Page 21 of Ice Wolf
Thoughts of the curse lingered in every player’s mind, the press already jabbering about the outcome, placing odds on our win against the Devils.
The coach rubbed his eyes, driving his finger into the window for emphasis. “The story isn’t going anywhere. I can’t walk out mygoddamn front door without having some crazy idiot attacking me with a microphone or a sign. When I arrived this morning, there was one person standing outside holding a sign and a single news crew van waiting on the off chance someone from the team would arrive. Now, what do you see?”
Even the glare on the window couldn’t hide what was waiting on the outside.
There were at least eight news vans and at least one hundred and fifty people holding signs.
Werewolves are people too.
Werewolves deserve a chance.
Don’t hunt the savage.
Some were even more creative.
And very colorful in shades of black, orange, and red.
I leaned against the window. Fuck my life.
“That’s why this is important and you’re going to do exactly what we tell you to do.” The coach snapped the blind closed in fury.
“But you can’t make me date some unknown chick. That’s crazy. I also don’t need some PR flunky telling me how to live my life. I’ll keep away from the media. I’ll keep my nose clean.”
If the dude from the PR firm was pissed, you’d never know it by the hard look he’d worn since he’d walked into the room. Even Jonathan wore no expression, which meant he thought the scheme was a good idea. That was bullshit.
Fake PR was bad enough, but I couldn’t handle being paraded around like someGQmodel. New duds. New do. New attitude.Yeah, right. If they only knew there was only one way for that to possibly occur and I had no interest in hunting down some mythical mate.
“You need to do this, Saint, to save yourself and your career,” Carmine stated. “You don’t have any choices.”
“The video is a fake!”
All four men looked between themselves.
My skin began to itch. Not a good sign.
“What? You actually believe that garbage? Do you want me to hold a silver spoon and see if it burns me?” I laughed even though my chest was tight. Even my father hadn’t seemed so optimistic when I’d talked to him on the phone earlier that morning.
“There are some scientists who are… looking over the enhanced video. In the meantime, you need to get your act together and stay on the straight and narrow. Mr. Weathers is going to help you do that.”
“By dating some chick I don’t know.”
“Who also happens to be a top-notch public relations expert. This is temporary,” Jonathan assured me. “How long will this be necessary, Mr. Weathers?”
The man I didn’t know stepped away from the wall where he’d been staring at me intently. It seemed like that was everyone’s pastime as of late. Studying me like some twisted specimen. I rubbed my jaw and tried to keep my cool. I was finding that more and more difficult to do.
“With market trends and the typical length of time headlines remain important, I would normally say thirty days. However, given the seriousness of the situation, we’re talking at least six weeks, maybe eight.”
“Two months of being on your best behavior,” the coach threw in. In just three days, he appeared to have aged by at least a couple of years, the gray on his temples even more distinct.
“What exactly does that mean?”
“That means you’re going to live, eat, and sleep hockey. No talking to reporters. No trips to bars and nightclubs. If you go out, you’re going to be with your public relations expert, which you will refer to as your date, your girl, or your steady. I don’t give a shit which. You’re not going to have friends over for a wild party. No women. No excessive drinking and for God’s sake, no drugs. You will need to be tested for steroids and other drugs again.”
“Wow. You really think I’m some supernatural beast.” I wasn’t certain whether to laugh or become angry.
“Of course not,” he huffed, but couldn’t look me in the eyes. “This will be good for you and your career. You’re going to appear as a man who’s found his sense of family because of a beautiful woman who’s come into your life.”
“In other words, you’re determined to control everything in my life. Right?”
