Her fingers started rubbing gently across his skin. “It sounds like you get to leave soon?”
“Not exactly.” He chuckled and took a step back, causing her hand to fall from his arm. “Miriam’s just a little upset with me right now.”
McKensie’s eyebrows lowered. “Is she your girlfriend or something?”
He wished, and almost said yes, but Silas also knew that with his luck it would somehow make it back to Miriam. That was the last thing he needed while he was trying to win her back. He let out a long breath. “It’s complicated.”
The sly smile returned to McKensie’s face. “Well, if you ever decide that you want something that’s less...complicated, let me know. We could go out sometime.”
She wasn’t subtle, that was for sure. And even though Silas wasn’t interested in anyone but Miriam, he still felt his cheeks warm at McKensie’s obvious interest. It didn’t matter how many times he was hit on, his heart had been lost three years ago when he’d seen Miriam smile for the first time. “I’d better get back inside and see if I can get a few more people interested in coming to our home opener.”
McKensie held up the flyer with the season’s schedule. “Well, you know I’ll be there.”
Silas forced a smile, eager to get inside. “And we really appreciate your support.”
He turned and started back toward the store, when he saw Vinny and Grant walking toward him, both wearing matching Storm hoodies—and frowns.
Grant pressed his lips together and shook his head. “You know, I thought maybe the veteran players on the team were jealous of your success with the Wolves, and that was why they didn’t trust you. But then you lied about the event getting pushed back, and now I get it.”
Silas’ stomach dropped. “It’s not like that.”
Vinny stepped toward him and shoved a finger against Silas’ chest. “You’re trying to make us look bad. And you know what? The joke’s on you because now you just look desperate.” He pulled his hand back. “Did you choose to leave the Wolves? Or were they thrilled when the contract was up, and they could drop your sorry—”
“They didn’t drop me.”
Grant rolled his eyes. “I guess we’ll see when the season starts. But for now, Vinny and I are late for our first meet and greet. So we’re heading inside.”
Vinny didn’t move right away. His angry eyes bore into Silas with a threat of violence. Silas worried Vinny was going to go off on him in the middle of the parking lot, and he didn’t want to think about what kind of damage that would do to the team’s image. Thankfully, he turned and walked with Grant inside the store.
Silas gave them a small head start and took a deep breath. He’d just wanted some time alone with Miriam, but these new guys didn’t know his history with her. Of course, Grant and Vinny would think he’d done it to make them look bad.
Silas had been a part of the Storm for barely over a week and was already making a big impression—just not the one he had hoped.
When he finally made it inside, Miriam was talking to Vinny and Grant. She was smiling. They were smiling. But even Silas could see that everyone was faking their cheerful attitudes.
“So, I think the best thing to do right now is to walk around the store and pass some of these BOGO cards out to shoppers. Tell them it’s good for any game, including the home opener.”
Vinny and Grant both took their stacks. “Anything else?”
“Try to act excited. Tell them that there will be giveaways before the game. Anything to get more people in the door.”
They nodded, and with a glare in Silas’ direction, they both started walking toward the back of the store.
Once they were gone, Miriam spoke without looking at Silas. “I thought I told you that I didn’t need you today. You can go home. Go hang out with McKensie.”
The way she spat the other woman’s name gave Silas an inkling of hope. If she was jealous of him talking to McKensie, maybe she still felt something deep down. Of course, it could also be a deep-seated hatred that would make anything she said sound angry.
Silas tried his best to give her a carefree smile, but everything was going wrong. “Well, I’m already here. Maybe I can stick around the table with you in case anyone comes by.”
Miriam sighed. “Fine. Do whatever you want. You always have.”
Yeah, that sounded much more like hatred than jealousy.
Silas grabbed some more flyers with the season schedule on them while Miriam started straightening already straight stacks of cards. Then she rearranged the plastic Storm cups into a formation that looked oddly familiar to the one it had already been in. All the while, she kept her head low, and her gaze averted from Silas.
As customers walked out, Silas tried to hand them flyers. Some would take them, but by the way they crumpled them and tossed them in their shopping bags without a second glance, Silas knew they wouldn’t be coming to any of the games. Others walked by, avoiding eye contact like Scrooge racing past a Salvation Army bell ringer at Christmas.
It was discouraging. That was, until a guy walked over to the table with a big grin on his face. “Silas Jenkins.”
Silas let out a sigh of relief. Finally, something was going right. Not only did someone recognize him, they seemed genuinely happy to see him. Silas stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
The man didn’t take it and shook his head. Now that Silas got a better look, he could see that the man’s grin—which was still plastered to his face—was as fake as everyone else’s that afternoon. “I can’t believe you’re back.”
Silas nodded, pretending he didn’t feel the awkwardness that hung in the air. “I’m happy to be playing for the Storm again.”
“Are you?” The man’s brows lowered. “Or are you just buying time until another team shows interest? Maybe
