Dex presses a hand to his chest. “You’re going to ruin us.”
“I will research conversational prompts appropriate for a public dating environment,” Gregory adds. “I will be prepared.”
Mason squints. “You’re bringing flashcards too, aren’t you?”
Gregory hesitates. “They’re laminated.”
Dex collapses against the boards laughing. “This is the best day of my life.”
I shake my head, biting back a grin. “You’re all missing the point.”
Mason raises a brow. “Which is?”
“This isn’t about who gets picked,” I say. “It’s about not turning this into a circus.”
Dex straightens immediately. “Absolutely not. It’sdefinitelya circus.”
Gabriel chuckles. “Colby’s just saying he doesn’t want to be embarrassed.”
“That’s not…”
“Yes it is,” Mason says. “You hate being the punchline when it has to do with you.”
I open my mouth, then close it. Because that’s annoyingly accurate.
Gregory tilts his head. “So if she doesn’t pick you, would that bother you?”
“No,” I say too fast.
Dex grins. “Oh, it would absolutely bother him. That’s just his defense mechanism talking. Man panics at the idea of being publicly wanted.”
“I’d be relieved, asshole,” I shoot back. “I don’t want this kind of attention.”
When it comes to women, I don’t rush in. I don’t flirt for sport. I don’t collect moments for attention. If I step onto that stage, it won’t be a game to me.
Which means if this thing goes sideways… it won’t be funny.
After practice, PR circles back with details. There are non-fan participants, industry professionals, media crossovers... not the usual jersey-wearing fangirls.
That registers.
I don’t know what’s in the water this year, but the women signing up for this are different, which somehow makes me more nervous.
Still, I sign the waiver. Shake hands. Smile for the team photo.
“This is just a game for charity,” I tell myself.
Nothing real is on the line.
There’s a knot in my gut anyway.
Chapter three
Sloane
Paige slams her hand onto the table like she’s concluding testimony. “And then,” she says, leaning back against the booth, “he asked me if I believed in manifestation.”
Nancy doesn’t look up from her menu. “That’s when you fake a work emergency.”
