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The distance between the restaurant and the hotel also meant we had some relative privacy. Now that we were out of anyone else’s earshot, I cleared my throat. “So you, um… You don’t want anyone to know we’re together.” I hoped itdidn’t sound like an accusation, though I was pretty sure my disappointment bled into the words. “I mean, if you don’t want them to know, I get it. I’m out, so I don’t care if…”

She smiled and put her hand on my back, a gesture that could easily be interpreted as platonic if someone cared enough to notice us. “I want people to know. Trust me—I do. But let’s keep it to ourselves for a little while first. So we can enjoy it without the cameras in our faces for a bit, you know?”

I straightened. “Oh. Right. I…” I couldn’t say I hadn’t thought of that—it had been a reporter asking about us after all—but I also kind ofhadn’tthought of it. Even three seasons into my professional career, it was still surreal that anyone with cameras actually cared about women’s hockey. We’d usually get some passing attention at the Olympics, and a week later, everyone would forget for another four years women played hockey at all. And like, female hockey players dating or even marrying each other was seriously common. The thought of anyone caring that two players were together—caring for more than the duration of the Olympics, anyway—was mind-blowing.

“I guess that makes sense,” I whispered.

“It does suck, though,” she admitted. “And there’s also the issue that the tabloids still jump at every chance to be the first to out me with a new girlfriend,” she said softly. “I had that one relationship after Ty, and they’ve been frothing at the mouth to write about me dating another woman. We’re… This isn’t going to go unnoticed.”

“Oh.”I almost chafed my arms as my skin crawled. “I forgot about that.”

“I’ve tried to,” she muttered. “But every time anyone sees me anywhere near another woman, I start getting emails and DMs from people who want to know if there’s a ‘story.’”

I cocked a brow. “Have you gotten any about us?”

With a somewhat sheepish expression, Sabrina nodded. “A few.”

“Wait, really? You have?”

She avoided my gaze and nodded again. “Yeah. I guess people have noticed that there was some animosity between us, and now there isn’t. Plus we’ve kind of been joined at the hip for a while,especiallysince we got to the All-Stars.”

Warmth rose in my face. “Damn. And here I thought we were being subtle.”

“We probably are,” she said with a quiet laugh. “But when people are sniffing around for something…”

“Ugh.” I groaned. “Why do they even have to care?”

Sabrina half-shrugged. “Because we’re public people, so everyone assumes we’re public property? And I don’t care how accepting the League is—people still think queerness is scandalous.”

At that, I laughed, and I slid my hand over hers as I offered a cheeky grin. “Are you suggesting there’s something scandalous about us?”

She returned the grin. “We could be.”

“Ooh, I like the way you think.” I licked my lips. “Any chance you want to head back up to the room when we get to the hotel?”

Still grinning impishly, Sabrina arched an eyebrow. “So we can put on a game and watch hockey?”

I elbowed her gently. “Shut up, and let’s get out of here.”

Chapter 24

Sabrina

Good thing the All-Star tournament hadn’t been as intense as a regular game. A lot of work, sure, but it wasn’t exactly full-speed, make-it-count hockey. None of us put in a hundred percent during a game like that.

Which meant I could absolutely give a hundred percent to more interesting activities this evening.

As soon as we were in the room, I pressed Lila up against the door and kissed her hard. She gave as good as she got, tangling her fingers in my hair and moaning as she explored my mouth.

“Well, Miss Hamilton,” I purred as I slid my hands beneath her blouse. “Areyou and Miss McAvoy an item?” I traced the pad of my thumb over her clothed nipple. “Because you two seem… friendly.”

“Hmm, I don’t know where you’d get the idea we’re more than friends.” She nipped my lower lip. “Can’t… Can’t even imagine where you might think that.”

I laughed, then claimed her mouth again. She was still grinning and so was I, but our lips quickly softened into a long, decadent kiss. I still couldn’t get over how Lila kissed. How shecould be so soft and gentle, but also firm and demanding—not quite aggressive, but nowhere near submissive.

Clothing put up a bit of a fight, but eventually, it was all scattered on the hotel room floor where it belonged. We tumbled onto the bed in a fit of laughter, which quickly turned into more kissing.

“You think…” She was out of breath, but she tried again, holding my gaze as she dragged her nails up my back. “You think they’re on to something? That there’s… some chemistry here?”