“Yeah,” I said with a sigh, leaning back into my seat. Mason, Tucker, and Shawn started a card game across the aisle. I should have just gone to them. Should’ve just… escaped.
“Look at me when I’m talking to you,” she snapped.
I obeyed. Just about.
“Ignoring me won’t make this go away,” she said, tapping away on her tablet again. “It’s your responsibility and I’m gonna need you to step up.”
“My responsibility is on the ice. To my team.”
She twisted in her seat so she could glare at me head-on, not satisfied with the sparing side-eyes from before. “Your responsibility is to San Antonio Surge. The brand.”
Theo slid past the aisle with a sly grin. “You two are like an old married couple. Hilarious.”
I wanted to throw a punch at him, but settled for a look that told him I owed him a punch once we touched down. He went to his seat, cackling like a little kid.
Holly didn’t even flinch. “I don’t negotiate, I implement. You’ll thank me later.”
I stared at her.Implement.She really thought she was the captain of some command center. But then I heard Coach’s grumbling up front with Grayson and remembered how he came down on me about this.
“Fine,” I said finally, my jaw tight. “I’ll scan through it before we land.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Scan? That’s it? That’s all I get?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Hunter, you need tocommit.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Just twenty minutes, I told myself. Twenty minutes and she’d have to let me go. I could finally just be with the team, and focus on our upcoming game.
“I’m committed,” I said, and pushed back my shoulders.
She didn’t look too convinced. “You are?”
“Yes. Let’s start.” I took the folder from her and flipped through it. “Here. Fighting scenarios.”
Holly studied me closely, as if she wasn’t expecting me to give in so quickly. Then, realizing my compliance for what it was, she spoke. And her tone was thankfully softer than before when she said, “The press could be hostile tomorrow. Hypothetically, a brawl breaks out, the ref ejects multiple players. They’ll want your thoughts, and they’ll holdthose thoughts against you. Be ready, clear, concise.”
I held up a hand. “Are you aware I’m in the middle of an airplane aisle with teammates watching me get lectured on how to talk about fights?”
“Yes, and that’s why it’simportant,” she said. “Because we’re establishing your imagebeforeanything happens. Proactivity is key.”
“Image, right.” I lost interest in the folder and tracked the card game instead. “I don’t know why we’re even bothering. Everyone’s going to assume I’m a dick no matter what I say. That’s just how it goes.”
“Maybe that’s because you are a dick,” she said without looking up.
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Stared at her.
“Excuse me?”
“Statement five: social media strategy post-game,” she said, tapping the folder like she was hammering stakes into my skull. “I need your passwords, and yes, I know that’s personal. It’sessentialthat you don’t post content I haven’t vetted. Fans have expectations. Your personal accounts are part of the brand.”
I leaned forward, voice low. “You’re managing every detail of my life for the season? You can’t expect me to jump for joy over that.”
She met my eyes then, not even a hint of a smile. “I am. And I do.”
*
“You look like a teenager who skipped out on being grounded,” Theo laughed, poking me in the ribs. “Loosen up, man. Tonight’s supposed to be freedom. Fun.”
