19. Jake
The meeting with Melissa lasts so long that by the time it’s over, I have a headache. I try to pay attention, especially since she’s going over events that require our presence, and I have a bad reputation to salvage. Shoving a drunk patron into the swimming pool during a charity event last year put me on Melissa’s shit list. In my defense, he was being extremely obnoxious toward the waitressing staff.
Ryan pays zero attention and keeps checking his phone while Lachy remains unmovable, arms crossed and glowering at anyone who looks at him.
When the meeting finally ends, I jump from my chair, but Melissa’s gaze finds mine. “Jake, may I have a word?”
I glance at Ryan and Lachy, but since Melissa didn’t ask to speak with them, they leave the room with everyone else.
“What’s up, Mel?” I ask once we’re alone.
“You know what’s up. You said you’d explain Ryan’s enigmatic answer later. This is later.”
Her expression is serious, which means there’s no room for jokes. “You don’t want all the details.”
She narrows her eyes. “No, I don’t need that. I just want to know if any of you plan to keep seeing June.”
“As in date her?”
She waves her hand. “Date her, hook up with her, whatever. What happened at the arena with June is still newsworthy. Several online sites have written about her fiasco, and they’ve also shared the picture she posted online with you.”
My brows arch. “Are you mad about that?”
She shakes her head. “No. I encouraged her to do just that. I’m not judging, but I need to know if she’s going to be around. If that’s the case, she needs media training.”
I cross my arms. “I don’t recall any other WAG receiving media training.”
Melissa smirks. “June’s circumstance is special. She isn’t like the others.”
You got that right. She isn’t.
“All right. Then you should definitely speak with June about that training.”
Melissa’s eyes widen a bit. “Really? You’re interested in dating her?”
Am I? I want to spend time with her, but dating is another story. “You know I don’t date.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh yeah. I forgot. You and Ryan suffer from the same commitment phobia. Lachy then.”
“I can’t speak for him. All I’m saying is, I think June should get media training, because she’ll be our neighbor for the next three months, and it’s very likely she’ll be seen with us.”
Melissa’s mouth makes a perfect O. “I didn’t think there were apartments available for rent in your building.”
“She’s staying in Mrs. Carpenter’s apartment while she’s on her trip.”
“Ah, that’s the lady with all the pets.” Understanding shines in her eyes. “Oh my God. You’ve asked June to pet sit for you. Jake...”
“What?” I shrug. “She needed a place to stay after her douche ex kicked her out of their apartment, and I offered her a solution. It’s a good trade.”
Melissa’s spine goes straight. “He kicked her out?”
“Yeah, all her things were in the hallway when she got home.”
Melissa loses some of the sharpness in her gaze. She’s in business mode most of the time, but it seems June made an impression on her as well. Melissa likes her. “I can’t believe he did that. How is she holding up?”
“When we dropped by her place to return her wallet, she was a mess. Her ex is lucky he was already gone when we got there.”
She levels me with a glare. “No. You were lucky. You can’t get into another fight, Jake. You’re the captain, for fuck’s sake. You need to set the example.”
Rubbing my face, I look away. “I know. I promise I’ll try to be on my best behavior.”
“You’d better. You know there’s a reception after the game with the New York Bobcats tomorrow.”
I frown. “So? I have no issues with anyone in the organization.”
She gives me a loaded stare that I can feel in my bones. “Your father and your brother will be in attendance.”
My stomach coils tightly and painfully. Hell, now I know why my brother was calling me. “Why?”
“One of your father’s clients is a major sponsor of the Bobcats.”
Fuck me.
Melissa tilts her head. “Will that be a problem, Jake?”
I stand straighter. “No. Is that all?”
She nods.
I’m in a piss-poor mood when I walk out of the meeting room. Ryan and Lachy are waiting for me in the hallway.
Lachy pushes off the wall and turns to me. “What did Melissa want?”
“To ask if June needs media training.”
Ryan jerks back. “Why would she need that?”
“Because she has a spotlight on her right now, thanks to what happened at the game last night.”
“That wouldn’t warrant training unless... Does she think one of us is with June?” Lachy asks.
“She thought maybe you.”
His brows arch. “Me?”
Ryan snorts. “And you’re surprised? Out of the three of us, you’re the only one who’s been in a serious relationship before and wants to jump into another one.”
“I doona want to jump into anything,” he grits out.
“It doesn’t matter. If June wants it, she’ll get media training. End of story.”
Both Lachy and Ryan check their phones quickly, then look at each other.
“Anything?” Ryan asks.
Lachy shakes his head. “Bloody nothing.”
“What’s going on now?”
Fuck. It’d better not be another complication. I’m stressed enough as it is, knowing my father and brother will be at the game tomorrow. My father’s presence in the arena is triggering because the jackass always insists on coming to see me afterward, and it doesn’t matter the game’s outcome. Win or lose, he always has a list of things I could improve.
He played hockey in college, but he wasn’t good enough to make it to the pros. Not that he would have pursued that anyway. We come from a long line of powerful attorneys, and that’s the only accepted path for any man in our family. If I had any sisters, they’d be expected to marry well and be good housewives.
“Nothing is going on. We texted June, and she hasn’t replied yet,” Ryan answers, scowling at his phone.
I check my own phone. I sent a text to June before the meeting to let her know I arranged for a dog walker to start today. I got no response either. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
I want to believe my own words, but I’m beginning to worry too. She’d better be okay.