Page 36 of Pucked Together

My phone buzzes in my pant pocket for what feels like the fifteenth time today.

Rina is still giving me the rundown of the expectations and what we're trying to capture for both the Heatwave's social media presence and editorials. We're going through examples of what not to do when my phone buzzes again. I don't dare check it. She pauses as I reach into my pocket to silence the vibrating.

"Uh, you should probably get that. Sounds like it might be an emergency."

I let out a nervous chuckle, realizing she's probably just as annoyed with the interruptions as I am. When I see that the caller ID is Keelan, Rina's eyes look from the screen and back to me, and she nods for me to answer.

"Excuse me," I say, backing away towards the entrance of her office.

"Yes, brother?" I hiss out as I shut the door behind me.

"Fuckin' Ryker, Iz?" He's furious.

"Um, what?"

"I warned you. These guys aren't what you need. You need to end it."

"What are you—" I see a tall figure moving down the hall. He takes up almost all the space as he stalks towards me.

"Keelan, I have to go."

"End it!" He says before I hang up.

"Ryker, what the hell is going on?"

Ryker slows down as he reaches me and pauses to look through the small window on the door of Rina's office. She's inside taking a call now.

"We need to talk."

"I'm in the middle of work, if you can't tell." I swear they're all such divas.

I turn to reach for the knob, and he places a solid hand on my shoulder.

"This can't wait," he urges me.

I look from his hand back to his face. He's serious. I mean, he usually is, but something must've happened.

"Fine, wait here."

I open the door and excuse myself with Rina, telling her I need a bathroom break. She smiles and waves me off, still talking on the phone.

I shut the door and grab Ryker's wrist so he can follow me into the equipment storage closet I saw on my way in. I pull him in and shut the door behind us, fumbling to find the light switch. He reaches over from behind me and flicks it on.

When I turn to face him, he looks...distraught. I can already put the pieces together.

"Trevor told Keelan you and I are a thing, didn't he?"

"Uh, not exactly." He brings an arm up to rub the back of his neck, causing his biceps to bulge, and I have to pull my eyes away from the delicious movement of his muscles to focus on his face.

"Well then, why is he blowing up my phone, telling me to call it quits with you?" I put my hands on my hips and glare up at him.

"Because I told him."

"You, what?"

"And the guys. And..." he pauses. I motion for him to go on. "Coach Murray," he blurts out.

"Shit."