Page 28 of Hot Shot
“Hunter,” Jenna says with a smile as I make my way up to her. “You brought some of the guys with you. Great. I want to introduce you to—”
“Madison,” I say, staring at the woman in front of me.
Is this why she couldn’t date me? Because of Coach?
I don’t really believe Holt’s assumption that they’re dating. But why was she having coffee with him? Maybe Holt was wrong and it was only someone that looked like her. But at the same time, I can’t deny the possibility that it was her.
“Hi,” she says, blinking slowly, her face flushed.
Yeah, I’m as shocked as you are.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I—” She swallows, clearly trying to collect herself but Jenna interrupts.
“Madison made the cakes for today’s barbecue. I was trying to convince her to stay since, as always, we have way too much food.”
“I don’t want to intrude,” Madison says, her eyes never straying from mine.
“Please stay, Madison,” Jenna says with a hand on her shoulder. “How do you and Hunter know each other?”
Madison’s face flushes, then she lets out a small gasp that if I wasn’t standing right next to her I would have missed. I don’t have to wait long to know what she saw.
“Hey team,” comes a booming voice.
“Well, this got interesting,” Holt mutters behind me as Coach Weaver strolls over.
Madison looks like she wants to melt into the ground. I see the surprise on Coach’s face as he notices her, but he quickly masks it with a smile. Maybe Holt was on to something.
“Hey, Coach,” Caleb says, joining us.
“Jake. For fuck’s sake, when we’re not on the ice, it’s Jake. You should know that by now,” Coach says with a shake of his head. “The same goes for the rest of you.” He points at each of us.
“Nice to see you, Jake,” Jenna says, leaning in. “I was introducing the fabulous woman who made the cakes for today’s event. Who I’ve deemed the Storm’s official cake maker. You hear that?” She raises her voice. “Anyone needs a cake for an event, you see Madison.”
What the fuck is going on?
I mean, I guess at least she’s comfortable with the team. But something is clearly going on between her and Coach. I no longer doubt Holt that they were at the coffee shop together the other day.
Although why is still a mystery.
Chapter twelve
Madison
Killmenow.
Not only am I standing here with Hunter and what feels like half his team but my father had to walk up too.
This is why I can’t get involved with Hunter. I should have tried harder to say no to Jenna’s invitation to stay. I only came to drop off the cakes she ordered—something that I normally wouldn’t do, especially on my day off—but she’s a repeat customer so when she asked, I said yes. I was shocked when she asked me to stay. She acted like it was a natural thing to invite me. Like somehow I belonged at the party.
But I don’t.
Before I can make an excuse to leave, a petite blonde woman with the slightest baby bump walks up to me.
“Madison? The woman who made my gender reveal cake? Oh, I have to hug you!” When I nod she engulfs me in a hug. Pulling back, she smiles at me. “I’m Hannah. This is Cole, my husband.” She gestures at the guy hovering behind her.
“Hann, baby. Please sit down.”
