Pucking Strong (Jacksonville Rays #4)

by Emily Rath

“Just do it,” Teddy says, holding still while the photographer angles my face until I’m all but breathing down his neck. He snaps a few pictures of us like this. With each click, I fight the urge to look up and inspect which camera body and lens he’s using. Once they free us, Teddy darts away. Swiping his backpack off a chair, he heads for the door. Janine steps in just as I go to follow. “Oh, Henrik, I wondered if I could get just a few more pull quotes for the article—” “No.” I step around her. “Please, excuse me.” Something’s wrong. I can feel it. I follow after Teddy. “Hey,” I call out just before he ducks into the stairwell. “Teddy, wait.” He pauses, back turned, one hand holding open the stairwell door. “Where are you going? We drove here together, remember?” He turns as I approach, and I stop in my tracks. There are tears in his eyes. “Teddy, what . . .” I reach for him, but he jerks away, backing into the stairwell. “What the fuck was that?” I’m reeling, trying to pinpoint what upset him. “Did someone say something to you? Or do something? Who was it? Tell me—” “You did!” I blink. “What?” “You told those assholes about the sidewalk!” “And that’s . . . bad?” He huffs, crossing his arms. “We agreed that our first meeting story would be in the gym when you walked up with Sully. Remember, baby?” “Teddy, I—but you heard Poppy. She said to tell the truth as much as we were able. That’s all I did.” “The sidewalk story was private. It was ours. It—fuck—” He spins away, dar...