Page 22 of Rival Season
“Why?” Penn raises his eyebrows.
“No reason.”
His expression grows serious. “Tell me.”
“It’s nothing.” I shrug.
“Is your apartment infested with spiders?”
I laugh. “No, it’s not.”
This seems to ease his worries enough for him to move on. “Rule five, you have to come to at least three of my home games.”
I wrinkle my nose. The perk of no longer dating Chadwick was no more hockey games. I don’t hate watching, but the crowds and the noise are just…a lot.
He sees my expression. “It’s good for optics if Chadwick sees you leaving the apartment to watch me play. Otherwise, he’ll wonder why you don’t go and support your boyfriend.”
“Fine. Three games.” I type it into the note. “Anything else?”
“If anything comes up that you need me for, I’ll do my best to be there. I’m leaving tomorrow for a couple games on the road, but if you need anything, just call me.” He holds up his hand and beckons. “Actually, gimme your phone now. I’ll put my number in.”
His statement is actually very thoughtful. And something my real boyfriend never offered. Maybe this fake boyfriend thing isn’t so bad.
I smile at Penn as I pass him my phone, and he smiles back, tapping in his number before handing it back. His eyes are darker out here, midnight blue…like the night sky.
My phone pings again, taking my focus away from Penn’s eyes.
Cheater Chadwick
I’m going to bed. But you can’t avoid me forever.
I puff up my cheeks, and then release the air in a dramatic sigh. “Well, I guess it’s safe to go home now.” Once the words are out, I realize I’m not eager to return to my apartment. It’s been nice up here in loft 3B. I had…fun.
“You sure you’ll be okay?” He asks. I nod, and his eyes twinkle naughtily. “If you hadn’t made all these boring rules for us, I could have gone down there and helped you make a big ruckus tonight. Then he’d leave even sooner.”
I bark out a surprised laugh. The audacity of this man.
“Goodnight, Playboy.” I stand up, looking down at him.
Penn smirks, then gets to his feet, towering over me at his full height. He sticks his hand out in front of him and waits for me to shake it.
I stare at his outstretched hand for a long moment, before I finally slide mine into his. Penn’s palm is warm and calloused as it wraps around my fingers. He gives me one solid shake, before releasing me. My hand drops to my side, but I flex my fingers, wondering why the sensation of his skin on mine is lingering.
Even as I say goodbye to the rest of the 3B gang and step inside the elevator, the heat of his hand seems to remain on my palm.
CHAPTER 9
PENN
I do allmy best thinking in the shower. There’s something about breathing in clouds of steam as scalding water hits my sore muscles that relaxes my brain and helps me make a game plan for whatever situation I’m in.
Tonight, however, I can’t even catch a damn second alone with my mess of thoughts about what on earth I’ve gotten myself into with Hazel because Fisher won’t stop pounding on the bathroom door.
“Matthews, would you finish primping already so we can go out?” he yells, his voice muffled by the jets of water currently raining down on my head. The Lions always fork out for us to stay in the nice hotels when we’re on the road, so the showers have amazing water pressure.
Before my NHL contract, the only time I’d ever been in a hotel like this one was my freshman year of high school. Hazing on our school’s hockey team was very much alive, two of my fellow freshmen and I were tasked with sneaking onto the property after hours to skinny dip in the hotel’s luxurious outdoor pool.
Still amazed I got away with that one, actually.
