Page 4

Chapter 4

Blake

I am so fucked .

I flirted with her in no uncertain terms and told her I was hers and hers alone. She might think it was a joke, spoken in jest to match her question. But I know it was no such thing.

It was the god-honest truth.

And when Levi figures this out, I’ll be in big trouble. He will kick my ass for sure, might even kick me off the team. I say when instead of if because he is bound to find out. Alexis is on her way to enter us into the contest right now, meaning we will be joined at the hip until February. And me and pretty ladies? I’m not as smooth as people think. Especially not with her.

It’s only a matter of time before I do something stupid.

Like tell her how much I adore the little mole under her left eye or the way she scrunches her nose when she laughs. Or admit to the way she can look at me with those big eyes and put me at ease in an instant, quieting the thoughts racing through my mind.

Would I have agreed to this charade had it been anyone else? Sure. The chance to commit fraud and get away with it is too good to pass up. But the fact that it’s Alexis who I get to call mine just feels so damn right.

I can feel Levi’s stare from the other side of the ice, watching my every move. I bet he’s already regretting having asked me for the job, thinking I only agreed so I have a shot at getting into his sister’s pants. My comments at dinner probably didn’t help with that, either, though it was worth it to see Alexis’s smile.

A strangled sound rips from my throat as a puck hits my spine and for a moment I struggle to breathe, a flash of pain burning firm in the place where my lungs should be.

“Taylor!” Levi shouts as he skates closer. I focus on the sound, letting it ground me in the moment, slowly pulling me back to earth. “Get your head out of your ass and play. Do you want us to lose?”

“Sure do. I love seeing you cry like a little bitch-baby.”

His hand claps my shoulder, and though he says nothing I know what he’s asking. Are you okay? I simply nod and watch as he skates off again, trying to steal the puck from the opposing team. Lucky for me, this is a practice match, so nothing’s lost by my distraction.

When I finally pull my shit together we’re too far behind to save the game and lose spectacularly. I keep my head down as we make our way to the locker room. It’s my fault we lost, and we all know it. I let my personal crap interfere with the one thing I am actually good at. No matter what, I cannot let the same thing happen at the first game of the season on Friday.

I can’t let Coach Tucker—or the guys, really—think that I don’t take hockey seriously. That would kill any chance I have at becoming captain, effectively taking away the only thing I know I want for my future.

Besides, I might be set for life, but most of these guys are not nearly as lucky. They need their hockey scholarships to finish their degrees, or to get them into a draft. I can’t be responsible for ruining someone’s future like that. Sure, I’m a rebel, a handsome rogue. But I’m not a wrecker.

I hit the showers, avoiding any of the regular locker-room banter, going through the motions so I can get out fast.

Behind me, Raf and Eric are arguing about something. Usually, I’d step in to back up my best friend, but today I’m just not in the mood. I have no doubt that Eric will use my performance today against me, and honestly? This time, it might break me.

Yeah, I might seem cool and unbothered. Cocky, even. But I do care. I care too much sometimes. Not that it matters; no one cares about me as much as I do about them.

I make it out of the practice facility in record time, so I allow myself a few minutes of wallowing in the safety of my car. I should check my phone for any updates on extra credit work or new assignments, especially since my grades have been slipping recently. But the moment I turn it on, I stop dead in my tracks.

Because I have seven texts, all from Alexis.

Alexis

Hey. It’s me. Alexis

You know, girlfriend. Light of your life, that kind of thing

Anyway, I’m just texting so you have my number if you need me.

This questionnaire is surprisingly deep. I don’t know any of these things about you.

Do you have middle names?

When is your birthday?

When did you first fall in love with me? Probably when I jumped out of your car because I thought you were an ax murderer, right?

I laugh at the last one. What a story that would make. Kids, the moment I knew your mother was the one was when she jumped out of my still-moving car because she thought I was a killer.

Kind of sad that I’ve heard worse.

For a moment I debate calling her with the answers, get it over with. But then again someone might overhear and blow our cover, and really, why would I pass up any excuse to see her?

Stay put, Sunshine. I’m on my way.