I roll my eyes and shake my head, still feeling the sting of having to leave work early. “This better be worth it,” I mutter, glancing at Clark.
“It will be,” he says easily. “We might as well get as many new fans as possible. If people are already at a sporting event, there’s a better chance they’ll try another one.”
“Where’s the rest of the team?” I ask.
“They only need six players for this,” Stack says.
“So what? Are we just walking out during the opening stuff?” I ask. That wouldn’t make sense of why they would limit the numbers.
“You mean the national anthem?” Stack says. He makes a weird noise, and the rest of the guys cringe.
“You didn’t even tell him?” Finny asks Clark.
“Tell me what?” I ask, already suspicious.
Clark groans. “Well…we’re doing an on-ice skills competition.”
I stare at him. “I don’t have skates. And the chances of finding skates for a size fifteen? Good luck. It’s hard enough to find cleats my size,” I add. “And you’d think football players would have bigger feet than I do.”
Clark rubs the back of his neck like he’s searching for the right words.
“So?” I prompt.
“We’re throwing a ball from half-ice into nets lined up along the boards.”
I shake my head. “That’s not a problem. A lacrosse field is basically the same length as an ice sheet.”
“And we have to use mini sticks,” Clark adds.
“Not a D-pole?” I ask.
There are only a few types of lacrosse sticks. Goalies use the giant-pocket ones. Defenders use D-poles which have a really long handle, allowing them to annoy the other team’s offense. Middies and attack use the shorter sticks. I’m an attacker, so I’m used to the small ones.
“Not a D-pole,” Clark says, cringing again.
“How could this get worse?”
“Don’t tell me they’re like the tiny sticks they sell at the store for pool games,” I say.
Stack points at me. “Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner.”
“Then why do you need me here?” I ask, still annoyed about losing tips tonight.
“Because anyone can launch the ball that far,” Clark says. “But you’re one of a kind.”
Finney grins at me. “Think of yourself like that guy inThe Princess Bride.”
“Please don’t compare me to the giant.”
Finney gives a halfhearted smile. “Maybe you’re just a rock, dude. Plenty of people will love you.”
“Nothing like being a marketing ploy,” I mutter. “I could’ve worked another hour and still made it.”
Clark steps closer and puts a hand on my shoulder. “I get it. I’m just doing what Jessa says. This is what they require. If I’ve learned anything about endorsements and marketing this year, it’s that the most random things will help people remember them. We’ve got to use every angle we can to get more tickets sold. If you need me to, I’ll still waive your rent, especially since I’m guessing your boss just let you leave.”
I growl and nod.
Clark lowers his voice. “I promise I’ll take care of you. You’ve done a lot for me, and I’ve got your back.”
