Page 53 of Pack End Game

"And we don't usually utilize so many terms of war," Spencer adds with an uneasy smile.

I whip my head toward Freddie so fast that I nearly pull a neck muscle. He's sinking down in his chair, his eyes downcast toward the floor as if he's considering hiding under the table. His reaction is an effective confession.

"Freddie," I say in a dangerously sweet voice and wait for him to look up at me. "Why don't these advanced fundamentals ring a bell for the two professional football players at the table? Did you teach me war references in place of football ones?"

If this is a prank, it's not one I understand. I'm mortified as Spencer and Zak both struggle to hold back laughter.

Freddie winces. "Okay. In my defense, I thought there would be more overlap."

"Between football and medieval combat?" Spencer folds his arms across his chest.

"There's a lot of charging." Freddie lifts one shoulder helplessly. "And teamwork. And emotional stakes."

I narrow my eyes. "You told me a quarterback's entire job is to guard the crown jewels of the kingdom."

"I'm pretty sure that one still sounds accurate."

Zak loses his battle to keep his composure and laughs into his napkin.

"Do you know... anything about football?" I can't believe I even have to ask the question. I hold my breath while I wait for his answer.

Freddie sighs dramatically. "Not really. I know enough to hype up the crowd when our fans are cheering and to sense when Spencer is going to be in a bad mood on the way home. I guess that probably happens when he fails to guard the crown jewels."

I'm flabbergasted.

"Why did you agree to tutor me?"

His face softens with sincerity. "Because you looked so hopeful when you asked me for help, and I couldn't bear to disappoint you by saying no."

The little bit of frustration I feel crumbles instantly.

"That's sweet of you," I say, my lips turning up in a small smile. I reach out to take his hand.

Spencer groans. "You really shouldn't reward this kind of behavior."

Too late. I'm already devolving into my own laughter. And judging by the way Zak and Spencer both give in a moment later, laughing openly along with me, they know as well as I do that this kind of misunderstanding is par for the course with Freddie.

A team mascot who knows absolutely nothing about football. Freddie is going to spend our whole lives keeping me guessing, that's for sure.

For the next few minutes, I amuse the alphas by sharing more of the ridiculous "football" knowledge that Freddie bestowed upon me. Each fact seems less believable than the last until I realize I'm really damn gullible for not realizing the truth sooner.

Eventually, Spencer looks at Freddie through the slits of his narrowed eyes, a smile still on his lips as he shakes his head slowly. "Admittedly, I noticed your football knowledge has been somewhat lacking over the years, but I had no idea it was this bad. Are you sure you even know what the football actually looks like?"

He looks truly pained by the realization that Freddie is completely clueless about his beloved sport.

Freddie scoffs and waves off Spencer's concern. "I know all of the important things."

"Can you give us one example?" Zak asks, tilting his head to the side.

"Well," he thinks for a moment before lighting up, "I know the mascots aren't allowed to hug the game officials, even if the game has already ended."

"You... What?" Spencer looks completely dumbfounded.

Freddie nods, very serious. "I was so embarrassed when an umpire explained to me that I was never, ever allowed to hug him again."

"Umpire?" Zak echoes in an unusually high pitch.

"Umpires are for baseball," I explain to Freddie, pleased that at least I know that one. Turns out, maybe I should be the one giving Freddie the sports lessons. I really should have thought harder about my options before going to the team's mascot for help.