Page 3 of Offside Secrets
I look at Anna. “You’re his agent. Can’t you do something about this?”
She shrugs as Sawyer butts back in. “The fans loved it. Social media loved it.”
“Social media also loves raccoon videos. Doesn’t mean I’m putting one in a jersey and letting it run the power play.”
That earns a laugh from Elle. Even Campbell’s mouth twitches. Just slightly.
“Look,” I say, pinning Sawyer withthestare, “this new NHL team moving into Virginia? They’re going to bewatching us. The league’s going to be watching us. You can’t afford this reputation right now.”
Sawyer scoffs. “They’ll be lucky if they get half our talent.”
Campbell finally pushes off the wall, voice smooth, steady. “Doesn’t mean they won’t be looking for it.”
The room goes still for half a beat. His words aren’t directed at anyone in particular, but the weight of them hums in the air.
I narrow my eyes on him. “And what exactly do you mean by that, Campbell?”
He smiles—lazy, unbothered, but with a spark behind it. “Just saying, if I were running a brand-new NHL team, I’d want to snag a few names to get the fans excited. Big stage. Fresh start. That kind of thing.”
“Why, Thing Two,” Anna says, arching a brow as she calls up her old nickname for Campbell. “Is that your way of saying you’d look real good on a billboard?”
Sawyer’s face falls. “Wait. I thought I was Thing Two?”
“Nope. She made you Thing One after that time you tried toflirtwith the head of PR and accidentally emailed your player bio to theentire teamsigned ‘Love, Sawyer.’”
“It was supposed to say ‘Later,’” he mutters.
“And yet,” Campbell says, “the love really came through.” Campbell’s smile widens, just enough to be dangerous, as he turns his attention back to Anna. “And it wouldn’t hurt to have me on a billboard, would it?”
Sawyer groans. “Don’t encourage him.”
“I don’t have to,” Anna says brightly. “He’s doing fine all on his own.”
I close my folder with a sharp snap. “Fantastic, Campbell. I’m thrilled my office has become the stage for your billboard audition.”
Campbell meets my eyes across the room, calm, confident. “I’m keeping my options open.”
He says it lightly, but the way his gaze lingers a second longer than it should makes something flip low in my stomach.
Then he straightens, pushes off the wall, and claps his cousin on the shoulder. “Come on, Sawyer. Let’s leave Sutton to her empire.”
“But will Sawyer apologize?”
Sawyer spins around, probably to tell me no, but Campbell redirects him and spins him another one hundred and eighty degrees to point his Viking butt out the door. The best part? Campbell clamping his hand over Sawyer’s mouth so he couldn’t disagree.
“I’m the captain, I will get him to.” Campbell dips his head my way. “Have a good night.”
And just like that, they’re gone—Sawyer still muttering about injustice, Campbell with that faint, knowing smile. The door clicks shut behind them, and for a second, the office feels too quiet after the Stockton Show ends for the night.
“Whew,” Anna says, hopping off my desk and stretching like we just wrapped a Broadway show. “That was entertaining. You’re welcome for the kiss, marry, kill warm-up.”
“Not helping,” I mutter.
She smirks, clearly pleased with herself. “Speaking of which, Ollie texted he’s done with media, so we’re outta here. Don’t wait up.” She grabs her bag and Twizzler stash like she’s heading off to prom instead of date night.
“Have a good night,” I say dryly.
“Oh, I will.” Wink. Out the door she goes.
