Page 26 of Apple of My Eye

“What does a man need to do to claim you then?” He glanced down at me with all the seriousness of a situation I couldn’t allow myself to be in yet.

Fortunately for me, the lights of the arena turned off, leaving only spotlights floating around. The announcer came over the speakers. “Let’s get ready for the Montana Frostbite!”

The scoreboard flashed, MAKE SOME NOISE! The decibel level of the crowd on their feet rang my ears.

“This is wild,” I shouted to Knox, who smiled and clapped.

“Yep, and I’m glad you’re here to experience it with me, sweetheart.”

It hit me. I could think of no one else I’d want to do this with. Over the past year, he’d truly grown into a good friend, someone I didn’t know I needed to count on, who’d alwaysshown up for me. If that wasn’t the true mark of friendship, then I didn’t know what was.

There’d always been an attraction between us that I denied over and over again, but I couldn’t anymore. At least, not tonight. I loosened up, and joined in, clapping and taking it all in, determined, for once, to enjoy myself with him.

The players were each announced with extra fanfare and skated around. Women in the seats beside us went absolutely nuts for Maddox—especially when he skated right up in front of us.

He smiled and nodded at Knox. He waved at me. He pointed with his glove to the gift bag and then to me with a cocky grin.

Knox shook his head, and called him an asshole. But the brothers both laughed as he skated away. I liked seeing their interaction.

Throughout the first period, Knox answered all of my questions. As a hockey newbie, I had plenty. The pace of the game itself went faster than anything I expected. I didn’t glance at the time once.

Players flew across the ice at speeds I wouldn’t dare clock. The crack of sticks and the sharp scrape of skates cut through the roar of the crowd. I tried to follow the speeding puck, and keep up, but it was a lot. We drank sodas and shared a huge nacho plate, more like Knox ate most of it while I nibbled. And yes, I danced in my seat when the music got the crowd going.

I’d go as far as admitting I was having fun, for once.

During the second period, the announcer read off the sponsors for the night. My nerves bristled at themere mention of Congressman Brewster as one of them. To make it worse, his big head filled the screen of the Jumbotron.

My hand had found my phone before I registered the motion. I stared at it for a second, confused, before I understood—old reflex. Years ago I'd trained myself to document fast, to capture a date and a time and a location of any interaction with a Brewster before the moment could slip away. I put the phone back in my pocket without opening it. That was a long time ago, not tonight.

A video played of the congressman on the Jumbotron—Trevor at his side, both men smug in Frostbite jerseys over their expensive suits.

“We love supporting the Montana Frostbite. There’s nothing better in the region for wholesome family fun than a hockey game.” came Congressman Bruce Brewster’s soundbite.

I snorted. I couldn’t outrun these damn Brewsters for trying. Even here, on a night like this, away from home, they followed me.

“Hey, are you okay?” Knox must have noticed how stiff my body got. He glanced up at the screen and back at me. “What is it about the Brewsters? Every time?—”

“Sorry, I need the restroom.” I jumped up quickly, needing a break from it all. He let me by and I ran up the steps and out into the corridor. I slipped into the restroom and exhaled once I had locked myself away in a stall.

“They aren’t really here. Not really following you. You’re fine, Daisy. Get a grip,” I whispered to myself, wishing away the past.

I took my time, wandering back, trying to restore some of that fun I’d tried to have before the Brewsters rudelyinterrupted my night. But I stopped short of our row. A woman was sitting in my seat, facing Knox like she belonged there, her hand resting on the back of his chair as she talked, patting his shoulder here and there. His smile at her was too casual, too familiar.

Jealousy spiked before I could stop it. But I didn’t have a claim on him, didn’t want one or need one—I thought. The memory flashed from our trip to Bozeman with Ivy and Colt, at that stupid bar, and the drink I’d thrown over his head like an idiot because I didn’t like seeing him talking with a couple of women who had no business touching his arm they way they were, and he’d let them.

Didn’t matter that he was just being nice to some fans of Maddox’s that night. The feeling hit just as raw and hard now.

I stepped up beside him, arms crossed, my weight shifting onto one hip as I stared down my nose at the two of them. It took everything I had to control myself.

Knox startled and looked up, his gaze catching mine. Whatever he saw there had him straightening immediately.

“Daisy—” he started, then gestured at the woman beside him. “This is my sister, Beatrix.”

“Oh? Oh!” Heat flooded my face so fast it was almost painful. Up close, I could see it now. Her features were much more petite than Knox’s, but with similar eyes and nose.

Beatrix greeted me with a bright smile, and jumped up and hugged me. “Daisy! I’ve heard so much about you.”

I shot Knox a look over her shoulder that promised we’d be discussing that later. He shrunk in his seat with a sheepish grin.