Page 9 of Pinch

“Eh, I decided I didn’t want to live alone, so I crashed with Gina and Haddy.” My chest tightens, and I stop.

“I don’t?—”

“It’s okay, there’s four bedrooms, so you’ll have your own space.”

“It’s not that. I just…”

“Yo, Princess, Maid Marian, over here!” Mav yells as he drags me to the side of the float. “I present to you Gavin Knight of the dynamite, unstoppable ‘Gav and Mav’ hockey duo!”

My throat is dry when I look up at her. She stands in the middle of the float, perfect poise, long, silky hair streaming down her back. Her elegant white gown fits her body perfectly, slim but with curves in all the right places.

The crown is on her head, and she’s holding a massive bouquet of flowers in our team colors.

Hayden Bradford is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. The first time I met her, I forgot how to speak.

Now when our eyes meet, it’s a shock of cold water followed by an angry blowtorch.

“No.” Her tone is sharp. “Not him.”

My sentiments exactly, Princess. Hayden Bradford might be insanely beautiful, but the history between us makes sharing a house less than desirable.

She takes a wobbly step in our direction just as the float starts to roll, and her words morph into a scream. Her arms fly up, and the roses fly in an arc above her head.

Everyone, even the two large dogs lunge in her direction, and instinctively I dash toward the float as well.

With anoof!she lands, Cinderella-style in my arms, and our eyes meet. Crystal blue like a punch in the chest.

We’re both stunned, and I can’t help a grin at what just happened—the ice princess just fell off her float.

“Hello, Hayden.” My brow arches. “Nice of you to drop in. I hear we’re going to be roommates.”

“Put me down.” Her full lips purse, and she wiggles her body in my arms.

It feels unexpectedly good. She’s light but soft, and she smells like fresh flowers.

“I guess that’s your funny way of saying thank you for saving your life.”

“You didn’t save my life. You only broke my fall.” She pushes my chest, and I lower her to her feet. “Like you break everything.”

She says it under her breath, but I hear it. I also know what it means.

She hasn’t gotten over what happened at UNC any more than I have, and I wonder if it’s too late to check into that hotel again.

3

Haddy

“Yes, Mrs. Higgins, I realize it reflects poorly on the International Princess Woman program, but you see I had a wardrobe malfunction.” Chewing my lip, I pace our small backyard doing my best to control the damage. “My heel got caught in the hem of my dress, and it ripped off the bottom half of my skirt.”

“I would think someone with your level of experience wouldn’t have suchwardrobeissues.” The older woman’s tone is infused with impatience. “We disappointed the fans, the little girls who were there to see you, and the entire Champions nation.”

“The players were still there.” I winced as the words slipped unbidden.

“That is not the point, Miss Bradford, and you know it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I do my best to sound penitent. “I could make a statement?”

“I think it’s best if we let it be. The less attention, the better. But I have my eye on you.”