Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(8)

“Somethin’ like that. But seriously, I hardly see him because my attention was drawn to the redhead standing at his side. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming freight train.” Spencer frowns as though he’s reliving that moment. “I seriously doubt she was surprised to see me, but she acted like it. When Mark introduced her, I couldn’t even acknowledge her, man. I was too stunned to move.”

“Did she suck in bed? Or was she psycho?” I’m trying to understand why this particular chick has him so worked up. “Did she roast your nuts or what?” I’m drawing a serious blank when it comes to this girl.

“Because she’s Amber North.”

Again, I don’t know what the hell that’s supposed to mean, but Spencer doesn’t seem to care that I’m out of the loop.

“Mark then rattles off an introduction, but I know she doesn’t need one. She already f*cking knows me. Pretty damn well, considering I dated her for a grand total of four f*cking years.”

I sit up, grinning. “Oh, shit, bro. She’s the chick who Dear John’d you via voice mail?” This is f*cking priceless.

I’ve known Spencer for a long damn time. There’s a long string of women who’ve ventured through the revolving door of the man’s bed, but there was only one chick who he’d been with for any length of time. She happened to be in his life around the time that I met him back in college. She burned him pretty damn bad. Apparently, her name is Amber North.

Spencer glares at me. He’s clearly not as amused as I am.

“I have no f*cking idea what they hoped to accomplish during that meeting, but at that point, I checked the f*ck out. It pissed me off that she blindsided me.”

“You think she should’ve given you a heads-up? When’s the last time you talked to her?” To my knowledge, Kaufman’s never talked to her since he listened to her sad tale on his voice mail years and years ago.

“That’s beside the point,” he says with a snort. “And yes, I think she could’ve warned me. Instead, I sat there like a dumb ass. I damn sure couldn’t focus on whatever the hell they were talking about. The only thing I could think about was the fact that I was sitting next to the woman who dumped my ass seventeen years ago without giving me a f*cking reason.”

I down more of my beer while I watch my buddy. He’s kind of pathetic right now, and I can’t help but be entertained by it. I know he would feel the same way if I were the one sitting here whining like a little girl. Clearly, seeing this chick again has f*cked with his head.

“Does she look good?”

Spencer’s eyes lock on mine. “What?”

I smirk. “This ghost from your past. Did she age well?”

“Fuck off, man.”

“What?” I hold my hands up in mock surrender. “I can’t help it. This is like one of those Lifetime movies my mother used to watch.”

“This ain’t fiction.”

“No, but it’s f*cking funny.”

Spencer glares at me.

Okay, fine. It’s funny to me.

“The next thing I know, I’m agreeing with Coach and I have no clue what the hell he even said.”

“Then what?”

Spencer shakes his head, taking a long draw on his beer. Setting his arm on the armrest, he stares at his beer bottle dangling from his hand while he talks. “I only caught a little of what he said. Something about having a discussion with the team on Monday. He mentioned sharing his plan and then talking to the players one at a time.”

Fuck.

Out of all the shit Spencer just laid on me, that’s the only damn thing I can focus on. I know exactly what Coach plans to do. He intends to read us the riot act, then he’ll likely be personally busting my balls.

“Did he say who?”

Spencer shakes his head. “Not specifically, just that there are a few he wants to talk to. Said they’re his main focus this season, and he wasn’t referring to their abilities on the ice.”

Yep, I’m totally f*cking screwed. It isn’t a coincidence that ESPN did a segment on bad boys in sports—their title, not mine—just last night. My f*cking name and picture were plastered all over the damn thing thanks to the bullshit that went down last year. My guess is Coach saw it and he wants to get a jump on it now before it’s the only thing people talk about this season. Almost makes sense to me.

But one thing I don’t understand… “So, why’d they want you there?”

His smile is devilish. “Oh, that’s the best f*cking part.” The sarcasm is practically dripping from his lips. “I’m supposedly an integral part of all this.” Spencer uses air quotes as he mocks Phoenix. “He wants me involved in all of it, and he was kind enough to tell me he’d share his reasons for that later.”

“You’re the captain. What’d you expect?”

“I didn’t sign up to be a damn mediator for this shit.”

That’s Spencer’s favorite line. Considering the guy cherishes the role as captain when it comes to rallying the troops and pulling the team together as one, it’s mostly bullshit. He’s a phenomenal team captain. Not a single player doubts that he stands behind them one hundred percent. Never mind the fact Spencer likes to pretend he’s a hard-ass.