“What kind of misunderstanding?” Her voice went up an octave. “Why would I have anything to do withyou? Aside from the fact that you’re my brother, you’re an idiot and you cheat at Settlers of Catan. I don’t know how, but you do!”
He snorted, amused. “Thanks for that. I just wanted to make sure we were both on the same page. He asked…”
“Why would you even dignify such a ridiculous question with an answer? Jack, what… Argh.” He heard a muffled groan as if she had pressed her hand over her mouth. “Fine. What’s the point?! I have to go now. But next time I’m going to hear all about Penelope Clark, is that clear?”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “No, I didn’t get that.”
“See? You’re an idiot,” she replied curtly and hung up.
He grinned and put the phone away before pressing the button for the lobby. Yes, it was good to have his family back.
The elevator started moving. When he arrived at the lobby, the entire team was already there. The players formed a solid wall that no guest could pass through. No one would have dared to ask. Most of them didn’t even notice that he had joined them because they were engrossed in heated discussions about what in God’s name Darron Clark could possibly want from them. Jack rubbed his forearm and narrowed his eyes. He had no idea what his colleagues would say to Mr. Clark when it came to deciding betweenPenny or Gareth, but he hoped fervently that they would simply refuse to take sides.
“You’re too conspicuous,” someone muttered beside him. It was Dax, who was looking at him grimly. “They’ve already asked three times where Penny is and three times where you are. It’s your luck that no one can put two and two together!”
Yes, thank God the players were only hockey geniuses, not math geniuses. “How was I supposed to know I was needed down here?” he replied angrily.
“By coming to breakfast! You always said it was the most important meal of the day.”
Yes, because they usually didn’t eat anything for lunch. It was to save money. “It doesn’t matter,” he replied gruffly. “Nobody cares that I…”
“West,” the coach snapped, and Jack spun around. Gray was standing at the edge of the group and was now pointing a sinister finger at him. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Um…in bed.” That wasn’t a lie.
“What?Don’t tell me you’re sick!” Panic flashed across his face.
“No, no, I was just…mentally preparing for tonight.”
Dax snorted barely audibly. “Saintmy ass. They should rename youliar.”
“It’s unacceptable not to show up for breakfast,” the coach continued angrily. “When the big boss shows up! Clark wants to speak to you first!”
“Uh oh,” Dax muttered. “Well, let’s hope he’s as bad at math as the rest of them.”
Yes, Jack hoped so too.
Gray waved for him to follow before disappearing down a corridor to his right that must lead to the hotel conference rooms. Jack heard Matt mutter, “He looks like a pig on the way to slaughter, doesn’t he?” Then he was in the hotel corridor and out of earshot of his teammates.
“Um, Coach?” he asked, hurrying to catch up with Gray. “What exactly is this about?”
“I don’t know. I guess it’s about his children,” he replied tersely. “You can’t do anything wrong as long as you behave. Andyou’ve never had a problem with that. You’re the least of my worries. But God, if he wants to speak to Alvarez…”
Hm. Jack didn’t agree with Gray: He felt he’d already done something wrong by sleeping with Clark’s daughter. Then again, that was a matter of perspective.
“Here we are,” Gray announced, stopping in front of a door. “Go talk to him, and then come to the conference room next door.” He pointed to the door to his left. “I’m going to start the team meeting with the others. That will at least stop them from talking about Darron Clark and his questions.”
The next moment, he knocked on the door in front of them, leaving Jack with no choice but to step into the room behind it. A male voice replied, “Come in.”
Jack walked into a simple conference room with a long wooden table and a dozen chairs. Only two were occupied.
Jack had never met Darron Clark in person, but he knew what he looked like from photos. However, in real life, he was even more intimidating. Even though he was sitting, it was clear he was a big man. And not just physically. He must have been over sixty, his dark hair was streaked with gray, but he still sat with such an upright posture that Jack’s back hurt just watching him. He had a thick beard and dark, alert eyes creased with wrinkles. It seemed he laughed a lot, even though his somber mouth didn’t exactly support that conclusion.
Next to him sat a woman of the same age who had to be Penny’s mother. She had the same light brown, almond-shaped eyes as Penny, although she was a little shorter and not quite as slim as her daughter.
Were they fucking serious? They came in pairs to judge their children? What was wrong with them?
Jack’s shoulders stiffened, but he nodded politely at them before pulling out a chair and sitting.
