I knew he was referring to my newfound “boring” lifestyle. The thing was, it wasn’t boring to me. I loved the predictability of it. I’d lived with the opposite for so long, and it was a welcome change. I had to admit though, his support surprised me.

I stared at him curiously. “Are you saying you approve of me, Cassidy?”

He huffed a breath, his expression deadly serious. “I’m saying I recognize the look in your eye when you’re around Eilish. It’s how I’d like to think I look at Lucy, full of adoration and awe. As long as you keep looking at her that way, we won’t have a problem. And, to be quite blunt, you could use some happiness. You’ve become as palatable as those prunes in your fridge in recent months and I don’t think it’s the lack of alcohol prematurely turning you into a joyless old codger. So yes, I approve of it wholeheartedly. In fact, seduce her again.”

I coughed, choking on nothing, and sputtered, “What? What did you say?”

“I said seduce her. And do it soon. She has more unresolved feelings for you than Perrie Edwards has for Zayn Malik.”

I stared at him for several seconds, dumbfounded. “Who?”

He threw his hands up in the air. “See. This is half the problem. I should’ve used Jen and Brad as an example instead. You’re completely out of touch, Bryan. Can you even remember how to seduce a woman?”

“Of course I can remember.”

One eyebrow rose slowly.

“I’m more than capable,” I insisted.

The eyebrow rose even higher.

“Hey!”

“I’m only trying to help. Maybe look up some moves or watch some videos, do whatever it takes to make sure you’re not rusty and she enjoys herself.”

Now I was offended. “Seriously, fuck you, Sean. Of course she’ll enjoy herself. She’ll like it so much she’ll beg me for—”

“Hey.” My teammate narrowed his eyes, cutting his hand through the air. “I don’t need or want to know the specifics. I’m just saying, take good care of her. She gives and gives and gives. It’s time she received, Leech. I want her to receive and be cared for. And don’t be selfish.”

“I won’t be.” I shook my head with the denial, staring at Sean.

Staring at him because . . .

Did he just tell me to seduce his cousin?

No. He’d just ordered me to do it. And then he’d ordered me to make sure she got off.

Well, hell.

I couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Wonders really do never cease.

Chapter Fifteen

ECassChoosesPikachu: When you want something but you know you can’t have it because it’ll give you heart disease. And maybe cancer.

SeanCassinova to ECassChoosesPikachu: Terribly melodramatic, aren’t we?

ECassChoosesPikachu to SeanCassinova: I meant figurative cancer, of my soul.

SeanCassinova to ECassChoosesPikachu: I stand by my previous tweet.

*Eilish*

Maybe it was the full moon. Maybe someone had put chatty potion in the water cooler. Or maybe it was the fact that the first game of the pre-season was quickly approaching. Whatever the reason, everyone had been much more talkative than usual.

Jogging down the stairs, I glanced at my watch and groaned. It was well past seven p.m. and I was now running horribly late for my last appointment of the day. Sean had left at five to pick up Patrick from school, thank goodness. But I felt terrible about my tardiness since my last appointment was with William Moore, who was still the nicest, most polite person on the face of the earth.

Out of breath, I burst through the locker room door, scanning the mostly empty space for the hulking flanker. My hand came to my forehead and I wiped perspiration away.

“Who’re you looking for, love?”

I glanced to the side, finding Ronan Fitzpatrick pulling a bag onto his shoulder.

“Uh, William. Have you seen him?”

He shook his head and his brown eyes seemed to sparkle with some mischief. “Not recently. But he was looking for you earlier.”

I groaned again. “I’m so late. We were supposed to meet at five thirty, but Daly—”

“That Daly’s a talker, hopefully he kept his conversation polite.” Ronan lifted his eyebrows questioningly.

Since Ronan’s sister, Lucy, and Sean had become an item, I’d grown to know Ronan and his wife, Annie, fairly well. He’d put in a good word for me when I applied for my position. We weren’t friends, per se, but I felt I knew him. At least, I knew him better than the other lads on the team.

“It’s not really Daly’s fault I’m late. I’ve been running late all day,” I said mournfully. “Damn it. I really wanted to check on William’s hamstring. He’s been doing so well.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, just have him paged.”

I studied the stocky captain, my hands on my hips, my mouth twisted to the side. “Do you think he’s still around?”

“Like I said,” a slow, meaningful grin spread over Ronan’s mouth, making him look like he knew a secret, “Will has been waiting for you.”

With one more pointed look, which I could not interpret, Ronan walked toward the door, saying as he passed, “Stay right here, I’ll have him paged for you.”

“Thank you.” I turned to watch him go, giving him a grateful smile.

“Not a problem, kiddo.” He winked at me in a way that felt remarkably brotherly, then disappeared out the door, leaving me in the empty locker room.