Page 8 of Daring the Hockey Player

I flickedwater at him like a child because I suck really hard at flirting. He grabs a couple of napkins from the table and wipes the remnants of water away, scowling at me, but there's a hint of a smile on his face.

"Just be glad your brother isn't marrying me. Then we'd be family."

"We kind of are family," Jasper quips.

The smile falls from my face. "Right." I sip my hot coffee, grimacing when it burns the roof of my mouth.

"Did you ever hear from that bad date again? What was his name?" Jasper asks.

He does remember me. "Tripp, and no, I made sure to block his phone number."

"Good choice," he says.

"Yes, although I won't ever date a nurse again. But at least I don't have a private membership to the Concierge Medical Center, where he works."

Jasper grins. "Might have to move if that were the case, can't have an ambulance take you to his hospital."

I wince. He makes a valid point. "Maybe I'll date outside of my zip code."

Jasper nods. "Not a bad idea. Then you won't run into them at the grocery store. That can be hella awkward, especially when they're married or have kids."

He's piqued my interest. "Are you speaking from experience?" He has to be, because that just sounds way too specific to be anything else.

Jasper takes a sip of his coffee, ignoring my question. "This stuff is good. Do you come here often?"

"You mean to the coffee shop?" I glance at him with a laugh. "You hang around the guys too much if you're asking girls that as your pickup line."

He chuckles, and Kyler heads into the café. Noticing us, he gives us a nod as he approaches.

"It wasn't a line. I was genuinely curious," Jasper says.

Kyler grabs the empty chair next to us and pulls it back to sit.

"No ring?" I ask, not seeing a bag in his hand. When we left, he was just about to hand over his black Amex card to purchase it.

"It's being sized. They'll have it later today."

I glance at my watch. My morning has been fun, but I have classes this afternoon that I can't miss. "I should go," I say, standing.

"Hand me your phone. If you're ever in a bind and need me to help you on another bad date, just text me."

"That isn't necessary," I say, fiddling with my phone in my hand.

Jasper holds his palm out, and I hand him my phone.

Kyler watches the exchange between us but doesn't say anything. I'm sure that the moment I leave, he'll probably grill his brother about it. Hopefully, it doesn't get back to Emerson because she doesn't know that I have a fake ID, and if she finds out I was in a bar and met a bad date and Jasper helped me out, I'm so screwed.

"I texted myself," Jasper says. "Save me as a contact."

I glance at my phone and add Jasper as a contact. "I really have to go. It was nice meeting you, Kyler, and it was good catching up, Jasper." I grab my coffee and hurry out into the cold, taking my warm drink with me.

* * *

"You saw Jasper Greyson?" Charlotte's mouth practically hits the floor. "Like, in person?"

I show her the text on my phone. "He gave me his number."

She kicks her legs and squeals while lying on the bed in my studio apartment. "Oh my gosh! You have to call him."