Teddy didn’t react in an obvious way, but her stillness was the kind that could snap steel.
Kaplan added, “No shame in it, of course. It’s simply the nature of women’s sport.”
My vision blurred to red. “Kaplan—” I started, stepping in.
Teddy’s hand touched my forearm, and my eyes cut to hers. She gave me one firm shake of her head, and that was enough to stop me.
“Mr. Kaplan,” she began politely, which was more than he deserved, “our performance doesn’t reflect any of the limitations you just mentioned. Not physical capability. Not durability. Not consistency. The Valkyries have performed at elite levels prior to this club being made professional. Our metrics improve every season, and they will continue to do so.”
Kaplan blinked. “I only meant—”
“You meant that you don’t believe women’s rugby can be as powerful or profitable as men’s,” Teddy replied coolly. “And that belief isn’t based on evidence. It’s based on bias.”
I don’t think Teddy realized, but those around us quietened, causing a ripple effect across the room.
Despite so many eyes on her, she continued, not raising her voice even a fraction.
“If you want a program to succeed, you don’t undermine the athletes driving it. You invest in them consistently. Without assuming they’re fragile. Without using their gender as a barrier. Which is exactly what many brands are doing at the moment; supporting us.”
Kaplan’s face dropped several shades in color as his beady eyes darted around the room, finding all attention was on him.
“I—Well—I didn’t intend—”
“You did,” she said gently, which somehow landed harder. “But you should know that me and my team are strong, resilient, and every single one of us puts in the hours and effort it takes to be worthy of the stadium. You might want to consider investing in the future of rugby, because it’s female.”
Murmurs traveled through the crowd. Kaplan flushed and quiet.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Kaplan,” Teddy added, lifting her glass with a calmness that did not match the fire she’d just unleashed, “I believe there are other conversations I’d rather be having.”
Teddy turned away from him without missing a beat, posture relaxed, expression composed—like she hadn’t just dismantled a man twice her age. She glided through the small group of people with ease.
And I was absolutely not hiding the grin tugging at the corner of my mouth as I followed her.
Or at least, I tried to. Waiters walked in my path, and I edged around them, careful not to knock their trays when another guest drifted across, cutting off my line of sight for a second as she moved farther down the hall.
I made it through the final cluster of people and exhaled, increasing my pace. “Teddy,” I called out as she wove through a doorway.
She cut down a side hallway, moving with a purpose that pulled me along. When she disappeared through a narrow door, so did I.
The door clicked shut behind me, encasing us in much lower light and what appeared to be… a closet of sorts.
She stood with her back to me, one hand braced on a wall at the back of the small room, her breath coming a little too quickly. Exhaling harshly, she shook her head once. “I just—needed a second.”
“Okay,” I murmured. “Then take a second.”
But she turned quickly instead. Her chest was rising and falling fast now, like she couldn’t quite catch up with herself. As her eyes locked on mine, bright even in the dim light, they looked unsettled, full of everything she’d swallowed since the elevator.
Then before I’d even formed a thought, she grabbed the front of my jacket, pulled me down, and kissed me.
Heat slammed through me so fast my breath vanished. Her mouth pressed hard to mine, urgent and filled with passion like she’d been holding back all night and there was nowhere else for it to go. God, had she known how much I’d wanted this?
I caught her waist, steadying her, steadying myself, kissing her back because there wasn’t a single part of me capable of not doing that.
Her hands slid up my chest, fingers twirling to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. She made a sound against my mouth, small and frustrated, the noise rippling down my spine.
“Teddy—” I tried, breaking just enough to speak.
She shook her head once, breath hot on my lips. “Don’t talk.”
