Page 26 of Through the Five-Hole

Emma didn’t answer me right away, and then she shook her head.“No clue.”

“It’s a statement.Wearing a certain player’s number is a statement,” I said.“When you are dating a player, you wear his number to every game.It lets people know who you belong to.”

“I see, and how many women have worn your number?”she muttered.

“Why?Are you jealous?”

“Please…”

“Honestly, you should wear mine,” I added, thinking about all the girls when they attended games.Even little Jackson wore Dylan’s number.

“Relax, I’m not a puck bunny,” she said, rolling her eyes.“Or whatever they call themselves now.”

“Puck bunny works.”

“I’m not wearing anything of the sort.”

“Well, if you want to make this charade real, you’d wear my number to every event that isn’t black tie.”

She shook her head and looked at me, and when I met her eyes, she turned and looked out the window again.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious.You’ll notice that all the other girls wear their guys’ numbers at games and at events.Don’t be surprised if Aurora, Lorelai, Scarlett, Peyton, and Ella show up to all the events wearing their men’s numbers.You’ll be the odd one out because you’ll be sitting with them in the stands during the game.Fans will automatically think something is up if you’re not wearing it, and don’t even get me started on what those Puck-Lit-Love girlies will think.”

It was like music to my ears, but for the first time since we’d been around one another, Emma laughed.

“What would you know about those Puck-Lit-Love girlies?”she questioned.

“Not a damn thing.”

“Well, like I said, I’m no puck bunny.Besides, I’m used to being the odd one out.”

I watched as she reached into her purse and picked up her phone, looking at the screen.I caught sight of the name Mark Hart just as she silenced the buzzing and rejected the call, shoving her phone back into her purse.

“Who was that?”I questioned.

“Who was what?”

“Who’s Mark Hart?”I asked.

“No one important,” she said.

“You’re sure?”

She took a deep breath, and then slowly let it out.“If you must know, that is Mark, as in my other half.”

“I see.You spoke with him last night, right?”

“That’s correct,” she said, meeting my eyes before tearing them away from me.

We both grew quiet.

“Do you always argue like that?”

“Who says we are arguing?”

“Well, last I checked, the only time one of my previous girlfriends cried was when we were fighting.Just know that if you need to talk, I’m here, and I don’t mind listening.”