“Sure.” Piper’s face is more of a grimace.
Piper darts out of the office without a backward glance.
“Really, Cass?” I ask. “This is your grand idea.”
“And what do you think we should do?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t know; why not a few team charity events?”
“The required events that are mandatory for you to attend? You can’t just attend them. You need to make it believable.”
“What if she says no?”
“She won’t.” Cassie has a victorious smile spreading across her face. “Your reputation is in the toilet, Cash. You bite off reporters’ heads, people think you’re unapproachable, and before you know it, you’ll be cut from the team because of ‘locker room problems.’”
I hate the way she uses air quotes.
Hockey has been my entire life for as long as I can remember. I’m not sure when the attitude came along. I mean, I know, but I’m not sure when I let it become my entire personality off the ice.
Being the ass is comfortable. Something familiar that I can depend on.
The wall that I can put up to keep everyone else out.
“How long would we have to do this for?”
“At least through the All-Star break.”
“Jesus.” I scrub a hand down my face. That’s a few months from now. “You really think people will believe this?”
The difference between me and Piper could not be more night and day with her blonde hair, blue eyes, flawless pale skin.
Me on the other hand? A day’s worth of stubble lines my jaw, and I have tattoos all up and down my forearms.
And a permanent scowl etched onto my face.
“People will believe anything they want to. You need to boost your image and can’t do it on your own.”
“Can I go now?”
“Don’t cause any trouble.” She dismisses me.
I head out into the office area, hoping to find Piper. I don’t have to search far. She’s pacing in front of the glass doors that lead to the exit from the offices.
“Hey!” I shout at her, grabbing her attention.
Piper’s eyes snap to mine. “What, did she send you out here to convince me to go along with this plan?”
Grabbing her elbow, I steer her into a quiet corner. The ever-present ears in the office don’t need to hear this conversation.
“Look, I wanted to tell you that you don’t have to go along with this.”
“I don’t?”
Big, blue doe eyes stare up at me. Oh yeah, she definitely looks like a princess.
She’s at least a full head shorter than I am. A tiny thing that I could fit into my pocket.
Not that I should be noticing that. That is the last thing I need to be thinking about.
