Page 21

CHAPTER 21

The Suit Hits Just Right

LUCY

“ Y ou’ll be fine, Bear.” I push a curl off my forehead and reach down to scratch my dog’s head. He’s sitting at my feet in my office. Actually, he’s sitting on my feet.

Bear turns and licks my hand.

“I’ll be back in an hour. You have treats, water, and a dog bed.”

Bear seems fine with the whole situation. After all, he’s wearing a doggy Blizzard shirt, courtesy of Kellen. He also sent me a hoodie, t-shirt, and car decal, along with his jersey.

I stare back down at my laptop, where I was streaming the pregame while finishing some work I came in to get done.

I paused and gaped when Kellen walked through my screen into the arena, the poster child for hot hockey player. I didn’t get to see him fully suited up last Monday… Not the complete picture, anyway, as we kissed before I could even get his tie knotted.

That kiss. I can’t get it out of my head.

On the screen, Kellen’s smiling as he follows my brother into the building with his tie expertly fastened.

I shut my laptop and breathe out. I don’t usually work on Saturdays, but I needed to get a few things done and was too jittery to work at the apartment .

I flash back to the way I could feel Kellen’s heart race when I laid my hands on his chest. I kissed him. I did that. And while he didn’t exactly hesitate to kiss me back—it was like he’d been waiting for me to do it—he also kept his hands securely on my waist.

I kinda wish he’d have let them wander.

Now my heart’s racing. I place a hand on my chest and will it to slow.

The kiss wasn’t for show. Paul and Savannah weren’t anywhere around. We didn’t even pretend it was practice.

My neck heats, and I rub it with one hand. I wanted so much more from him, but I’m so glad we stopped before things went too far.

Aren’t I?

But it doesn’t feel like I’m glad. I haven’t even texted him to say thank you for the gifts. I kinda don’t trust myself not to cross the line again.

I roll my shoulders back and smooth down the number seven Kellen Bassey jersey I’m wearing. I cracked up when I took it out of the package and saw all the other Blizzard merchandise, including that shirt for Bear.

I pat my dog one final time and pull my office door shut behind me. My phone buzzes, and I pause before pushing into the arena.

January

Lulu, You look like in Kellen’s jersey

Raleigh

I feel like this is a big deal

I type a response. I’d sent them a quick selfie of me in the jersey.

Me

Bigger than kissing him at a coffee shop? Or holding hands at the fall festival?

January

Or making out with him in a conference room where no one could see?

Me

January

That’s what I thought, babes

Raleigh

And it makes this an even bigger deal

January

Go sleep with him. He’d be a pretty impressive rebound

Me

Janny. I’m not rebounding with Kellen Bassey

January

Right. Sure

Raleigh

Why are you calling him by his full name?

January

I cannot wait to see this in person

Me

You won’t. Remember? We’ll be fake broken up by then, sis

January

K

Me

But you can have your pick of hot hockey players then

Raleigh

A good way to celebrate my divorce being final

I slip the phone into my pocket.

It’s been a week since the kiss with Kellen, and a daily topic of conversation with my friends.

Through the arena entrance, the stadium is loud and crowded. I find the seats Kellen directed me toward, right next to Bri and Ava.

“Coach Lucy!” Ava jumps up and throws her arms around me.

“Hey, soccer star, how are you?”

“Amazing. Where’s Bear?” Ava asks.

“He wouldn’t do well in the arena. Remember what happened when I brought him in here last time?”

“He peed everywhere!” Ava is delighted at the reference.

“Hey, Bri, how are you?” I settle down in the seat next to Bri.

“I’m fine. Ava’s been excited to sit with you at the game.” Ava’s mother looks strikingly like her, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a Blizzard sweatshirt. Bri’s eyes dart down to what I’m wearing. Her daughter’s father’s jersey.

“Well, I’m excited to sit with you too.” I smile at Ava, and she beams back.

“How’s… all this going?” Bri waves her hand in the air toward the rink and then me.

“Good, I guess?” This woman must think I’m insane for fake dating Kellen.

“We do what we have to do, right?” Bri says.

I nod.

“Bear’s actually in my office having a nap.” I lean forward to talk to Ava, who is now playing with a Barbie doll dressed in scrubs. “Or destroying things, it’s hard to predict with him.”

“Aw, I wish you could’ve brought him.” She pauses for a second, then stands and jumps up and down twice. “Oh! I thought of the best name! ”

“Sit, Ava. And I don’t think Lucy needs help naming her dog. He already has a name.”

Ava sits. “Mommy, Coach Lucy changes his name all the time.” Ava glances up at her mom and then back at me.

I nod. “I mean, that’s technically true. I’m trying to find the right one for him. One that he really likes.”

“Okay. Ava, but don’t be upset if she decides not to use the name. Deal?”

“Deal!” Ava squeals.

“What do you got, Ava? What name should we try next?”

“Are you ready?” Ava leaps up again. “Mister Barky McBarkface.” The little girl bursts into laughter and slaps her hands on the sides of her face, clearly delighted at her creativity.

There’s a roar from the crowd, and my eyes lift up to the ice, but I don’t want Ava to think I’m ignoring her, so I look back at her.

“I think that’s absolutely ridiculous, and amazing, just like Bear himself.” I purse my lips, like I’m really thinking about the name. “Mister Barky McBarkface. It’s perfect. I’ll test it out on him after the game.”

“Really? Hooray!!”

“But honestly, when he gets a new owner, they might change his name anyway.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I wish I hadn’t voiced them. Why would I say something like that? In front of a five-year-old who’s in love with my dog?

This is exactly why Kellen probably doesn’t want to bring women around his daughter. It’s confusing and they all end up disappointing him and her.

The crowd roars again and we all turn to watch Kellen make a breakaway, shooting neatly past the final defenseman and goaltender to score.

Everyone cheers, but I just about hear what Ava whispers to Bri .

“Mommy? Can I be the new owner of Mister Barky McBarkface?”

I press my lips together at her sweet words, pretending not to have heard them. Ava would be the perfect person to love that dog forever.

As Kellen skates back to center, he veers to the side of the rink and heads directly our way. To see his daughter, obviously. He blows a kiss in our direction, and Ava squeals and waves.

Then he winks. At me.

I glance behind me up at the corporate sponsorship box, where Savannah and Paul are supposed to be. I don’t see them, and they certainly aren’t watching us.

The rest of the game, I keep my eyes on the game in between chatting with Ava and Bri. Kellen scores a hat trick, and the arena goes crazy for him.

Ava gives me a giant, warm hug before she and Bri leave. I promise to give her a full report at soccer on Wednesday of how Mister Barky McBarkface likes his new name.

The team is all smiles when they skate through the team exit. Kellen looks right up at me as he passes and grins brightly. This time, there’s no confusion about who the smile is meant for. His daughter is gone.

It’s all for me.

I head back toward the double doors in the arena that lead to the players’ gym, locker room, and administrative hallway so I can fetch Mister Barky McBarkface.

My insides are swirling. We checked the box of me wearing his jersey to a game, but I don’t know if Paul and Savannah even saw.

I scan my badge, and the noise of the arena fades as the doors click shut behind me. I stride down the hall to my office. I can’t believe I agreed to rename my dog Mister Barky McBarkface. It even takes a long time to think it.

I open the door and call to him with his new name. Immediately, a flash of white and brown darts toward me and jumps on my legs, barking.

“I guess you like it?” I laugh and make the mistake of not shutting the door behind me right away. Mister Barky McBarkface zips through my legs and down the hall, his purple and yellow Blizzard shirt acting like a superdog cape.

“Shit! Hey!” His new name immediately flies from my brain. “Bear! Taco! Waffles!!”

I dart out the door and turn to follow him toward the arena, but Kellen is standing at the end of the hall holding my dog. He’s wearing a tight Blizzard t-shirt and athletic shorts, and Mister Barky McBarkface is snuggling into his chest.

Kellen strolls toward me, cradling my dog, who stares up at him adoringly.

I can relate to the feeling. I’m as frozen as the ice in the arena. He stops a few feet away but makes no move to hand over the dog.

“I feel like we’ve done this before. Me capturing your escaped dog.”

“Thank you for that. And for his new shirt. Also, his new name is Mister Barky McBarkface, courtesy of your daughter.”

Kellen bursts out laughing, and I love the sound of it. I want to run my hand over the stubble on his chin. Feel that mouth on mine again. His laugh relieves some of the tension in the air, and I grin as his chuckles taper off.

“Of course she did. You know you don’t have to actually call him that?”

“That’s what Bri said.” I shrug. Maybe my friends are right. Do I need to sleep with a hot hockey player? Specifically this one? “We’ll see how he likes it.”

Kellen’s staring at me with a slight smile lingering on his face.

“How’s it going? Did you enjoy the game?” His eyes dart down to my lips and back up. Tingles run up my spine and a single, intense beat of desire pulses in the bottom of my stomach .

“It was a good game. Congrats on the hat trick. And thank you for the jersey. And the shirt. And the hoodie. And the decal? It was a bit over the top.”

Kellen’s mouth quirks into a smile. He steps forward. So many things zip through my mind, the most prominent one being a wish that he’d grab me by the waist and kiss me.

“I wanted to apologize about what happened at the photo shoot,” he says in a low voice. “In person. I know we’ve been texting since then, but I really feel like I crossed a line.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” I curl my toes.

“I do. I wasn’t in my right mind that afternoon. And I don’t often feel comfortable talking about Ava’s past issues.”

Did he forget that I’m the one who kissed him?

“No worries. I’ve barely thought about it.” But I can’t help the stupid grin that’s on my face. Damn, I am not subtle.

“Yeah, me neither.” He presses his lips together and holds out Mister Barky McBarkface. “Here’s your dog. I have to get to the post-game yoga session, or I’ll catch a lot of shit.”

“Of course.” I accept the squirming canine bundle. “Have fun with your downward facing dog.”

I imagine the Blizzard doing yoga together. It’s a delightfully wholesome picture.

“My favorite is the cobra.”

I tilt my head in question.

“You know, lay on your belly and press down on the ground with your hands and arch up off the floor. Stretches your back.” Kellen lifts his chin up and curves his back to demonstrate. “Just picture the rattlesnake we saw on our hike.”

I laugh. “I got it now.”

“See you around, Lucy.” Kellen’s gaze lingers for a second more, then he turns and walks away.

“Bye.”

I watch Kellen retreat and wish I wasn’t so focused on how broad his shoulders are, so strong and capable. I wish I wasn’t thinking about how kind he is and observant to how I’m feeling, like a big, sweet, gooey cinnamon roll that I could sink my teeth into.

I’m in so much trouble.