Page 30 of Under Pressure

“Which one?” I ask before I can stop myself.

Her head tilts slightly. “Which shelter?”

“Yeah. I didn’t know that was a thing.”

“Don’t do much volunteer work, do you?” she asks, but there’s no judgment there.

“Mostly with the team. We don’t do enough of it, though. How often do you give the leftovers away?”

“Every night. Quinn likes to do it herself because she changes where she goes every few days. And to answer your first question, there’s a women’s shelter that loves the jam-filled croissants, so we always bring them there when they’re on the menu. We shouldn’t talk about that, though. You’re nottechnicallyallowed to donate non-perishables there.”

My chest rumbles with a quiet laugh. “Yeah, I doubt that influences Quinn much. Your secret is safe with me.”

“You seem to know her pretty well, considering how little time she actually gives you in a day.”

“I’ve always been observant.”

“Clearly. Still, I don’t think she’s going to change her mind.”

Leaning forward, I press my thighs to the counter and cross my arms. “Why’s that?”

“She’s got a huge thing against athletes. And you are a very popular athlete. The odds are stacked against you.”

“Any particular reason why?”

“Other than the obvious?” She says it as if I should know better. Like maybe there’s a gaping hole in my skull where my brain should be.

“There are a few things that could be the cause. I just want to narrow down what her specific issue is with me,” I clarify.

“I haven’t asked for the details. But it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume it has something to do with arrogance. You know, the whole larger-than-life attitude that seems to be a collective trait amongst your type. You can get away with anything because the consequences never seem to affect your careers, and it shows in the way you carry yourselves. Having to act appropriately to avoid repercussions is a regular person thing.”

“I’m a regular person,” I argue, the hairs on my arms sticking up. There’s a boulder in my stomach that seems to grow heavier by the second. “And I’ve been affected by the consequences of my actions multiple times over the last few years.”

Lost endorsements, the lack of trust from team management, and an inability to check social media without being ambushed with hate.

“You mean because of the whole fuckboy stunt?”

My brows twitch with surprise. She speaks again before I can ask her to elaborate.

“I’ve done my research on you. And Eli’s a big fan.”

“He’s made that clear.” I wipe a hand down my face, eyeing the door. “Is he back there right now? And don’t bullshit me.”

“I’m almost twenty-three, so before you lecture me?—”

“I wasn’t going to lecture you. I’m just making sure this conversation doesn’t wind up spreading beyond us.”

Realization washes across her face. “He won’t say anything. Fan or not.”

“I’m assuming you don’t want your sister to know what you’re doing with him back there?”

“That’s not your business,” she rushes out, turning into a tomato again.

I hold my hands up, letting it go. “Just tell me if it’s my reputation doing me dirty here. I can fix that if it is.”

“I don’t know what it is. Honestly. Quinn is a pretty closed book, even with me. There are certain things we don’t talk about.”

Fuck.