“I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Yeah, well, you should. I don’t mind telling you that when we heard you’d been sent up from the Philly, we were none too happy.”
“So I gathered. I’m just here to do my job. Nothing else.”
“Well, you’ll get one shot. If I were you, I’d make the best of it. We need a win Saturday if we have any hopes of making it to the playoffs.”
“He can’t do it. Not unless he lets his wolf run free.”
“Why don’t you show us, Wolfie. Come on. Let’s see what you’ve got?”
Hearing the jabs from the others, I was about at the point of losing my cool. That’s exactly what they wanted so I’d be tossed off the team.
With my patience waning, I turned off the water.
The six men just standing in the showers were ready to goad me further.
“Hey, Masters. The Zamboni guy is waiting outside to see you. He says it’s urgent.”
I glanced at the Hammer, finally nodding. What in the hell could be so urgent? Grabbing a towel, I quickly dried off before wrapping it around my waist. As soon as I headed into the corridor, Danny was all over me.
“You have a visitor,” Danny said, keeping his voice down.
“Who?”
“Someone who thinks you’re me.”
“Ah, fuck.” I leaned against the wall. “What did you say to her?”
“That I didn’t know if you were here. What do you want me to say to her? She seemed insistent she talk with you.”
Wouldn’t you know that at least two of the guys were paying close attention to what I was doing. “Where is she?”
“She’s waiting near the mechanical room. I don’t know, man. I think you’re going to need to tell her the truth.”
“Alright. Tell her you found me. I’ll be right there.”
“What if she comes looking for you?”
“Stall. Do whatever it takes.” Fuck. What in the hell had I managed to get myself in the middle of? I had to tell her the truth before things got further out of hand. Besides, if there was a wayward reporter hanging around, I’d be approached in a heartbeat.
“What’s up?” Nick, the Dreamboat, asked. He was the nosiest of the group of men, sniffing around as if eager to learn all my darkest secrets.
“A friend stopped by. That’s it.”
“Ah. Well, at least you have friends. I heard you were as good as your brother. I guess people were wrong.” He laughed and so did a couple of the others.
“Yeah, well, you know how rumors fly. I heard you were a real man,” I threw out while grabbing my jeans. “But I can tell they were wrong.”
“Oh!” at least three of the players said.
He moved closer, his chest puffed up. Nick was oh-so intimidating while wearing a towel. “I suggest we see who’s more of a man. You or me.”
Laughing, I zipped my jeans, turning to face him. “You couldn’t handle me, Nick. I’ll give you a piece of advice. Let it go.”
When he remained where he was, I was certain he was smart enough to take my advice.
I was wrong.
