Page 28 of Shootout
“Maybe, but I do know my hockey, and I speak the truth.”
He chose not to dispute my last statement. He knew better. I did know my hockey. I’d been praised my entire career for my two-hundred-foot game, my instincts for being in front of the net at the exact right moment, and my relentless play on defense.
Jessie gathered the girls one final time at center ice. She said a few words we couldn’t hear and her students headed for the gate. Boris nodded briefly in my direction before following his daughter down the hallway.
Jessie skated over, all smiles until she caught my troubled frown. “What brings you here?”
“You, obviously. We need to talk.”
“About last night?” she said.
“Yes, last night.” I hoped she and I were on the same page.
“Let’s forget that ever happened because it can’t happen again.”
I frowned. I hadn’t expected her response, especially since I firmly expected “it” to happen again if I had any say in how our fake relationship progressed.
ChapterNine
NO TIME LIMIT
~~Jessie~~
Iwas equal parts relieved and disappointed that Banks had sought me out to talk about last night. Of course, he was going to insist we couldn’t do such a foolish thing again, so I beat him to it. I couldn’t help saying it first, with my competitive nature and all.
Banks frowned and scratched his chin. “Okay, I… If that’s what you want.”
One look at Banks’s expression and I realized I’d made a grave error. He hadn’t planned on setting boundaries after all? “What are you here to talk about then?”
“Dinner with your family on Friday night. Why didn’t you tell me about that?”
I saw the hurt in his eyes and was surprised.
“First of all, I didn’t know until Jason mentioned it this morning. Secondly, you didn’t need to know.”
“I don’t need to know?” He stood back as I stepped off the ice and through the gate.
“Nope, I planned on concocting a reason you wouldn’t be able to attend.”
“So now you’re ashamed of me?”
“Are you listening to yourself? You’re being unreasonable. I thought you’d be glad.” I blinked and studied him intently. He scowled as if he’d been slighted even though I’d done him a favor.
“I am, I guess.” His frown deepened, and he looked anything but happy.
“Trust me. You don’t want to expose yourself to my family. They’re pretty tough to take.”
“You think I can’t handle them? I come from a large, rambunctious family myself where it’s survival of the fittest.”
“You really don’t want to be there, do you?” When he stayed quiet, I continued. “This prank is getting out of control.”
“Getting? It’s been spiraling out of control since you kissed me in front of your brother.”
“I hadn’t planned on stringing Jason along for more than an hour or so, but I was having so much fun, it was hard to quit. Now it’s picked up steam and snowballed down the hill at a breakneck pace.”
“Yeah, I know, but there have been a few good consequences for me, team-wise. With you in the picture, Wild can’t outwardly hate me, and my teammates have grudgingly accepted my presence.”
“I have to admit this fake relationship has worked for me too.” As much as my gut claimed we should end this, another louder part of me warned of impending doom if we backed out now.
