Page 61 of Playing With Fire

“Shit.”

I grab my phone from the console. No texts. I told her five-thirty. She told me she could get there on her own. Which means there’s a very real chance she waited approximately thirty seconds before deciding to make her point and leave without me.

I’m halfway through typing "Where are you?" when I catch sight of brown hair coming down the block, carrying two coffee cups.

The knot between my shoulders releases. I shove my phone into my pocket and climb out.

Laney spots me. “You’re late, Ken.”

The apology I had all planned out dies on my tongue. This girl can get under my skin like no other.

“Well, technically you’re late, Baby Becks.” I meet her at the curb. “Here, let me help.” I take one of the cups, then open the passenger door for her.

“Thanks.” She smirks. “But I was here at 5:30 on the dot.” She argues as I wait for her to climb in. “And still managed to walk to a coffee shop, order drinks, and make it back before you.” She takes a sip of coffee with a satisfied grin on her face. “That’s how late you actually were.”

I close the door and walk around the Rover, letting her have the win.

“How was your day?” I change the subject and slide behind the wheel.

Her whole face changes. Not just a smile, she fucking lights up. “Good. Like, really good.”

Emotions within my chest loosen. “Yeah?”

Laney twists in her seat, giving me her full attention, and I can’t help but stare at her a little longer than I should. She’s radiating. Now I understand why her demon child follows her around all day.

“Bishop, I have manuscripts. A ton of them. And so many books.”

I grin. “Pretty sure that’s generally how publishing works.”

Her smile fades as she turns back around. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Shit. That’s not what I meant. I’m so used to being around the team that I didn’t even think twice. I thought I was being funny, but seeing her light dim really is fucking me up.

“So, how was practice?” She asks, and it catches me a little off guard. I literally just ruined her really good day, and now she’s curious about mine. I’m not used to this.

“Good. I’m sore as hell.” I sit there for a second before I continue. I really have to turn this around. “Hey… Laney.”

“Yeah?” She turns to look at me. Her green eyes shining, hanging onto my every word. She’s interested in what I’m about to say, a far cry from the guys, where we always have to be on our toes.

I like this.

“I really am sorry for being late.” So much for not apologizing, but I couldn’t help myself. She asked me how my day was, so…

Laney sets her cup in the holder and waves me off.

“I’ve known you my entire life. Hockey always runs over.” She buckles her seatbelt. “And I know that you’re physically incapable of being the first person off the ice.”

Fair.

“I thought you’d leave without me.” I blurt. Her head turns, and I put it into drive. Should’ve kept that one to myself.

“I almost did, but it gave me time to go back to my new favorite place.” She picks up her cup and twists it so the logo faces me. “Midnight Press.”

I glance over at it. “That’s the place you went to for lunch?”

“Yep.”

“What’d you eat?” I pull away from the curb.