I let Scarlett pick the restaurant. She chooses McDonald’s and then stares at me, daring me to tell her no. Ash is going to give me so much shit. Especially after he joked about taking her to get an extra value meal for our second date.
It’s hard to care right now though as she sits across from me dunking a chicken nugget into honey mustard sauce and casually glancing at the form she placed on the table between us.
Bad news for her: even when she’s glaring at me, I like being around her.
I pop a fry in my mouth and lean back in the booth. “Sooo, photography?”
Her gaze narrows.
“I heard you talking to Lindsey yesterday. You didn’t mention it the other night.”
“We didn’t mention a lot of things.”
“Fair enough. Do you have your camera with you?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Can I see some of your pictures?”
“There isn’t a lot to show. I’m just practicing and doing favors for friends.”
“What about the ones you take just for you?” I keep staring at her until she rolls her eyes and relents. She pulls her camera from her purse and then comes over to sit beside me. I hadn’t realized asking to see her photos would get her closer, but I’m high-fiving myself as her hair tickles my shoulder.
She powers it on and holds the display where I can see. She skips through a dozen images of Mike’s bar, finally stopping on one of Jade smiling, eyes downcast, hand up to her face, tucking her hair behind one ear.
“She was tired of posing for me at the end, but it ended up being my favorite. She looks so sweet and innocent.” Scarlett snorts like Jade being innocent is funny, then looks over and our eyes lock. Her gaze darts to my mouth and she licks her strawberry red lips. “She’s a chameleon like that. Sweet and polite one minute and ready to hop on the bar and dance the next.”
“Beautiful.”
She looks away first. “She is.”
I meant Scarlett, but something tells me she knows exactly who I was talking about.
“Anyway.” She moves back across from me. “How’s hockey? Ready for the first game?”
I chuckle at how quickly she’s put space between us—both physically and emotionally. “It’s great, and I’m always ready.”
“Of course you are. I bet you spend the entire off-season counting down the days.”
“Something like that.”
She raises both brows pointedly.
“What’s that look?”
“Nothing.” She sets her empty nugget container on the tray and then pushes the form toward me with one pink nail.
“All right. All right. A deal’s a deal.” I fill out the form and she takes it fast, like she’s afraid I’m going to do something with it. I guess I can’t blame her.
“Tell me what the look was about. Is counting down the days for hockey that bad of a sin?” I take our trash and dump it, then hold open the door for her.
“I’ve known guys like you. Your whole world revolves around the sport and everything else is second. At least you’re honest about it.”
Is that me? Hockey is my job, so yeah, it’s important. I love it, too, which makes it easy to focus on. But Scarlett doesn’t know me well enough to be making a judgment call like that, which tells me this isn’t about me.
“Your ex?”
“He is a Formula One driver.”
I nod slowly as I try to picture her with someone else. I don’t like it. “You came second to his career?”
“It was better for his image if I stayed out of the picture.”
She’s quiet, and I’m sorry I pushed her to talk to me. I didn’t mean to poke at old wounds, and I definitely didn’t want to end this date with her thinking of some other guy.
The ride to the arena is silent. I kill the engine, and she immediately goes for the door.
“Wait.” I place a hand on her thigh. Heat travels up my arm. She looks at my hand and I remove it. “You deserve to come first. Always. You’re right not to settle for less. I’m sorry if I made you feel that way.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “You didn’t. It was just one night of fun with a stranger, right?”
I nod, but can’t seem to make the word come out of my mouth. It doesn’t feel like an accurate assessment at all.
After our afternoon practice, coach asks me to hang back.
“The A looks good on you,” he says.
“Thanks, Coach. It feels good.” And it does. We’re finding a rhythm with the new guys and I think we’ve got a great team that can win some games this year.
“I don’t know how to say this delicately, so I’m just going to shoot straight with you.”
I gulp. Oh shit. My first thought is he knows I slept with his daughter, but then I realize he’s far too calm.
He places both hands on his hips. “We’re looking good out here. Everyone is focused and excited.”
“But?”
One side of his mouth hitches up. “We’re in the pre-season bubble where everyone is dedicated and working hard, but soon enough that will fade. Last season was one drama after the other. The thing with Declan and the intern, then Ash getting a sex injury and missing two games.”
I almost laugh, but it’s clear coach is really worried.
“We had some unfortunate setbacks,” I say. “No one wants to win more than us.”
“You guys are young. I don’t expect you to be on all the time. I know you have lives outside of hockey, but when those things impact the team, I worry. Especially when it feels like we have something special here. This is maybe the most talented team I’ve ever worked with.”
A spark of pride fills my chest. I love playing hockey, but knowing you’re part of a team that has a chance to do big things is something special. “What can I do to help?”
“Look out for the guys. You’re steady and reliable.”
“You make me sound like a used car.” One corner of my mouth pulls up into a half-smile.
“You’re a good guy, Leo. Your head is on straight. Be a leader, on and off the ice, that’s all I’m asking.” He slaps me on the shoulder and squeezes. “If only they could all be as scandal-free as you.”
Nervous laughter escapes my lips as the weight of what he’s asking settles on my shoulders. He thinks he can trust me and he can—on the ice.
“See you tomorrow,” Coach says as he skates off, leaving me feeling like the biggest jerk of all time for having his trust and respect when I’m secretly lusting after his daughter.
Ash rode to the arena with me today and he’s waiting for me in the locker room.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks when he sees me.
“Nothing. Tired, I guess.” I can’t get Coach’s words out of my head. I know I should have already had these feelings of guilt, but they were drowned out by the excitement of having Scarlett so close. I’ve been too focused on her to really think about what it’d mean for my relationship with Coach if he knew what happened. And what I want to keep happening.
“Bullshit. You looked energetic as hell five minutes ago when you were scoring on Mikey like he wasn’t there.”
I pull off my practice jersey and sit in my stall. “First road trip of the season. Do you think the guys are ready for it?”
“Nice dodge. Fine. I won’t press.” He stretches his legs out and crosses one ankle over the other. “Yeah, I think we’re ready. You know as well as I do that nothing gets rookies going like those first few games. It’ll be a chance to see how we play as a unit and work out kinks. Loosen up. It’s just the pre-season.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“Cheer up, Romeo.” He laughs. “Your dream girl works here now and tomorrow we’re flying to Vegas.” He waggles his brows.
“Yeah, about that. Coach wants me to keep an eye on the team and make sure everyone stays out of trouble and that there’s no drama on our first trip.”
“They’ll be fine.”
“What about you? He’s also worried you’re going to break your dick again.”
He grimaces and curls into himself protecting his crotch. “Me too.”
Ash had an unfortunate sexperience that resulted in a trip to the emergency room with a penile fracture. That’s an injury I hope to never have.
“Not to worry, though. I invited the guys over tonight so they can get it out of their system and are focused when we leave tomorrow.”
I groan.
“Ah come on. I ordered food—all healthy shit. I picked up a small amount of booze, invited all the guys, a few girls; it’ll be very chill. Hey, hot tub clean for later?”
“That’s not happening.”
“Fine. Fine.” He grins so I know he’s fucking with me. “No hot tub, but at least come hang out. This will be good for the rookies, and for you.”
“Good for me?” I prefer a quiet night in before games and he knows it.
“Yeah, we’ll go good cop, bad cop on them together tonight and let you clear your conscience, and then we can all avoid your pep talks when we get to Vegas. Everybody wins.”
A few hours later, I’m on Ash’s couch playing Xbox with Tyler. He’s coming from the juniors league, where he put up some impressive numbers. He’s on the chopping block to make the final roster, so I know I don’t need to waste my breath on giving him a pep talk. His ass is on the line.
I’m not a fun-hater, contrary to Ash poking fun at me about not wanting to party tonight. Unfortunately, we’ve been friends long enough that I know he’s usually right. So I’m trusting that getting the guys together to hang and let loose will be good and not result in things escalating and a bunch of hungover guys showing up to the plane tomorrow.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I reach to get it while trying to keep up with the game one-handed. But when I see Scarlett’s name on my phone, I forget all about the controller and the game in front of me.
“Sorry, man. I have to take this.” All those good intentions to back off from pursuing Scarlett after Coach’s talk earlier, take a flying leap out the nearest window.
I toss the controller, and answer as I weave my way toward the front door. “Hello?”
“Hey, Leo. I’m sorry to call.”
“Nah, don’t be. It’s good to hear from you.” My heart’s racing as I step out into the driveway.
“I think I forgot the form in your car.”
I’m silent. Her voice has made me temporarily stupid, and I can’t process her words.
“The form with your travel preferences,” she clarifies.
“Right, uh, let me check.” I walk across the street and open the garage.
On the floorboard of the passenger side of my car, the form sits partially under the seat. “Found it. Do you want me to email it to you or…?”
“Can I swing by and get it? I’m already halfway there, and if I don’t get it to the equipment manager in an hour, my own father might fire me.”
I chuckle. “Doubtful.”
“Yeah, well, I’d rather the thought not cross his mind. I should be there in about ten minutes. Are you home?”
“Yep. I’m here.”
“Great. I’ll be there soon if I can remember how to get there.”
“I’ll text you my address.” I do and then bring the form inside with me. While I wait, I pick up the living room and kitchen. She knocks as I’m lighting a vanilla-scented candle. Overboard? Probably.
I hustle to the door and pull it open. I’m smiling even before I lay eyes on her, but when I do a once, fuck who am I kidding, a thrice-over, my jaw drops.
She’s changed since work and the dress she’s wearing molds to her small curves, pushes her boobs up, and shows a lot of smooth, tan leg. Fuck me.
“Leo?”
“Yep.” My voice is tight and squeaks like I’m going through puberty.
“Do you have the form?”
“Say what now?”
She laughs and brushes past me. I pick up my jaw and close the door.
“I can’t believe I missed this the first time I was here,” Scarlett says as she walks through my house for the second time.
She runs a hand along the framed jerseys on the wall and picks up a hockey stick lying in the entry way between the garage and kitchen.
I take it from her and set it against the wall. “You were distracted by the pool.”
“Among other things,” she says quietly.
I nod toward the form on the kitchen counter.
She picks it up and reads it. “Perfect. Thank you.”
“Welcome.”
Awkward silence hangs between us. Damn I want her, but I can’t shake the feeling of disappointing my team and screwing up my relationship with Coach. Without that, I’m as good as done.
She takes a step back. “I need to get this to the arena.”
I want her to stay, but I keep my mouth shut. She’s my coach’s daughter. I’m the one he expects to stop any drama and keep the guys from losing their heads. But right now? I’m struggling to keep myself in check.