Page 85 of Offside Rules
Though I won the bet, I’m not going to force her to come home with me. If she wants out of this, I’ll let her.
Baylor: We had a bet. I lost. Besides, I’m hungry for popcorn.
Me: Meet you by the players’ exit?
Baylor: We’re here. Ellie’s waiting for Peyton and the girls.
Baylor is beside Ellie when I come through, her coat open over my jersey. She looks up, and I’d like a minute to appreciate having her waiting for me without Ellie standing there looking quite so pleased about it.
"How’s your shoulder?" Baylor asks.
"Sore. Kendall checked it."
"I saw that hit in the third."
"I’ve taken worse from your brother."
That gets me a grin. It’s true. I might be called the meanest defender in the NHL, but Beau Fairbanks isn’t an angel. He caught me in the ribs during a high school game, and I felt it every time I laughed for three weeks.
Ellie checks her phone. "Peyton’s coming out now. We’re walking over to Oakley’s."
She pulls Baylor into a hug, then looks at me.
"Congratulations on the win."
"Thank you."
"And the other win," she adds with a wink.
Baylor pulls back. "Ellie."
"What? You made the bet." She grins. "Have fun, you two."
"Watching television."
"Yes. You’ve mentioned." Ellie turns to me. "FYI, Baylor turns to mush with a good foot rub."
"For the love of God, Ellie. Please leave."
"Thanks for the tip," I tell her.
Ellie laughs and heads toward the girls before Baylor can say anything else. I look down at her, taking in the jersey properly now that I don’t have a screen or half an arena between us.
"Looks good on you. Show me the back."
"You’ve already seen the pictures."
"Yeah, but I like it better in person."
She rolls her eyes, but slips her coat off her shoulders and turns so I can see Ziegler across her back.
"You’re awfully pleased with yourself," she says, turning back.
"Zero penalty minutes."
"I saw what you did to Schumer. You’re lucky we didn’t specify that you had to make it off the ice."
"I’m very grateful for your lack of attention to detail."
