Page 10 of Puck Me Twice

She leads me back over to Andrews, who scowls when he catches sight of our entwined hands.

Good. That’s why I did it.

Well, it’s one reason.

“Sven,” she says, in a more gentle voice than I’ve heard from her in eight years. “Have you met Robby?”

“We met earlier,” Andrews says stiffly, jerking his chin at me.

“Robby, Sven is my boyfriend,” Vanessa says.

He narrows his eyes. “What the fuck?”

“We’re together,” she continues.

“Didn’t he just get here?” he demands.

“This is my fifth season with Boston,” I say evenly. “I don’t think we’ve met. Did you play in the league?”

He clenches his jaw and looks away. He has the lean frame of a player, big and wide like a goalie. I’d bet dollars to donuts he languished in the minors for a few seasons before getting a lucky break as equipment staff.

Inside, my heart is hammering a thousand miles a minute, and she squeezes my hand so hard I think she might bruise the bones.

It will be worth it, though.

“I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.” He almost sounds sad. “Bex said⁠—”

My face contorts into a scowl. I remember her friend Bex.

“We keep it quiet around the team. I haven’t officially filed the paperwork yet, but I guess I need to do that now so we don’t have to hide anymore.”

“No,” he says slowly, “I don’t suppose you do.”

There’s a wistfulness in his eyes I’m not sure I understand.

Does he want her back?

I don’t see why he wouldn’t. She’s freaking amazing.

I realize I’m still holding her hand. Squeezing lightly, I run my thumb over the back of her knuckles.

Her entire body goes tense.

She looks up at me, her light blue eyes bright. I meet her gaze again, letting myself get lost in her eyes. She’s even prettier than I remember. She’s wearing combat boots with her leggings, and her long blonde hair falls in soft waves from the clip at the crown of her head.

She’s wearing makeup, but it looks light and natural—I can’t really tell where her features start and the makeup ends, only that the effect is an overall softening of her features that draws me in. Her eyes are lined with dark liner and lashes, and her pale pink lipstick makes me think dangerous thoughts about her lips— where they’ve been, and where I want them to be.

Fuck. Maybe agreeing to be her boyfriend was a bad idea. Even though I’ve never had the experience before, I kind of want to be her boyfriend for real.

Since the night I gave her my virginity, I’ve been with a handful of women, but I’m not exactly Rico Suave. Most of the time, I let them pick me up, and I let them lead the show.

Not puck bunnies, though. I know better than to sleep with someone who just wants to use me for their own personal gain.

Andrews clears his throat, and Vanessa jumps back. Reluctantly, I release her hand, and she takes the packet of paperwork from him.

“Thanks. Welcome to the team,” she says.

“Happy to be here,” Andrews says.