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Chapter Twenty-Seven

PAYTON

It’s been two days since the fundraiser, and Lily and I have fallen back to our usual pattern of her driving me to practice, me preparing dinner, and her retreating to her room to do her reports, which I know now is her way of avoiding me.

No more flirting or kisses, and if anything, our conversations are minimal at best. Yet, she’s continued the ruse of acting as my bodyguard even though she knows there’s no longer a threat, which baffles me.

I thought about confessing that I know everything and suggesting we stop the pretense, but I suppose I’m still hopeful that we can make things work between us. Could that be why she hadn’t said anything yet? Is she hoping the same, or is she simply planning her exit strategy?

The latter leaves me gutted.

Normally, I crash for a good two hours before a game, but my mind has done nothing but replay our conversation, which means I didn’t get any rest. And now I’m just a grumpy hockey player, looking for a way to vent some steam when I hit the ice in twenty minutes.

Fancy a fight, anyone? That’s bloody well me at the moment. We’re playing against the Pirates again tonight, and a part of me hopes Jennings will be his usual obnoxious self, so I have a reason to drop gloves.

“Payton.” Coach Markelson waves me over.

I haven’t put on my skates yet, so I pad over in my socks, following him to his office. And he shuts the door. That scenario rarely plays out well.

“What’s up, Coach?”

He gestures to the seat in front of his desk. “We need to talk about Houston Jennings.”

The back of my neck heats as I sit. “What about him?”

Coach raises his brows at me as if to ask if I’m that dense.

“Right.” I take a deep breath, composing my words carefully. “The bloke clearly holds a grudge.”

Coach nods. “Agreed, but I’m more concerned about you. How are you planning to handle him tonight?”

“Handle him?” I’d like to return in equal fervor his smash against the boards, but I’m sensing that’s not what Coach has in mind.

“You know he’s going to try to instigate something with you again, and the last thing we need tonight is for one of our best forwards to be in the box. Get my drift?”

In other words, no fisticuffs. “I do.”

He nods. “And just so we’re clear, I’m not saying let the guy get away with anything. Just maybe let your teammates help you.”

I run my hands down the front of my shorts. “Got it, Coach.”

“Good.”

As I head back to my locker, Luke follows me with his gaze until I sit down.

“Everything okay?”

I put on a skate and work the laces. “He doesn’t want me getting into anything with Jennings tonight.”

He lets out his signature grunt, which says he agrees, though grudgingly. “ Sounds wise.”

“Right, but knowing Jennings, he’ll be the one to start something.”

“Then you let one of us deal with him.”

Resigned to the situation, I exhale my frustration. “Coach implied the same.”

“Ethan and I are paired tonight since Elias is sick. We’ll keep watch.” He lifts his chin toward Ethan. “Right, E?”

Tugging his jersey down, Ethan waddles over on his skates. “Whatever you need, Cap.”

Luke tilts his head at me. “We’re gonna make sure Jennings can’t get near Pay tonight.”

Ethan bumps fists with Luke. “You know it.”

That’s when I notice the rest of the blokes watching us, nodding. They’re all ready to jump into action on my behalf—something I’d readily do for them as well. And for the first time, I don’t feel utterly alone in all this.

I’m such an idiot. If I had told them the truth about my family from the get-go, they probably would have understood and not made a big deal out of some perchance title I’ll likely never hold. I should have trusted them with this part of my life as I trust them on the ice.

I swallow down the regret-filled lump in my throat. “Cheers. Means a lot.”

At the very least, I have my mates at the end of the day, although I’d very much like to have Lily waiting for me, too.

Even better if she’s wearing my jersey. I still haven’t figured out what to do next—how to fix this situation my thoughtless words landed us in.

The only suggestion Del had in her bag of tricks was to give Lily a minute to think.

But I can’t dwell on that right now. I can’t let my team down by playing distracted again. And I’ll need all my wits about me to stay alert to Jennings’ antics, which becomes all too clear as we hit the ice and skate the circle to warm up. Every time Jennings and I pass each other, he sneers at me.

Surprisingly, he and I rarely cross paths during the first period. And when we do, he seems hyper-focused on the game. After the second period, we’re tied, and so far, I’ve only gotten a few sharp glances from the git. Maybe his coach had a chat with him as well, and there’s nothing to worry about.

In the third period, I score a goal, putting us in the lead. Unfortunately, it’s Jennings’ ugly mug I have to look at for the faceoff.

Keeping Coach’s warning front and center, I keep my head down, align my skates, and brace my stick on the ice. The lineman positions himself, his hand holding the puck hovering over the ice.

“I was hoping I’d get a face-to-face with His Majesty.” Jennings’ chirp snaps my head up. His mouthguard makes his grin almost comical.

“Just shut it, man,” I growl back.

Ethan watches from the outer edge. “He’s a goon, Pay. Roll it off.”

I give a quick nod just as the lineman drops the puck, which I win, taking a direct shot on goal, but their goalie catches it, stopping play.

Without saying a word, Jennings skates by me but slows as he passes Luke, who shakes his head and shoves him away. Jennings must think this is all fun and games, judging by the way he’s laughing.

Luke glides my way as we juggle places for the next faceoff. “Jennings seems to think you’re someone important, Pay. Any idea what he’s talking about?”

“Haven’t the foggiest.” But this moment makes the decision for me. After the game, I’ll talk to Lily since she’s part of this and make a plan to tell the blokes everything. Just making this choice lifts some of the heaviness I’ve been carrying around. The sooner I get this cleared up, the better.

I score another goal just seconds before the end of the third period and get a jolt of satisfaction when Jennings leaves the ice in a huff because we beat the Pirates again.

Telling my mates the truth isn’t the only thing I want to talk to Lily about. I want to tell her I’m crazy about her—to her face. If she feels anything for me at all, we’ll find a way to make our relationship work even if she wants to continue being a bodyguard.

Now that I’ve had time to think, I realize I should have never said the things I did to her. If I can trust her with my life, I should trust her to make her own decisions. The last thing she needs is a bloke like me telling her what to do.

I leave the locker room filled with anticipation and a rough script of what I want to say to her. She’s the first thing I see when I walk out, standing there wearing a tentative smile. And my jersey. I wrap my arms around her and lower my head so only she can hear.

“I’m a right bloody idiot, aren’t I?”

She tilts her head back, leveling me with those hazel eyes that capture my soul every time I look into them. “I’m not sure how to answer that. Give me some context.”

“What I said at the fundraiser. I was wrong to tell you what you can or can’t do. I’m properly sorry.”

Her hand slides up my chest and cups my face, and then she lifts her face, pressing her lips against mine. Her touch is warm and tender, filled with so much emotion. This feels real. No acting. Not a game.

Takes everything in me not to take the kiss to the next level, but now is not the time or place. And we need to talk.

I grab her hand. “Let’s go home and have a proper chat.”

She lifts a brow at me.

“I meant an actual conversation.” I hold our clasped hands against my chest. “There are things I need to say to you.”

After a moment, she nods.

With Luke in tow, Sophie approaches us, smiling. “Anybody up for some hushpuppies?”

“As lovely as that sounds, Lily and I are heading home. ”

She grins at Lily. “All good?”

“We’ll see.” Lily glances at me and smiles as if she’s promising to explain later.

Luke braces my shoulder. “Great job not letting that goon get to you, Pay.”

I grin in appreciation of his praise. “Cheers, man.”

He replies with a grunt while Sophie watches him with clear adoration on her face.

What I wouldn’t give to have Lily look at me that way.

If she truly wants to continue in her profession and take the position my sister has implied she’ll offer Lily upon her return, could I relinquish hockey to be with her?

I still have to fulfill my contract with the Sun Kings, but perhaps we could maintain something long distance until then.

I can’t very well ask her to make a sacrifice if I’m not willing to do the same for her.

All these thoughts swirl through my head as we walk out of the arena and into an onslaught of shouts and flashbulbs illuminating the surrounding night. A wall of reporters and cameras surge forward, their shouted questions vying for attention.

“How long have you been hiding your royal ties?”

“What does your family think about your double life?”

“Are you abdicating hockey to take up your title?”

And just like that, my secret is out.