Page 86 of Striking Heat

He narrows his eyes. “I don’t think that’s something Batman usually says, fucker.”

“I’ll figure it out,” I tell him.

“Does she get a say in this?”

“Yeah, we’ll figure it out. I just want to make sure that when we make decisions, she doesn’t get hurt in all this.”

He nods. “I hear what you’re saying, but when you’re making all these decisions for the greater good, make sure you include her. Girls like that shit.”

“Girls like what shit?” August asks as he joins us at our table.

Jase is with him too. They’re both holding tumblers of amber liquid.

“Hitting the hard stuff tonight?” I ask them as they take their seats.

“Gotta celebrate the victory with the good stuff,” Jase says, raising his glass like he’s toasting even though no one proposed one.

“So, what are we saying girls like?” Augusts repeats his previous question.

“They like it better when you don’t talk about your issues with your daddy all night long,” Nick says.

I shoot August a sympathetic smile. I don’t dare make fun of him for it because I know all too well my issues with my father and how they fucked things up in the past.

August just shoots him the finger. “What’s going on, Danny boy? Are you getting some ass?”

“Nah, I’m not getting any ass,” I say, hoping he plays it off. I don’t dare look in Nick’s direction. I know it will cause some suspicion.

“Then what are we talking about?” he asks.

“Just the article and how it’s done, and we can meet tomorrow to go over it,” I say.

“Martin is being a pain in the ass about it.” August takes a sip from his glass. I get the feeling this isn’t his first drink of the night. “Apparently not as big of a pain in the ass as Mac is. How was it interviewing her? Did she ever become a decent human being?”

“Yeah, she did. Interviewing her wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” I say, trying to keep it light.

“Mac isn’t that bad,” Jase chimes in, defending her. “She just doesn’t like when you treat her the way Danny boy did in the beginning. Otherwise, she’s a good player and a nice girl.”

I look over at him and grin. I must be looking at him like that a little too long, because Nick kicks me under the table. I turn away, catching August watching me.

“Anyway, regardless of the fact, my father has a soft spot for her too. Seeing as he picked her to be captain, fresh out of college and all.”

“People weren’t exactly clambering to come to this team,” Jase points out.

“Don’t I know it,” August says, shaking his head. “Don’t print any of this shit, but we’re doing better than I thought we would be. Now if we could just get the city of Tampa on our side.”

“There were more fans there tonight,” Nick points out.

“That’s what the article is supposed to help with, I guess,” I say. I want to roll my eyes. The only good thing the article did was get me Mac. But honestly, if we really sit and think about the idea for too long, it makes you wonder how words on the page can make a city get behind a team. I’m not sure it’ll work, but I have to try to help. Martin is getting a hefty sum for it, and it will hopefully help out the team to an extent.

“You okay, Danny?” August asks me, nailing me to the spot with his stare. “Are you not believing in the cause that you so happily championed that day in my dad’s office? Or has the lovely captain gotten to you?”

“Nah, I believe in it. And I’m not under anyone’s spell.”

“I didn’t say spell. Did I say spell?” August says, chuckling as he looks around the table.

“No, you certainly did not say spell.” Jase snickers along with him. He stares at me for a minute before looking away.

I freeze and wonder if he’s put two and two together. If he has, I’d never know it. Jase is the strong, quiet type. He doesn’t say much, just watches and assess things. He knows more than he says, and right now, I’m wondering if he knows about Mac and me.