They are on and ready for the season ahead.
When we get back to the locker room, someone finger whistles to hush the room, and I naturally look around for Thomas. That was his thing. Not the whistle specifically, but I could always rely on him if I needed to get the guys’ attention. I miss him. It’s not going to be the same now that he’s retired.
My eyes lock on Luke’s, and his knowing smile has me stifling a laugh. He misses him too. They may be brothers-in-law and still see each other regularly, but I’ll bet it’s not the same. Other than a few years when Thomas played for Seattle, they’ve been teammates their whole lives. I’m surprised that Luke’s playing for another season. I always thought they’d retire at the same time.
The room finally falls quiet and I tap my clipboard, running down the list of names I need to see after they shower. “I need Rivers, Coombs, Jeffries, and Wilder in my?—”
“You mean your brother?” one of the rookies calls out and I roll my eyes. It’s day one of training camp, and we’ve already identified the new comedian.
Guess what, James? I, too, can be funny.
“I have a brother?” I fake a gasp and all but Easton and James laugh. “Yes, Easton is my brother. For those of you that find it so fascinating, let me tell you something that will blow your minds… We share a mother and a father too.”
Luke mimes his head exploding before shooting me a wink, and I shake my head. That’s exactly how he reacted when he first found out I was related to East, but that’s mainly because he considered us friends and thought that he knew me.
He was half right. Wewerefriends. Weare. I didn’t tell him because Easton asked me to keep our connection quiet when I landed the job not too long after he was recruited. Hedidn’t want anyone to think he’d helped me get the role. I may complain about him often—especially since he never told me that was his reasoning until last year—but he’s a good guy at heart.
Doesn’t mean I’m going to stop driving him crazy.
“And before you ask,” I continue, smiling when I note the beginning of Easton’s scowl, “he is grumpy all the time. It’s no different around his family.”
Easton flips me off, and I take that as my cue to get the room back in order. If I don’t, he’s likely to cut me off, and I’d miss my nephew far too much for that.
“Anyway, back to my list. If I named you, I need you in my office after you’ve showered. Thank you.”
I jump down from the bench seat and stumble over an abandoned cleat, falling into strong arms.
“Are you okay, ma’am?” Beckett’s gaze softens in concern and I smile in response.
“I’m good, thank you, Beckett. We haven’t really had the chance to talk yet. How are you settling in?”
Beckett packed up his life in Colorado and moved here a couple of months ago so he could train with the team. When I saw him coming out of Sal’s office on his first day, I almost hugged him for how grateful I was to have him here. If he hadn’t taken a chance on us, I would have had to come clean about Vance, and I’m ninety percent sure my life would be completely different right now.
I’m not sure how it would look, but it wouldn’t be the same.
Beckett offers me a whisper of a smile, and I see the moment he switches over to professional mode, as though I’m interviewing him during the post-win celebrations. “I’m good. Great even. Thanks for asking.”
“And everyone’s treating you well?”
“Of course.”
“No issues?”
“None.”
He’s a man of few words, but I don’t think he’s lying. The team respects the hell out of him as a player, and it only took a day for him to prove himself as a good leader during some of the team workouts. Even if he mostly keeps to himself.
“I’ll leave you to it then. Thank you for saving me.”
“Any time, ma’am.”
Ma’am.If I was really a ma’am, I don’t think Sal would have an issue with the two of us sleeping together. But since I’m very much not a ma’am, I’m destined to continue on the path of self-love.
Yes, I’m still obsessing over this months later.What the hell is wrong with me?
I glance up in time to catch Sal across the room, the hint of a scowl marring his features as he watches Beckett walk away from me.
And that’s why I’m still obsessed. Talk about mixed fucking signals.
