“Taters? Why him? He’s an instigator. He’ll only make matters worse.”
“True.” Blakely nods in agreement. “Then how about Posey? He’s close with Hornsby. He’s big, a bruiser. He could do some damage if need be.”
“Posey could be a good option,” I answer. “But won’t that be awkward for him?”
“Probably,” Blakely answers. “But I think it’s necessary.”
I worry my lip as I stare out my windows. It’s a bright day, cold but sunny, the complete antithesis of how I feel at this very moment.
Because instead of being happy about bringing a new life into the world, I’m worried. Scared. Nervous. Still slightly in disbelief despite the four different tests I took just to confirm.
“Maybe I should wait until the season is over to tell them. I don’t want to cause a rift. The team has been killing it this season. This will only divide them.”
“By the time the season is over, you’ll be showing, and it will be obvious. Might as well tell them now so they can get it out of their system and focus on the playoffs.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
Blakely loops her arm around my shoulders. “Who knows, maybe they will take it better than you think.”
“I love how hopeful you are, but I think we both know that’s never going to happen.”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “I know. So when are you going to call them in?”
“Monday,” I say. “I have some social media things planned. We don’t have a game, so I’ll have them come to my office and break the news after practice. I’ll make them believe they’re there for some sort of TikTok idea when, in reality, I’m about to change their lives.”
“Hey, yours has already changed, might as well have company. And after, we’ll get lunch, and you’ll tell me every last detail. Because, girlfriend, you lied through your pretty little teeth when you said nothing happened between you and Eli Hornsby five weeks ago. I deserve to know.” She had hounded me, but I’d denied everything. Clearly.
“Something to look forward to.”
Chapter Six
ELI
“Where are you going?” Posey asks as he jogs up to me.
“Penny called me up to her office for some social media overview.”
“Me too. Lawes is coming as well.” Posey takes a bite of his bologna sandwich. “Hey, Lawes,” Posey calls into the locker room. “You coming?”
“Yeah,” he calls out and then appears at the door with wet hair while adjusting the hem of his shirt. When he spots Posey’s sandwich, he says, “Dude, you realize there are much better things you could be eating or drinking after a workout, right?”
Posey takes a large bite. “It’s a ritual, man. The last time I didn’t eat a bologna sandwich after practice, I pulled my groin muscle. To hell if I’m going to let that happen again.” He takes another bite.
“Don’t even try to change his mind,” I say to Pacey. “He’s set in his ways.”
“He’s right,” Posey says. “And there is nothing you can say or do about it.” He then taps his legs. “These groin muscles are going to stay injury free.”
“I can’t with you today,” I say.
“What’s wrong with you?” Lawes asks. “Still got that headache?”
“Yeah.” I press my fingers into my forehead. “Fucking brutal. After this meeting with your sister, I’m going straight home and passing out.”
“What is this meeting about again?” Posey asks.
“Uh, some social media thing.” Lawes shrugs. “Not sure. Probably something we’re going to have to do that the fans want to see. I’ve already told Penny many times that I’m not doing some bullshit trendy dance. That’s where I put my foot down.”
“I don’t mind the dances,” I say.
“If I didn’t have two left feet, I’d enjoy them, but I can’t remember shit,” Posey says with a mouth full of bologna.
“It’s because you’ve been cracked in the head far too many times,” Lawes says as we hit the elevator button to go to the third floor where all the offices are.
As they fight about dance moves, I dream of what the rest of my day after this meeting will look like. My head’s vibrating with pain. A typical tension headache for me that will go away with some simple Theragun therapy, a caffeinated drink, some Icy Hot, Ibuprofen, and rest. But I have to make it through this meeting first, which could not have come at a worse time.