Page 106 of Secret Obsession
Less than two minutes later, the front door slams and my car starts up. I rub my hand over my face and fight my smile. But after a second, it wins out.
She’s still driving my car. And while she says she doesn’t love me, we’re making progress. She kissedme, and I thought my heart was going to explode. Just replaying it, it might still happen.
I’m practically giddy on my way to the bathroom, where I shower, brush my teeth, and try to ignore the memory of us fucking. I need to get to the stadium. Blue Jay and I have a long-standing workout time blocked off in our schedule, and I’m running late.
Knox and Erik are downstairs on the couch. The sight of Erik is so jarring, I stop mid-step.
“What are you doing here?” I blurt out.
Erik looks over his shoulder at me, grinning. “Hey, little Whiteshaw. Your brother and I are taking a drive down to Boston soon. Want to come with us?”
I shake my head slowly. “What’s in Boston?”
Knox shifts in his seat. He shoots Erik a look, then hops up. “An open recruitment.”
“For…?”
“Don’t be obtuse,” he snaps. “This is my shot for the NHL.”
“You have recruiters at almost every game,” I point out. “Coach is always showing off the golden trio. And you think you won’t make it?”
The golden trio being Coach’s personal favorites—Knox, Greyson, and Steele. The ones he thinks have the best chance of going pro.
“I don’t know, dude, but I’ve got to try.” Knox’s expression turns imploring. “You’re going to want to take those same opportunities next year. Trust me.”
I grunt. I’ve always known that my careermightbe coming to an end after college. Do I want to face that? No, especially not right now. But being realistic means seeing the big picture. Andthatis that for every five players on the ice, there’s only one goalie. And just as many candidates for those spots.
They take the best of the best.
I’m good. I won’t lie about that. But sometimes I worry that I’ll get passed over.
Hockey is in my blood, and I know it’s in my brother’s. So I slap his hand and hug him, patting his back hard enough to jar him.
“You’ll kill it,” I say in his ear.
He laughs, then shoves me away. The cocky smile is back, his ego roaring. “Yeah, I know.”
Since Willow has my car, I lace up my sneakers and jog to meet Blue Jay. We should consider just shortening his nickname to BJ. Kind of goes hand in hand with Blue Balls anyway. My lungs expand, and I quicken my pace. I slip buds in my ears and tap to activate Willow’s phone’s microphone, because I want to know what she’s saying to that detective.
There’s nothing for a few minutes. A scratching that must be the phone moving in Willow’s pocket or purse. Footsteps, mumbled words I can’t make out.
“Are you Detective Barrister?” Willow’s voice comes through loud and suddenly clear.
Did she take out her phone?
“Yes. Willow?”
“Nice to meet you,” my girl says.
My gut tightens. I should’ve gone with her.
“Let’s go up,” the detective says.
I get to the stadium and slip in through a side door, heading straight to the gym on the lower level. It’s worse reception down here, but whatever. I spot Greyson and Violet working out together in the corner, both running on the treadmill. My cheeks are frozen from the wind, and it reminds me of what I did to Willow.
Guilt laces through me.
“Hey, man,” BJ calls.
