“Don’t mind him,” Amir, the one who kissed my hand, starts. “It’s that time of the month,” he whispers loud enough for us all to hear.
I let out a soft laugh, along with the rest of the room, and when I look back over at Liam, it was as if he didn’t even hear him. I feel a bit bad that everyone is literally laughing at him, so I tell the group to get to know each other as I walk over to him, and the boys waste no time getting friendly with the girls.
“Hey,” I sit next to Liam, and he glances up at me for a second before looking back at his phone. “Are you okay?”
I notice a small crease growing in his brows, and he looks up at me again. He studies me for a beat before his glare is back. “Yes.”
“Oh…” I lean back a bit, trying to decipher the mood he’s in. “You seem upset.”
He studies me again before turning his head to the side. “Is this on your agenda?” He gestures to my iPad. “Interrogate everyone?”
I let out a laugh but cover my smile with my iPad when his glare somehow hardens. “I don’t think I’m interrogating you.” I uncover my smile. “But since you feel so harassed, I’ll leave you alone.”
“Great.” He looks back at his phone, and I shrug him off before I return to the group. Whatever. I’m not going to let his mood ruin mine, nor am I going to hold it against him. If he’s having a bad day, I’ll let him have a bad day.
I scroll through my notes for today before getting the box out with the outfits, and when everyone tries them on, I feel my excitement building. The girls have custom jackets with the jersey number and name of their corresponding partner. I designed the jackets so they’re way cuter than regular varsity jackets, and it’s clear the girls love them, or at least the boy they were partnered up with.
“Okay, let's get started!” My excitement starts to grow as I tell everyone today's agenda.
Chapter Two
Liam
This is torture. I’ve hadto be in this suffocating studio all week, and I genuinely thought it’d get better as the days went by. I was wrong. It’s been getting worse as the seconds go by.
“Don’t look too miserable!”
My eyes follow Sage as she walks past me like today is the best day of her life. This woman laughs and smiles and is justchipperall the time. I may start taking her coffee from her because I don’t think this is healthy.
I keep telling myself that there are only a few weeks left of this, but I still can’t graspwhyour agent agreed to this. We’re getting paid chump change compared to our checks andfree preseason pictures? I’d pay any amount of money for those pictures if it got me out of this.
It’s not even the money that I’m annoyed about; it’s thepeoplein this place. My teammates are horndogs, following after every girl, and the models are drooling all over them. The number of shitty pickup lines I’ve heard should be illegal.
“You know…”
I keep my eyes on my phone as that unmistakable voice starts.
“We’ve been here for five days, and I haven’t heard you say more than—” She takes a second, and I think she’s counting. “Eleven words.”
When I don’t respond, Sage sits beside me. She nudges my arm, and I slowly turn to her. “What?”
“Twelve words!” She beams like she just won the lottery. “This is an improvement.” She nudges meagain.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Fifteen words, wow.” She holds her heart. “I think you’re warming up to me.” She laughs at whatever look is on my face, and when I don’t give her a reaction, she tilts her head to the side before turning more serious.
“Okay, seriously, what’s up with you? I want this to be fun for everyone, and you look miserable. Tell me what I can do to make it better.”
I keep my gaze on her, and when she offers me another beaming smile, I can’t understand why she cares so much. Every day, I don’t talk to her, and every day, she sits in this corner and asks me if I’m okay. Since when did silence mean I hate my life?
“Don’t worry, Sage.” Jordan walks over to us, and I roll my eyes at him because I’m sure he simply walked over here to piss me off. “He’s in a pissy mood since he was forced to be here against his will.”
“What? Who’s forcing you to be here?” Concern rings in her voice. I shake my head at her, and when I don't respond, Jordan tells her.
“Coach is punishing him for not keeping his dick in his pants, but also for his bad temper. This is his anger management class.”
“Fuck off.” I bite out.
