“We know the team occasionally goes to a local pub after games. You can go out if you choose, but only for a beer or two,” McKenna explained.
“No more drunken orgies,” Benny muttered. “And stop bringing two dates to team events.”
McKenna chimed in, glancing down at some printout in her hands. “A lot of the comments on that viral video of yours involve fans’ concerns that perhaps you’re an alcoholic or an addict. The word ‘rehab’ has been bandied about by more than a few people.”
“I’m not an alcoholic,” he snapped.
McKenna shrugged. “Public perception is what matters here. Not the truth.”
“Oh, really,” he replied, his patience all but gone. He didn’t mean to keep snapping at the woman, but dammit…this whole fucking thing had been blown out of proportion.
“Yes, really,” Benny responded angrily. “While you were tucked in a warm bed, sleeping off last night’s revelries, Mac, Roger, and I have been in the office since five a.m., reading comments on social media and coming up with a plan to restore your reputation.”
Tank was slightly chastened by that. “How the hell did this get so big, so fast?”
McKenna answered. “TikTok’s algorithms pushed it out hard when it got uploaded around nine-thirty p.m.”
Yesterday’s game had a two p.m. start time, which meant he and the girls had started their celebration earlier than normal.
“The video got well over a hundred-thousand views in the first hour,” McKenna explained.
“Jesus.”
“And that number continues to grow,” she pointed out. “You’ve pissed off several Christian mothers’ groups, who are calling you everything from a bad influence on young boys to an amoral misogynist who abuses women.”
Tank suddenly felt ill. “That’s not true.”
“Perception,” she said, reminding him again that no one cared about the truth.
“And you think a bunch of photo ops are going to restore my reputation?” Tank asked.
“It’s a start,” she replied softly. “Are you, um,” she paused, “dating one of the women from the video?”
Tank shook his head.
McKenna seemed disappointed by that. “So, neither of them is your girlfriend?”
“No.” He grimaced. “They’re just hookups.”
Roger rubbed his eyes wearily. “That’s a shame.”
“Why?” Tank asked, confused.
“Mac and I were talking while you and Benny were in with the GM, thinking that it would be easier to restore your reputation if one of them was your steady girlfriend. If you were in a relationship, it would help us overcome your current playboy status.”
Benny perked up. “That’s a good point.”
Roger nodded. “But since you aren’t seeing either of the women…”
Tank got an uneasy feeling when Benny’s gaze rested on him consideringly. He had a good idea where this was headed, and he was not down for it. “I’m not interested in dating Emily or Lara.”
Benny raised his hand, cutting him off. “None of us is suggesting you date one of them. Especially not Lara, because if that went south… You know what, stay far, far away from that woman, because if her uncle pulls his financial support, I’m not sure there’s anything we can do as a department to save you.”
“I guess we can assume there’s no one else you’re seeing?” Roger asked.
“No one.” Tank enjoyed his bachelor lifestyle. Hell, he was only twenty-seven and way too young for a committed relationship. In truth, he’d never seen himself as the dating type, determined to sow his wild oats all the way until he retired from hockey—at which point, he’d consider settling down.
“That’s a shame. If you were dating someone respectable, responsible, more serious,” Benny started. “Not a puck bunny?—”
