9
ROMAN
I don’t often takepart in the team’s extracurriculars.
Even tonight, I had no plans on joining them at a rock concert put on by an artist that I don’t particularly enjoy. Evie considers me a grandpa because I don’t listen to music unless I’m at the gym, but I simply find it distracting. I can’t focus properly when I have fast beats and strings of lyrics in my ears.
If my darling niece hadn’t forbidden me from staying in myownhome and shoved me out the door so she could use the pool for a photoshoot, I’d be spending the night in my office, watching game films.
There are other things I could have done instead of taking one of my own tickets to the Noah Hutton concert, but at least while I’m here, I can make sure none of my players act like fools in the public eye. Typically, I’d put that responsibility on an intern, but here I am.
I’m early enough that the only player I’ve had to make small talk with is Beckett Rourke. I’d have preferred almost anyone else.
“Is there a reason you weren’t gonna come?” he asks around the rim of his beer cup. “Do you not like rock or something?”
I fold my hands on the bar top and lean forward, adjusting my footing. The suite reserved for us by the owner of the BC Pythons was a gift of appreciation for our long-standing friendship, but right now, it feels more like a punishment. Looking out over the private rows of seating below the suite’s bar, I twirl the black ring on my thumb.
“Are you asking because you’re genuinely curious or because you want to learn something about me to share with the team?” I counter.
He chuckles beside me. “Both. You’ve been with the team for years now, and it still feels like we know jack shit about you.”
“You know plenty.”
“I know you’ve got a niece that you don’t let hang around us. That hurts my feelings, Rome.”
From the lighthearted tilt of his voice, I highly doubt that.
“Maybe if I didn’t think you were going to try and swoop in and run your lips flirting with her, I’d give her the option more.”
“Oof. Alright, I’ll take that. But I promise that I’ll be on my best behaviour whenever she’s around.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
He laughs harder, this time drawing my gaze. I lift a brow when he smirks and rolls his shoulders back. “Fair enough. You’ve been speaking to Wes, haven’t you?”
“Why would you come up in conversations with Wesley?”
“Wesley.” He snorts the name, like my use of it is as ridiculous as everyone seems to believe. “Because he’s always on my ass about Brielle. Apparently, when a guy asks his teammate’s sister out thrice, he gets crowned a player.”
Heat zips up my spine. “You didn’t stop after the first warning?”
“What’s the fun in that?”
“You enjoy being a menace, Beckett.”
He takes another sip of his beer before resting it on the bar and tapping a painted black fingernail against the glass. “I’ve heard that a time or two.”
“What time is everyone else arriving?”
“Why? Are you desperate for someone else to occupy you?”
“I’d appreciate if someone else were here to hold your attention, yes,” I admit.
I catch the slight curl of his lips before looking forward again. The arena is filling slowly, with only the opener set to come out in the next few minutes. My concert etiquette is slacking, considering how few of these I actually attend.
“Tough crowd.”
“Don’t pretend like you aren’t hoping for someone else to talk to. I know how close all of you are.”
