Page 10 of What We Knew Then
“Ah, thanks. I appreciate it. Lane, this is my daughter, Cora.”
Her eyes are massive fucking pools, shockingly blue, and it’s like someone threw me in and I don’t know how to swim. “Lee,” is the only word she mutters before coughing into her hand, placing it on her chest after. “My name—it’s Coralee.”
“No one calls you that,” Coach laughs, brows squinting like he’s trying to figure her out.
He then looks to me and back to her. I force a smile and put out my hand to shake hers, as if my fingers weren’t playing her clit like the perfect fucking instrument it is the other night.
I bet Coach Banks would see me a hell of a lot differently if he knew I’d been in town less than a week and had already fucked his daughter.
Lee—Cora—takes my hand, shakes it, and slips on the same “nice to meet you” mask.
Why didn’t she say anything? Why didn’t she give me her real name? And why can’t I stop thinking about my teeth dragging over her skin?Keeping my face neutral is harder than holding it together when someone squares up on the ice, running their mouth.
“Cora’s helping with stats this season. You’ll be seeing a lot of her,” Coach explains with a laugh. Then he opens the folder and sits down, already on to the next.
Fucking great.
Looks like our secret’s safe.
For now.
Chapter 6
CORA
IthinkIforgothow to breathe. I knew I’d see Lane eventually, that he’d figure out who I am. I just didn’t think it would be in my dad’s office when I’m already running late.
“Did you eat breakfast?” My dad sets the folder on his desk and waits. My brain is still stuck on Lane practically bolting out of here. “Earth to Cora. Where are you?” He waves a hand in front of my face.
I shake it off and force a laugh. “Just feel like I forgot something.” I don’t tell him it’s the way Lane kissed up my thighs, across my collarbone. How I swear he left a mark on my lips.
No. I don’t say any of it. I’ve been trying to play it off. Like I haven’t been kicking myself for not leaving my number or getting his. Like I didn’t know exactly what I was doing. It’s hard to come back fromactually, my name’s Cora, and yeah, I knew you were the hockey player my dad saved from that scandal in Ohio.
“No, I’m meeting Brinn. I’ll see you at home.”
The second I’m out of the office, I’m trying to catch up with Lane. I push through the door and spot him down the path. When I’m far enough away from the building, I call his name.
He doesn’t stop. I’m basically jogging at this point and when I’m close enough, I reach for his arm, needing him to look at me. “Lane, I’m sorry.”
Lane looks at me and as my fingers graze his skin, he pulls his arm away like I’ve burnt him. His eyes pin me in place. “For what? I should’ve gone home. Never should’ve went back to that stupid fucking bar.”
Doing my best to explain, I say, "I almost told you, but—”
“You didn’t.” Lane’s eyes flick around before landing on me. His gaze is sharp and dark, irritation simmering.
“Listen closely.” He closes the space and he smells like peppermint—it reminds me of last night. His features are soft, a contrast to his tone. “It never happened. This was the first time we met. Got it?”
There’s so much I want to say, but there’s no space for it. The air between us feels strangled.
I nod because it’s all I’ve got. He’s not wrong to be pissed, but I did try Friday night. None of that matters now. Not with the way he’s looking at me.
“Use your words.” The annoyance in his voice is sharp.
Maybe he really is a dick, because this is nothing like the guy I sat across from at the bar. He had this way of pulling me in, making me crave his attention until Freddy felt like a distant memory. It was the first time in a long time I didn’t feel like I was in free fall.
Doesn’t matter now. The tension in his face makes me want to recoil, like touching a hot pan.
“Got it.” The words are out of my mouth and over my shoulder as I head in the opposite direction.
