Page 9 of Ruck Me Harder

Noted. Same if I end up at a Grizzlies game. I’m supporting the team.

Take care, Viv.

With a sigh, I close my phone and sink back into the bubbles. That could have gone a lot worse.

Why couldn’t Al be related to literally anyone else in the world? Now that I’ve seen the two of them in the same photograph, I can see the similarities. I didn’t get a chance to know Al. It’s all tainted by his brother.

Tony.

Tony Gonzales.

Hey, at least I have a name to put with the face, I rationalize to myself. At least I don’t have to think of him as “some random dude” anymore.

Although… maybe that would have been better than knowing he’s my teammate’s big brother.

The animal shelter is a small brick building in the middle of downtown. It is not what I was expecting an animal shelter to look like. It’s only fall, but there’s a chill to the air that permeates the building. And the animals inside? They look so sad, huddled up in tiny balls in their cages. I almost want to reach out and soothe the poor critters.

I’m low-key afraid of animals. It’s not something I talk about because who the hell doesn’t like animals? When I was three years old, my neighbors’ dog got loose and came over and attacked me. Sure, she attacked me with kisses, she was supposedly a sweet thing, but for three-year-old me, it was terrifying to be knocked to the ground, the dog’s heavy paws on my chest pinning me down as she slobbered all over me. I couldn’t escape. I couldn’t get free.

Just because the dog meant no harm doesn’t negate the terror I felt. Every time I see a dog, no matter how cute they are, I always expect them to pounce on me and leave me defenseless again.

I never want to feel helpless again.

But when the team PR whiz asked for volunteers for this media appearance, I couldn’t say no. As Alycia reminds me, I need to take every opportunity to put myself in the spotlight. Rugby fans know who I am, thanks to my decade-long career, but the public does not. And if I want to keep any endorsement campaigns after I retire next summer, I’ve got to increase my public presence.

So: animal shelter. Last week, I went to the children’s hospital. That might have started out as work, but it turned into fun. Next week, I’m sure there’s another appearance on my docket.

Kiana, Andi, Cari, and I are here to help for a few hours. Whatever that means, I’m not sure.

“Welcome, welcome,” Susan, the shelter director, says as she ushers us inside. We’re followed by Eden, the team’s photographer. “We’re so glad you’re here.”

“Thank you for having us. I’m Viv, the team captain,” I introduce, shaking her hand firmly. Her grip is limp.

“We’re happy to finally meet Carolina’s teammates,” she chirps.

Cari blushes. “I used to volunteer here,” she says awkwardly.

Oh. I clear my throat. “So we’re all family here.”

Cari giggles nervously. This is her first PR appearance. We’ll help her through it.

Susan takes us on a brief tour of the facility. There’s a play room for the kitties and a small indoor/outdoor area for the doggies. Staff are cleaning cages, playing with the animals, generally taking care of them.

I have to admit, they do look kind of cute. But then I start to think about petting one, and my heart starts to pound, and I have to take a step back.

A tall man in a black T-shirt is on his hands and knees, coaxing a kitten out of her enclosure. My eyes fall to his backside, taking in the solid muscles. He has a wide, bitable booty and sturdy thighs. As an athlete, I know when people work out. And this guy? He works out. His strong, inked arms flex and his muscles bunch under his T-shirt.

Involuntarily, I let out a soft whimper, biting my lower lip as I salivate over the dude.

Kiana smirks and elbows me. “Are you going to…?”

I shake my head. “Bad idea.”

He’s staff. He didn’t come to work and ask to be sexualized. He didn’t come to work to be sexually harassed. I don’t like when it happens to me; the least I can do is extend basic courtesy to him too.

I haven’t told anyone about my run in with Tony Gonzales the other day. I never told anyone about what happened between us. How could I, when I didn’t know his name? And now knowing the worst mistake of my life is my teammate’s brother…

Cari pops up like a jack-in-the-box. “What’s a bad idea?”