“You’re the best person to handle the task. We need you on the frontline with Tank, guiding him as far as what to say and how to behave.”
Tank scowled. “Hey. I’m not an idiot.”
Benny shot him a look that said he disagreed wholeheartedly with that statement. “This isn’t the first time we’ve had to clean up one of your messes, Tank. Hell, it’s not the fifth or sixth time. You’re in my office more than I am.”
That was an exaggeration.
But not as big a one as Tank might have liked.
Benny turned his attention back to McKenna. “You’re dedicated to your job, Mac, but more than that, you love this team and the brand we’re building, and it shows.”
“I appreciate you saying that, but even so…this is…” McKenna rubbed her forehead, acting as if Benny was suggesting she donate a kidney.
“It won’t be easy,” Roger chimed in.
“Won’t be easy?” Tank asked, aghast. “You guys do realize I’m still in the room, right?”
“He’s a loose cannon on a good day,” McKenna said to Benny.
He agreed. “I know. He speaks hours before his brain kicks in.”
Tank turned to Roger. “You can see me, right?”
Roger chuckled.
Benny didn’t.
“I have a lot of other duties, Benny,” McKenna said, still fighting the good fight. “And the schedule we’ve created for him, even beyond the next two weeks, would take up a lot of my time.”
“I’ll reassign some of your tasks to that new intern we just hired.”
McKenna deflated. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”
“It’s only until training camp begins next season. Then we’ll reevaluate.”
“Six months!” McKenna gasped, though Tank wasn’t sure if she was more upset about the time or the task.
“You really don’t think I can change?” Tank asked hotly. Then he saw a glimmer of something in her eyes, and he realized—not for the first time today—he would have been smarter to keep his mouth shut.
Because why was he asking that question?
He didn’t want to change.
He fucking loved his life exactly the way it was.
McKenna leaned back in her seat, chewing on her thumbnail as she considered him.
“Fine,” she replied, using his word.
And Tank suddenly felt as if he’d found a kindred spirit. At least he wouldn’t be suffering alone with his punishment. Because apparently he was taking McKenna down with him.
“I’ll do it,” she muttered, sounding like she’d just agreed to put her dog down.
Benny turned his attention back to Tank, crooking a thumb in McKenna’s direction. “She’s in charge. If she says jump, you do it without question. Got it?” Benny raised one impatient eyebrow.
Tank sighed, aware there was only one right answer.
“Fine.”
