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CHAPTER 25

LOGAN

T urns out, hiring an escort full time was pretty expensive—even for a professional hockey player.

Sloane was worth every penny, though, while I waited for her to feel comfortable enough to leave the industry. Which was the only reason I had accepted this offer when my agent presented it to me.

A fast-food commercial advertising a burger. Didn’t seem too difficult. He’d been a little vague about the details, but they were paying a shit ton…and I really liked burgers.

So win-win, really.

My phone buzzed as I waited in the dressing room for the makeup and wardrobe people to come in.

Ari: Left the locker room pretty fast after practice, Rookie. Whatcha doing this afternoon?

My eyebrow rose.

Me: That seems oddly suspicious.

Ari: It would only seem suspicious to someone trying to hide something…

Walker: I agree.

I waited for Ari to call him a simp…but it was crickets.

Me: Did Blake give you the look or something…because that was a golden opportunity you just missed, Lancaster.

Ari: What are you talking about?

Walker: Yeah, what are you talking about, York?

Ari: Good one, Disney.

Me: Okay. Now this is getting weird. Walker is clearly simping. The worst case of simpage I’ve ever seen.

Ari: I don’t think that’s a word—simpage.

I blinked at my phone. Had I entered an alternate reality?

Me: You use that word on a daily basis.

Ari: Oh, well I use it correctly. How you just used it was clearly incorrect.

Me: …

Ari: Walker’s simpage is proper when it involves agreeing with me. I’m the obvious choice in this group to worship.

Me: You just used that word.

Ari: What word?

Me: I’M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND.

Camden: So shouty.

Ari: Here, Rookie, let me dumb it down for you. Worshiping me=good. Worshipping Golden Boy=bad. Get it?

Lincoln: I’d like to voice an objection.

Ari: Overruled.

The door opened, and the director’s assistant, a brunette wearing a tight black suit came in. “We’re so glad you agreed to do this, Mr. York. I think you’re going to be so pleased with how it turns out.”

I set my phone on the table and stood up.

Her eyes greedily took me in like I was a slab of meat, and I shifted uncomfortably as two more people filed into the room. “This is Joan and Carla. They’re going to be doing wardrobe and makeup for you today.” She slowly licked her lips before shaking her head and backing out of the room.

“If you can just change into these. We’ll be waiting outside. Just holler when you’re done,” Joan…or maybe Carla said to me. I probably should have paid better attention to their names.

Whoever it was set a neatly folded pair of black briefs on the table in front of the room and then left.

I blinked at my wardrobe .

“Briefs?” I muttered, panicking as I picked them up with two fingers like they might bite me. “They didn’t mention briefs.”

Nope. This wasn’t happening. I’d never live it down. I fired off a text to my agent, Tucker.

Me: You didn’t tell me the premise of this ad was for me to be eating a burger in my underwear. Explain. Now.

It took less than a minute for the dots to pop up.

Tucker: Logan, buddy, just breathe. This is an easy gig. You’re going to look amazing. Everyone loves abs.

Me: Easy? How about you eat a burger in your underwear on TV. I swear this wasn’t mentioned in the offer you sent me.

The dots stopped, then resumed. I could almost feel the panic in his response.

Tucker: I’m eating a burger in my underwear right now, Logan. It’s not a big deal. But it was in the fine print—the fine print that I told you to read.

I didn’t have an answer for that, because I probably had skipped some of the contract, trusting that my agent wouldn’t have me do something like this. A mistake I wouldn’t be making again.

Tucker: You’re a professional, Logan. Just think of the zeros. Lots of zeros. Think vacation home zeros.

I groaned, throwing my head back against the wall. More like paying-for-Sloane zeros, but either way, just as expensive.

“You okay in there?” A cheery voice came from the doorway. One of the wardrobe people, the bubbly redhead one, peeked her head in. She glanced at the briefs in my hand and raised an eyebrow. “Need help?”

“Nope,” I snapped. “Got it covered.”

She didn’t get the hint to leave. “Just making sure. Some guys get weird about this part. You’ll be fine. And don’t worry—we’re not going to need to stuff those briefs.” Her gaze bounced from the briefs…to my dick. I was regretting my life choice of wearing my gray Dallas Knights sweatpants…but Sloane was a big fan of them.

Now I knew why.

I froze, slowly turning to glare at her. “If you mention my dick again, you’re going to regret it.”

She burst out laughing. “Relax, Mr. York. Just trying to break the ice.”

“Consider it broken,” I muttered. Her smile died when she realized I probably hadn’t been joking, and she quickly left the room.

I had no tolerance for women hitting on me that weren’t named Sloane Calloway.

Sliding off my sweatpants, I changed into the briefs, staring at myself in the mirror.

That girl hadn’t been wrong about how these things would fit—my cock did look enormous.

FML.

Although maybe I could keep them after the shoot to show to Sloane. She would definitely like them.

And at least I wasn’t posing for Geraldine. This had to be way better than that.

Right?

Think of the zeros, Logan. Think of the zeros , I told myself as I opened the door and gestured for the makeup people to come in and start working on me.

* * *

When I finally walked onto the set, I was greeted by a pristine white table, where a monstrosity of a burger was sitting on a tray. It was stacked with cheese, bacon, and lettuce—and dripping with enough sauce to drown someone.

The director, a tall guy with a man bun and an accent I couldn’t place, was hyped like he was directing the next Oscar-winning film. He clapped his hands together. “Logan, darling! You look stunning. Absolutely perfect. This is going to be iconic. Sensual. Revolutionary.”

All of those attributes seemed to be a stretch, but he seemed so excited about it, I couldn’t burst his bubble.

I grunted, crossing my arms, well aware of everyone in the room staring at me as I stood there, practically naked. “Thanks. So, uh, what’s the game plan?”

He smiled, holding up his hands like he was directing The Godfather . “Simple. You and the burger. Chemistry. Seduction. Make it sizzle.”

“Sizzle,” I repeated flatly, even though I had no idea what that meant. “Got it.”

He waved over the cameraman, who was adjusting his equipment. “And Logan, darling—don’t be afraid to use your body. The briefs are working wonders .”

I ignored the urge to punch something and went to stand where the director pointed. The lights came on, the burger gleamed under the spotlight, and I prepared for the most humiliating hour of my life.

And then it happened. I was just about to pick up the burger when a door opened, and in strolled my worst nightmares.

Ari and Camden.

Fucking Tucker. He was Camden and Walker’s agent, too, and there was no way he hadn’t spilled the beans.

Traitor.

Before I could even process the fact that I was going to hear about this for the rest of time, it got even worse.

“Let’s see some passion!” the director called. “You’re not just eating the burger—you’re in love with it. Take a bite. Slow. Sultry.”

“You heard the man. Love on your burger, York,” Ari called out as they got to the edge of the set.

“Who let you guys in?” I growled, feeling like a man walking to his execution.

The director perked up, somehow mistaking what I’d just said for genuine enthusiasm. “Ah, your friends! Wonderful! They can help set the mood.”

“Definitely no need for stuffing,” I heard someone say, and I glanced over to see the assistant and some of the other crew staring at me.

It was official. I had to be dreaming. Because there was no way this was happening right now.

I pinched myself just in case.

Nope. Completely real.

Camden froze mid-laugh, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “Oh, absolutely. Mood is key.”

Ari nodded solemnly. “Logan here is all about passion. You should see him with a stick. It’s art.”

The director gasped, placing a dramatic hand on his chest. “A true artist! Logan, darling, you must channel that energy. Make love to the burger. Become one with it.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I muttered under my breath, glancing at Ari and Camden, who were barely holding it together.

“Logan,” Camden said, leaning against the table like he was part of the crew. “The burger deserves your best. Think…Romeo and Juliet, but, you know, with meat and cheese.”

“Thanks for that, Shakespeare,” I deadpanned, stepping into position in just my briefs. The lights were blinding, the grease smell overwhelming, and my dignity? Long gone.

“Hold it gently,” the director instructed, miming a cradle. “Like it’s the love of your life.”

Ari whistled and whispered mockingly. “That’s it, York. Look at the burger like it just scored the game-winning goal in double OT.”

The director practically swooned. “Yes! That intensity! Logan, darling, you’re a vision .”

I bit back a groan and picked up the burger, its weight ridiculous in my hands. I leaned in, trying to “connect” with the damn thing, while Ari and Camden’s whispers made it impossible to concentrate.

“Do you think he’s gonna kiss it?” Camden muttered, barely audible over the hum of the lights.

“The sauce is at least going to get some tongue action,” Ari replied.

“Logan, darling,” the director interrupted, oblivious to their antics. “Take a bite. Slowly. Passionately. Let us feel your desire.”

Camden let out a snort so loud the sound guy turned to glare at him. “You heard the man, York. Seduce that burger.”

I shot them both a murderous look before leaning in and taking the most humiliating bite of my life. The sauce dripped onto my chest, and the director gasped like I’d just discovered fire.

“More! Give us more!” he cried, waving his hands. “This is art ! You’re in love with the burger, Logan. Show us!”

“I can’t do this,” I mumbled around a mouthful of grease.

“You can,” Ari encouraged, his face serious even as his eyes gleamed with laughter. “Think of the burger as your soulmate. Your one true love.”

Camden chimed in, “Yeah, York. Whisper sweet nothings to it. Tell it how much it means to you.”

The director’s eyes widened. “Yes! Talk to it, Logan. Communicate your longing.”

I set the burger down, and immediately there were two people there, wiping the sauce off my face. “I’m going to kill both of you,” I snarled.

“You’ll thank us when this wins an award,” Ari said solemnly, snapping a picture with his phone. “For, uh, culinary excellence.”

“Aka food porn,” Camden added.

“No phones on set,” I snapped as Camden also started taking pictures.

“That was a funny joke,” said Ari as the director called for me to pick up the burger again.

“Please don’t send it to Lincoln,” I hissed as I grabbed the burger and slowly brought it to my mouth. I was probably never going to be able to eat burgers after this. I was going to be too traumatized.

Ari got a weird glint in his eye at the mention of Lincoln. “Just for that, I’m taking more.” And he started snapping away. Fuck, I shouldn’t have brought him up.

I bit into the burger and chewed. At least it didn’t taste terrible.

“Magnificent,” the director drawled, his voice going up an octave.

“I can really feel your passion,” Camden called out. I flipped him off when the director turned his back.

It continued like this for the rest of the session. Me pretending to make love to a burger, while Ari and Camden destroyed me.

The director clasped his hands together when he was finally happy with the session. “Logan, darling, you were transcendent . Your friends were right—your passion is palpable.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, not sticking around as I all but ran back to the dressing room, Ari and Camden’s laughter following me the whole way.

* * *

The next day at practice—our last one before Game Seven, might I add—I walked into the locker room, where the whole team was gathered around the big screen, laughter echoing off the walls.

My stomach dropped. Fuck no.

There, playing on a loop for everyone to see, were the pictures Ari and Camden had taken of me in all their glory. I grimaced as one popped up of me leaning in, eyes half-closed, like I really was trying to make love to the burger.

“There’s our star now!” Camden called out, barely able to get the words out between his laughter. Ari was doubled over, clutching his sides, while Walker had actually fallen to the floor, tears in his eyes.

Lincoln leaned against the wall, grinning. “You really gave it your all, Rookie. Didn’t hold anything back.”

“Look at the way he caresses it!” Ari said between his hysterical giggling , pointing at the screen. “Such a gentle lover!”

I groaned, running a hand over my face. “Kill me now.”

Lincoln clapped me on the back, still chuckling. “I hope it paid a lot .”

“It did,” I muttered, although with everything I’d had to go through, I’d decided it wasn’t nearly enough to pay for the dignity I’d lost.

“Next time you need money, York,” Lincoln said, still grinning, “maybe just ask one of us instead of making out with a cheeseburger on national TV.”

“Noted,” I said, shaking my head. “But hey, at least I looked good,” I said hopefully.

“I’m sure Sloane will think it's very sexy,” Ari agreed mockingly.

I growled at him before moving to get dressed for practice. My only solace was that my bank account was now filled and ready to continue making payments .

Sloane really needed to fall in love with me soon.