Page 38 of Daring the Hockey Player

“He’s not my boyfriend.” I keep my focus on the game and have to admit, I'm disappointed that Jasper is in the penalty box because I can't see him. At least if he weren't playing on the ice, he'd be on the bench in front of me.

Thankfully, the arena is loud, making it difficult for his teammates seated in front of the glass to overhear our conversation.

"Still didn't answer the question, why doesn't he like me?" Charlotte asked.

"I don’t know. You encouraged me to wear the Bruisers jersey. Maybe he's holding that over your head."

Charlotte waves her hand dismissively. "We both wore the jersey. You're just as guilty as I am."

I glare at her. "You dared me to wear it."

"Yes, and I'm wearing this wig, so we're even. Okay?" The blonde wig looks pretty natural on her, with her pale and freckled complexion. She pulls it off well. "But I'm pretty sure your lover boy is going to notice who I am, wig or not."

"It's fine. I doubt he's paying us that much attention," I say, hoping that I'm right.

Jasper is released from the penalty box and back on the ice with Kyler and his teammates. The score is one to nothing with the Ice Dragons in the lead, but not for long.

Jasper is back in the game, and so is their opponent, Storm.

"Hey, isn't that the guy whose jerseys we bought?" I ask Charlotte.

"Yeah, think that's why they're fighting over us?" Charlotte asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

My best friend is crazy. "That's insane."

"But is it?" she asks, glancing at me. She shrugs, and then her attention returns to the hockey game.

The period is almost over, and when it ends, the guys all head to the locker room. The crowd around us stands and shuffles out of their seats, stretching, taking bathroom breaks, the usual. After a few minutes, one guy tries to squeeze by us in the front row, carrying three cups of beer. He manages to spill one on my shirt, soaking my Ice Dragons jersey.

"Sorry," he slurs and keeps walking.

"Seriously?" I stand, trying to wipe the remnants of beer from my clothes. "That's just great," I mutter. I'm not wearing anything but a bra under the jersey, and it's chilly in the arena. If that's not bad enough, now the beer has soaked through and is making me cold.

"Bathroom run," Charlotte suggests, and we hurry up the stairs for the bathroom. There's a long line, and we both promise everyone we're not cutting, just trying to get to the hand dryer, which doesn't work.

There are paper towels available, and I try to dry the soaked-through jersey, but it's still frigid and uncomfortable.

"You could get another jersey?" Charlotte quips as we head out of the bathroom, tossing the damp paper towels into the trash.

I'm gripping the front of my jersey, trying to keep the cold from biting my skin. The nearest booth that sells Ice Dragons merchandise has a line that wraps around the arena. We'll miss part of the game if we're standing in line.

"You could try over there," she says, pointing at the Island Bruisers merchandise.

I groan. I already have one of their jerseys that I'm never going to wear. "Seriously? Jasper will kill me."

Charlotte tilts her head, smiling. "Now, why is that? Because if you're not dating, I don't see the problem."

"We're friends, Char. It's like stabbing him in the back."

"He'll understand. If not, he'll bring you another jersey. Wouldn't that be great, two jerseys off his back? You can give me one when you're done with it."

I laugh at her candor. She walks me closer to the Island Bruisers little shop, which is empty of customers. We're at the Ice Dragons stadium, so it's not a surprise that the majority of the merchandise for sale is for Jasper's team. "Not happening. I can't do it."

"You either freeze in that soaking wet and disgusting smelling jersey, which reeks of beer or buy one of those jerseys so that you can watch your boyfriend play hockey."

"He's not my boyfriend," I grit between my teeth.

"Not with that attitude," Charlotte quips.