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Boring! Had this conversationtoo many times before

"I see the look on your face," Pretore says with a sigh "They're not joking this time"

"Let o to the children's ward of Raleigh Co Show that I'm really a teddy bear inside"

"That's not a bad idea, but no They want you a little more involved"

For the first time in this conversation, I feel a tiny thread of apprehension one from tired and frustrated with me to actually a bit fearful Whatever the suits want uessing he's getting ready for there to be a big fight on his hands

"Spill it," I say quietly

"They want you to be the tean"

"I can do that," I say cautiously, because I can I have no probleh I'm an asshole, I kno to put a sood, you know

"Specifically, they want you to work closely with the Wake County Drug Crisis Center and ihout the state"

"That's fine," I say, but the apprehension increases because this is sounding a little too easy

"They have very specific requirements," Pretore says firmly

I just cock an eyebrow at hi me here

Taking a piece of paper from a folder on his desk, he hands it over toan itemized list of stuff, but I just look back up at him

"Essentially, they want you co the season, on non-game days, of course Off-season, twenty hours a week"

"Jesus fucking Christ," I curse, because I just became the equivalent of a felon who came out on parole

"That's not all They are going to have your liaison report to theive him or her a list of criteria you must meet"

"No fucking way," I snarl but Pretore ignores me

"If you don't agree, I've been told that you are to be benched indefinitely and all bonuses forfeit"

"Do I have to wear an ankle rowl

"Finally," he says, his voice even stronger, "at any time they deem you to have made an ass of yourself to the public or to our fans--and the 'ass' is their word, notto fine you five thousand dollars per infraction"

I opencoh me as I realize my employer has just drawn a pretty deep line in the sand I have two choices--do what they tell oodbye

And the fucked-up thing about it--the kissing oodbye seems like the better choice for me at this very moment

--

Walking up the stairs to er to strip out of my monkey suit and drink a cold beer When I hit the top step, I stop as I recognize who is standing at my door

"What are you doing here?" I ask tiredly

Cassie cocks a perfectly shaped eyebrow at reat gaht--which ht I'd co the key word"

Yeah, Cassie Gates gives the best head and I' to turn her down, but it pissesher to She's beento Raleigh with her sister, Allie, whose husband, Kyle Steppernech, is a defenseman for the Cold Fury

"You weren't invited," I tell her as I insert the key into the lock, not even bothering to look at her