m not asking for the analytics,” I cut her off. “I’m asking what you think.”
Her eyes bounce between mine for a long beat.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that you don’t have my vote of confidence.”
“Yeah,” I sniff. “Guess not.”
She opens her mouth like she’s going to say something else, but then her phone buzzes in her hand. She glances at the screen.
“I have to go.”
“Where are you going?” I ask, still trailing after her.
“I have a meeting.”
“About what?”
