Page 35 of Daring the Hockey Player

"Nonsense." I wasn't about to have her walk to the subway in the dark at night. That doesn't seem particularly safe, especially alone.

She adjusts the vents, and it takes a few minutes for the heat to blast through the car. There's a silence that envelopes us, and I can't tell if she's holding something back or what's going on in her head.

I clear my throat, not wanting to sit in silence for the thirty-five-minute drive to her apartment. "Do you go to a lot of hockey games?" I ask.

"No," Amber says, and I glance at her. She's smiling, glancing at me and then straight ahead at the road, like she's avoiding my stare when I look at her briefly.

"Your friend likes hockey, then?" I guess.

"Charlotte? Maybe, I don't know."

I laugh and shake my head. "Two girls who don't really care that much for hockey. Why did you both go and pay for front-row seats?"

She tips her head back like she's asking the universe to answer the question for her. "We thought it would be fun."

I don't push the question because I can sense her discomfort, and I have no inclination to make things more awkward. "Of course, that makes sense. Did you enjoy it?"

"Immensely," she says.

I catch a quick glance at her and see the smile on her face.

"We have another game tomorrow. You should come, but you can't wear that hideous Bruisers jersey."

"I would love to, but I don't think I can afford it," Amber says. "Actually, I know that I can't. But thanks for the invitation."

"I can get you tickets, for free, on one condition."

"What's that?" she asks, and her voice trembles slightly.

Do I make her nervous?

We're friends. There's no reason that she should feel nervous around me. "You have to wear my jersey," I say. "I want to look into the stands and see you supporting me."

"Do I have to wear your swamp-ass jersey?" Amber laughs.

"It didn't smellthatbad."

"Oh, it did." She seems to relax when we're joking. "You threw me a sweaty, wet, stinky jersey and demanded that I wear it in front of everyone."

"Most girls would find that a turn-on," I counter.

"Yeah, I know." She laughs and pushes her hair behind her ear. "But I'm not most girls."

I noticed. That's probably why I can't stop thinking about her.

"For the record, I've washed it, and it's in the back seat." I point at the back row behind me. "Will you wear it to tomorrow's game if I get you tickets?" I ask.

"As long as the seats don't cost you anything. I don't want to get you into trouble."

"You won't. But do me a favor, leave your friend at home."

"You don't like Charlotte?" Amber asks, and now she's staring at me like I've grown two heads.

"She doesn't seem like a great influence, encouraging you to wear the Bruisers jersey instead of the Ice Dragons."

"I told you, it was a dare."

"And do you always accept every dare thrown at you?" I ask, trying to get to know Amber a little better.