Hard Limit (St. Louis Mavericks 2)

“I think Sawyer Cain is here,” he said.

He was right. Wes was leading our new defenseman into the locker room and introducing him to everyone. When he made it to our group, he wasn’t even smiling.

“Sawyer, this is Lars, Drew, and Nash. I think you know who they all are. Guys, our new teammate, Sawyer.”

Drew held out his hand and Sawyer shook it.

“Great to meet you,” Drew said. “Glad to have you here.”

“Hey, man,” Nash said. “Welcome to the Lou.”

When it was my turn to shake his hand, Sawyer and I exchanged a serious look and then I grunted in greeting. I was too wrapped up in how I’d fucked things up with Sheridan—again.

“Don’t mind him,” Nash said, nodding toward me. “He’s an asshole to everyone.”

“I am…” I searched for the word, finally remembering it. “Distracted. I am sorry.”

“It’s okay, man,” Sawyer said.

“You want to get lunch after your first practice?” Wes asked Sawyer. “There’s a great deli close by, or a hibachi place.”

Sawyer shook his head. “Nah, I’ve got plans already. If you could just show me where my locker is, I want to get ready for practice.”

After a beat of silence, Wes said, “Yeah, man. Of course.”

He led Sawyer to a locker on the other side of the room. Nash and Drew exchanged a look.

“He seems friendly,” Drew said in a low tone.

I looked at Nash, and he knew what I was wondering without me even having to ask.

“Yeah, that was sarcasm,” he said.

The woman at the floral shop had helped me decide what kind of flowers to send Sheridan, and she’d texted me back that she’d love something from Starbucks and included her order.

Which, by the way, was absurd. Iced white mocha with sweet cream foam, an extra shot, and extra caramel drizzle? I drank black coffee. I couldn’t now and never would understand the lure of sugary coffee. But if it would make Sheridan happy, I’d stand in the longest Starbucks line ever and get her the drink she wanted.

I’d already showered and was about to pick up lunch for the two of us, and her drink, when a Mavericks intern stopped me outside of the locker room.

“Mr. Jansson, Gloria wants to see you,” she said.

I frowned. “Gloria?”

“The head of PR for the Mavericks…sir,” she said, looking nervous.

“I am in a hurry. Can I talk to her another day?”

The intern was less than half my size, and her eyes widened as she looked up at me. “I don’t…um, she said she really needs to see you.”

I huffed out a sigh. Sheridan was expecting me, and I didn’t want to disappoint her. Again.

“Okay, I will go, but I need to hurry.”

The intern had to jog to keep up with me as I quickly walked to the administrative offices located on the other side of the arena. When we arrived in the lobby, she was out of breath as she said, “You can have a seat…anywhere. I’ll tell Gloria you’re here.”

“You said now,” I protested. “I am ready now.”

“Just…okay,” she said, motioning for me to follow her.

Gloria’s office was at the end of a hallway. I rarely did interviews and avoided all things PR as much as I possibly could. My teammates were better at it, anyway, so it worked out for all of us.

The intern knocked on Gloria’s door and Gloria called out, “Come on in.”

She opened the door and said, “Hi Gloria, I have Mr. Jansson here. He’s eager to get the meeting started.”

“Perfect!” Gloria stood up from behind her desk as I walked into the room. “Have a seat, Lars.”

“I am hurried,” I told her. “In hurry. I can’t remember, but you know what I am saying.”

“I understand, and I’ll make this quick.” She leaned back against the front of her desk and I sat down in a chair along the wall. “I had no idea you were dating Sheridan Lee. I mean, I knew you went on one date with her, because of the charity auction, but the photos and videos I’ve seen online today seem to indicate there’s something more between the two of you.”

I just looked at her, waiting for her to actually ask me a question. She lowered her brows, looking frustrated.

“Lars, the PR department needs to know these things. We were totally unprepared to respond to the questions we’ve had coming in all day about you and Sheridan.”

Still, she hadn’t asked me a question. I folded my arms across my chest and said, “My contract does not say I have to do that.”

“No, I imagine it doesn’t,” Gloria said, giving me a pointed look. “But I’m telling you that, as a courtesy, we need to know these things.”

“My coaches tell me things. And my GM. You do not.” I stood up, giving her an expectant look.

“Really? You’re going to make me go through Coach Gizzard?”