Page 79 of Puck Fest
I stop, holding my shirt in hand. “So we see each other less?”
“We have to be more careful. Alex is still watching. People are still noticing.”
“Right. More careful.” I pull on my shirt. “This is going to get harder, isn’t it?”
“Probably.” He sits up, pulls the sheet around his waist. “But I meant what I said earlier. I’m falling for you, Danny. And that’s not going away just because we have to be more careful.”
I cross back to the bed, kiss him. “I’m falling for you too. Have been for a while.”
“Since when?”
“Probably since that first meeting when you looked at me like I was the biggest pain in your ass.”
He almost smiles. “Youwerethe biggest pain in my ass.”
“And now?”
“Now you’re still a pain in my ass.” He snickers. “Just a different kind.”
I kiss him again, harder this time. “I should go before I change my mind and stay.”
“You should.”
He strokes the side of my face. “Danny.” His voice is soft. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being patient and for not giving up on me when I kept pushing you away.”
“I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”
“Good.”
I leave a few minutes later, walking to my truck in the dark, and for the first time in weeks, I’m not worried about being seen.
Not because the threat’s gone. Alex is still out there. People are still watching. Everything’s still as dangerous as it was yesterday.
But probation’s over. We made it through. And Noah just told me he’s falling for me.
That has to count for something.
Whatever happens next, at least we’re in it together.
I should’ve known that was the moment everything would start to unravel.
CHAPTER 21
NOAH
Three weeksafter Danny’s probation ends, I start to think maybe we’re going to be okay.
Which should’ve been my first clue that everything was about to fall apart.
It’s a Tuesday night game against Boston, and we’re up three to two with five minutes left in the third period. The arena’s loud, fans are on their feet, screaming, so ready for the win.
I stand in the tunnel near the bench, working with the media team on post-game interviews. It’s standard stuff.
Danny’s on the ice, playing solid hockey. Zero penalties. Completely clean.
