Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
ROYCE
The paperwork on my desk is endless.
It's been a week since opening night, a week since my little menace and I officially crossed the line from enemies to… whatever we are now.
Partners, definitely.
Lovers, absolutely.
Something more than either of those labels but not quite ready to put a name to it yet.
A week of stolen kisses in empty hallways, of Kenny falling asleep on my couch while I work late, of learning exactly how he takes his coffee (two sugars, splash of cream, but he'd drink hot chocolate every morning if I let him). A week of falling deeper into a balance that simultaneously terrifies and exhilarates me. A week since I pretended not to know about his injury just so I could get his side of the story, a moment I couldn’t pass up since I want to know everything about him.
It’s an addiction at this point.
"Your Majesty?"
I look up to find Kenny leaning against my office doorframe, a familiar sight that still makes my heart do a stupid little flip.
He's in a navy suit today, tie slightly loosened because it's almost lunch, and he always loosens his tie around this time.
I've learned his patterns, his habits, the small details that make him who he is.
"Yes, Little Menace?"
"North is here to see you. I think he wants to take the job offer." He steps further into the office, his expression carefully blank.
I suspected he’d show up. To be fair, I didn’t think it would take this long.
"Send him in," I say, straightening the papers on my desk and switching into professional mode.
Kenneth nods, then pauses. "You want me to stick around?”
It's a simple question, but the consideration behind it makes my chest warm. He's asking if I need backup, if I want his support, without making assumptions about what I can handle on my own. He’s been doing this more since the game.
"I've got this," I tell him. "But thank you for asking."
He gives me a soft smile—the one he reserves just for me—and disappears back into the hallway. A moment later, a familiar young man appears in the doorway.
North is tall and broad, with the same sharp features as his brother but without Tollide's easy confidence.
He looks tired, has dark circles under his eyes, and his clothes are clean but worn jeans and a button-down that's seen better days.
There's a fragility about him, like he's holding himself together through sheer force of will.
"Hello Mr.—err, I’m not sure what to say actually?" he says, his voice uncertain.
"Royce is fine." I stand, gesturing to one of the chairs across from my desk. "Have a seat, North. Can I get you anything? Water, coffee?"
He sits carefully, as if he's afraid he might break the furniture. His hands fidget in his lap. "No, thank you. I appreciate you seeing me without an appointment. I know you must be busy."
"It's fine. Kenny said you're here to talk about the job offer?" I settle back into my chair, keeping my posture open and non-threatening. This man is nervous enough without me adding to it.
"Yes, please." He takes a breath, steeling himself. "I need a flexible schedule. Something that will let me take care of my brother."
"How is he doing?"
"Better. Physically, anyway. The doctors say he's healing well after the surgeries, but…
" North's jaw tightens. "He needs help. With everything.
Physical therapy appointments, follow-ups, just getting around the house.
I'm all he's got right now, and my current job—well, they're not exactly understanding about me needing time off. They’ve already been pissed that I've been gone for this long. "
I nod, already running through options in my mind. We have several positions that could work, depending on his skills and availability.
"Remind me of your background? Education, previous work experience?"
"I have a bachelor's degree in business," he says. "I've been doing data entry for the past several years, but like I said, they won't work with me on taking the time off I need anymore."
"So you’d say your computer skills are pretty good?"
"Proficient in Microsoft Office, some experience with database management. I’m good with all the basic programs, plus I'm a fast learner."
I pull up our current openings on my computer, scanning through the list even though I already have an idea of where I want him.
"We have a few options that might work. There's a part-time position in our ticket office—primarily data entry and customer service, flexible scheduling.
The pay is decent, and the hours can be arranged around your brother's appointments. "
North leans forward slightly, hope flickering in his eyes.
"I also have an alternative depending on how much sports knowledge you have," I continue. "This would be more varied work that involves analyzing plays and evaluating data sets with the coaches and players to help us play at our best level."
"Either of those would be amazing, though the second sounds like a dream," North says quietly. "I just need a job that won't fire me for putting my brother first."
The raw honesty in his voice hits me somewhere deep. I remember what it was like, feeling like you had to choose between taking care of yourself and meeting everyone else's expectations. The difference is I had family support. North doesn't have the same safety net.
"We can make this work," I tell him. "But I want to be clear about one thing. Family comes first here. If you need to leave for an emergency, if you need to adjust your schedule for appointments, you tell us, and we make it work. Understood?"
His eyes widen. "You mean that?"
"I don't say things I don't mean." I lean forward, holding his gaze. "My family owns this team, North, and one thing they taught me is that employees aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet. You take care of your people, they take care of you. So yes, I mean it."
For a moment, I think he might cry. He blinks rapidly, clearing his throat. "Thank you. I don't… I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll show up on time and do good work. That's all I ask."
"I can do that. And I have decades of baseball knowledge from being around my brother. I can analyze anything you throw my way." He sits up straighter, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "When can I start?"
"Let's get you set up with HR first, get all the paperwork handled. Then we can—"
A knock on the doorframe interrupts me. I look up to find Gillies standing there, still in his practice gear, a baseball cap turned backwards on his head.
"Hey, Royce, sorry to interrupt. I'm looking for Kenny. He around?" Gillies stops mid-sentence as his eyes land on North.
There’s a shift in the air.
Gillies goes completely still, his usual easy demeanor replaced by a more focused, more intense look. North's back is to the door, but I see his shoulders tense, like he can feel Gillies's gaze even without seeing it.
"Kenny stepped away for a bit," I say slowly, watching the way Gillies can't seem to take his eyes off the back of North's head. "Maybe check down the hall in the conference room. He likes to spread out his work there sometimes."
"Right. Yeah. Thanks." But Gillies doesn't move. He's staring at North like he's trying to solve a particularly complicated puzzle.
North finally turns to see what's taking so long, and when his eyes meet Gillies's, I swear I can see the exact moment it clicks between them. North's breath catches. Gillies's jaw tightens.
"Sorry," Gillies says, though he doesn't sound sorry at all. He sounds almost dazed. "Didn't mean to interrupt."
"You're not interrupting," I say, though clearly he is. "Gillies, this is North. He's going to be joining our team as a data analyst. North, this is Gillies, one of our star players."
"Hi," North says, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Hey." Gillies takes a step into the office, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you."
North stands, taking Gillies's hand, and I watch as they both hold on just a fraction too long. Neither of them seems to notice or care.
"You too," North manages.
They're still holding hands.
I clear my throat. "Gillies, was there something specific you needed Kenny for? Maybe I can help instead since you’re here already?"
The sound of my voice seems to break whatever spell they're under. They both drop hands quickly, North sitting back down while Gillies takes a step back toward the door.
"It can wait," Gillies says, though his eyes keep drifting back to North. "Just wanted to talk about the training schedule for next week, but it's not urgent."
"I can let him know you stopped by,” I suggest in case he’s too distracted to actually make it to Kenny.
"Yeah. Cool. Thanks." Gillies backs toward the door, nearly running into the frame before correcting course. "Nice to meet you, North."
"You too," North says again, and I don't miss the faint blush coloring his cheeks.
Gillies finally disappears down the hallway, and I can hear his footsteps—faster than normal—heading toward the conference room. I hope Kenny is ready for whatever panic his best friend has after this encounter.
North is staring at his hands, a small smile playing at his lips before he seems to remember where he is and schools his expression back to neutral.
Interesting.
"Where were we?" I ask, pretending I didn't just witness whatever that was.
"HR paperwork," North says, his voice slightly higher than before.
"Right." I pull up the employee onboarding portal on my computer. "Let me get you set up with an account. You'll be able to complete most of the forms online, but you'll need to come in tomorrow to finish the process and get your badge."
As I walk him through the next steps, I can't help but notice the way he keeps glancing toward the door, like he's hoping Gillies might come back.
And the way his hand keeps moving to his phone in his pocket, like he's resisting the urge to…
what? Look up more information about the player he just met?