Page 68 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“Ugh.” I groan once she’s out of earshot before focusing back on my cell.

Sienna: I’m not sure I’ve got your jersey.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: Bull. Shit.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: You wore it to the game you watched with your brother.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: He had a Keller jersey, too.

Sienna: No, you must be mistaken. I think I’ve got a Rivers jersey. And Garrett was wearing a Storm one that night.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: Hmmm…

Tingles erupt as if he just groaned that in my ear.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: I’ve got spares if you’ve lost it.

Sienna: Of course you have. I bet you have them hanging around your bedroom so they’re the last thing you look at at night and first thing in the morning.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: I’ll have you know, I’ve worked my ass off to have my name on that jersey. I’ll look at it whenever I like…

“Shit.” Did I just offend him?

Surely not.

Sienna: At least you know you’ve got something to wear.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: The only person I want wearing my jersey tonight is you.

“Oh, Jesus.”

Calvin King of the ice Keller: Have you left yet? I don’t wanna miss puck drop.

I pull my coat on and throw my purse over my shoulder before marching through the salon, waving to the girls before finally climbing into my car.

Sienna: Shame we don’t get to see the warm-ups on TV. They’re the best part.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: Why would you want to watch them when I won’t be on the ice? I could give you a one-on-one preview if you like.

Heat races through me at the thought of him dropping to his hands and knees and grinding his hips like they all do.

Sienna: Can you get down on your hands and knees at the moment?

Putting my cell in the center console, I start my engine and pull out of my space.

I don’t check my cell until I get to a stop sign, and when I do, I find that my message has been read, but there’s no reply.

My stomach knots. I shouldn’t have said that. I know he’s struggling right now; teasing him about what he’s incapable of doing is insensitive.

Sienna: I’m sorry, that was a low blow.

I stare at my screen as the message is read, but he still doesn’t reply, and I end up getting beeped by the car behind because I miss the light turning green—whoops.

There’s still no reply by the time I get home, and as I ride the elevator to my floor, I start to wonder if he’s going to cancel.

I get ready as quickly as I can, aware that the minutes are quickly ticking down. In an ideal world, I’d wash my hair, but there isn’t time for that. So, after the world’s fastest shower, I make the best I can of my hair and makeup before pulling on a pair of jeans, a tank, and a pair of boots.

I pause with Calvin’s jersey in my hand.