“You can’t expect to dodge the questions about your infamous exploits forever,” Anna lectured in that way that got under my tits.
“Shut up. I don’t need you telling me what I should and shouldn’t be doing.” I rubbed my temples. I had an hour before I had to be at the training grounds. It was a thirty-minute drive so I needed to get a move on. But I wasn’t in a rush to get there.
Fuck Jack Millwood and his need for punctuality.
“You’re so cranky when you’re hungover.” Anna teased good-naturedly. She put up with too much of my shit.
“I’m not hungover,” I protested causing Anna to laugh at me.
“And I’m a unicorn.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re going to be hurting at training this afternoon.”
“I don’t know how many times we have to have this conversation, Lucas. You can’t afford to make mistakes like this anymore. Your image is important—”
“He’s not doing anything that any other twenty something guy would do with a pocketful of cash,” Anna pointed out, defending me.
Anna and I were intensely protective of one another. She could give me shit all day long, but the second someone else came down on me, she took a stand. Her incredible loyalty was one of her better qualities.
“Not all twenty somethings are in the spotlight the way your brother is. He needs to get his head out of his arse if he wants to go to the top,” Mo lectured.
Anna’s cheeks went red and I knew she was about to let him have it so I stepped in quickly.
“Okay, thanks, Mo. I’d better get ready for training. I’ll talk to you later.” I started to steer him out of the kitchen.
“Okay, I’m working on a couple more interviews for you, though this is a bit outside my remit. I think we need to look into getting you a publicist. Someone to manage your image, keep you in the media for therightreasons. Are you on social media?”
“Er, I’m on Twitter. Though I don’t post much.” I glanced at Anna and she shrugged.
“You need to be a positive presence online. Tweeting about games, thanking fans for their support. That’s what a PR person can do for you. Let me get some names together and we can have some phone calls.”
“Is this shit necessary—?”
“Yes. It is. After hearing what that journalist was gunning for, and given your increased media presence over the last few months, you need one and soon.” Mo nodded. “I’ll email you with some names after I do a bit of research.”
“Okay. Sounds good I guess.”
“Great.” And then Mo left. No goodbye. He was there one minute, the next he wasn’t. For such a pudgy guy, he moved around a lot.
“He makes my head hurt,” Anna said after he left.
“You and me both. But he’s damn good at what he does,” I countered.
“So no more pub crawls, huh?” Anna asked, raising an eyebrow, her mouth twitching in a smirk.
I thought about Morgan Carter. I wondered if she lived in town. Or whether she went to the Thorny Rose often.
I had this strange need to see her again. If nothing else to say thank you properly.
At least that’s what I told myself.
The memory of touching her had nothing to do with it.
“You want to come with me after training and grab a beer?” I asked my sister, surprising her.
She let out an audible gasp. “You’re askingmeto go somewhere with you? Socially? What have I done to deserve such an honor?”
“Stop being such a smart ass. At least with you I’m less likely to get wankered,” I pointed out.
“So it’s a purely selfish invitation?” Anna seemed to mull it over before nodding. “Sure, I guess that would be fine. But I need to be home early. I have revising to do.”
