Because we both know Ican.
I also can do the splits and a backflip, but that doesn’t mean I should.
What he meant to ask me is how much abuse am I willing to take.
I grind my molars together and lean over, all the while shooting daggers out of my eyes at the camera.Someday I’ll play in the NHL.I chant all my goals over in my head to remind me why I put up with this stuff.Someday I’ll be rich and can show everyone how tough I really am.Someday I won’t have to listen to Bill Baker make these ridiculous demands of me.
Bill walks forward again, putting his hand on my face, and turning it toward Sophie’s. “Can you gaze lovingly into her eyes?”
No, I cannot.
I noisily sniff back a giant breath, holding all my inner dialogue back.Don’t run your mouth, Axl.“Just take the photo!” I growl, but when he doesn’t move the camera, I follow his instruction and let my gaze land on Sophie’s. Perfectly green emeralds spiral back light at me as if they’re holding a secret. Great, now my palms are sweating.
Bill commands, “Lean a little closer and pucker up, like you're about to kiss her.”
Someday I’ll be rich and play in the NHL and not have to listen to Bill Baker.I bite my lower lip so hard it hurts, but I refuse to run my mouth.
I can do this.
As dumb as it is.
My heart ticks up a notch and I lean closer, but I’m certainly not puckering up!
That’s for sure.
Sophie’s chin tips back and her lips part, and all the while her eyes spiral back at me, torching a trail between my eyes and my lips as they drift between the two. The heat that was already firing in my palms starts to blaze a trail right up my arm, not stopping until it plops into the center of my heart. This is the most intensive cardio I’ve done all year. “Take the picture,” I growl.
“Just move your faces together a little closer,” Bill instructs, and because I physically can’t stand to see how ridiculous this pose is, I close my eyes and tip my chin.
“Got it!” Bill exclaims, and I quickly push Sophie back up and take a step a good two feet away from her.
“Good. I’m hitting the showers.” I pivot, unable to take part in this ridiculousness anymore. Someday when I’m in the NHL, I can look back at this humiliation as I count my stacks of endorsement cash and laugh, but that day is not today.
Today I feel used.
I’m not a boy toy. I have serious talent. Just wait until I have several NHL championships under my belt, and this whole charade will be nothing more than a bad memory.
six
Sophie
“Soph!” Mom hollers as she strolls up the country driveway from getting the mail down by the highway mailbox. The front door cracks open, and I both hear her bellowing and feel the crisp October air creep over the wood floors, chilling my toes.
“What do you need, Mama?” I meet her at the door, ready to close out the cold air for good.
“I was out getting the mail, and Norma came over, and boy, she has some interesting news.”
“Who’s needing prayers this week?” I roll my eyes. Small-town gossip is too much for me. It’s still freezing in our old farmhouse despite the door being closed, and I hug my arms across my chest as I follow Mama back to the living room.
“Apparently you.” Mama’s green eyes, which match mine, widen with interest while the tips of her lips bend into a smirk. “Have you been getting swept off your feet by some hockey player?”
“What?” My cheeks glow even though I know exactly what she's talking about. I saw the photo earlier, and I have no idea what photo shopping program they used to make it look so real, but Axl washot.Beads of sweat were rolling down his temples as if he was struggling not to consume me. Just thinking about the photo makes me blush, which is good. I want people to blush. Like Rocco. But I never thought for a second my mama would see it. I drop the weight off one of my legs and lean on the arm of the sofa. “It was a PR thing.”
“I don’t know about that.” Mama pulls out her phone, attempting to scroll for the photo. “It didn’t say you were selling anything.”
“Not for sales.” I cover her phone screen with my hand and stare at her until she locks her gaze back on me. “Just to try to get the team more fans. It’s really nothing.”
“If you say so.” Letting out a suggestive whistle, her eyes widen as she mumbles, “You two do make a lovely couple.”
