Page 64 of The Kiss Connection

“It’s not necessary,” I say. “There won’t be cameras or paparazzi staking out my parents’ house. Trust me, you’ll just be bored. It’s a lot of family.”

“I doubt that, but if you don’t want me there, I won’t push. But I need you to do New Year’s Eve with me. It’ll be good for my teammates to see that we’re together, and there will be plenty of opportunities for publicity photos. It’s an overnight event, so you’ll need to pack a bag, and we’ll be sharing a room.”

“I can book an extra hotel room,” I offer. No one is going to be poking their head into his room to see if we’re sharing a bed.

“Did I not mention, Greyson’s place has an abundance of rooms? We’ll be expected to share one, together.”

“Of course, we will,” I grumble. How convenient for him. It’s a fresh hell for me, sharing a small space with Myles Dax.

“Oh, and I’ve got a couple of places lined up with a realtor for us to scope out tomorrow if you’re not busy. I didn’t know your school schedule, but she’s willing to take us around anytime or have her associate if she’s busy. I thought you’d want to start looking at properties to rent for your bookstore.”

My heart pitter patters just thinking about the bookstore. “I’m free after four tomorrow.”

Dax leaves me tickets at Will Call, a set of two, so that I can bring a friend. But he made it perfectly clear that friend better be a woman.

“Shit, these are the best seats in the house,” Rowan says as we head into the arena and find our seats in the front row.

“Think we’ll get kicked out again?” I joke, but I know Myles won’t do that, not unless we’re breaking up.

We haven’t even spoken about how that’s going to go, but it’s a year out, and does it matter? We’re not actually dating.

The Ice Dragons and the Wolverines are playing tonight. The Ice Dragons are already on the ice, warming up, getting a little skate time and practice in before the game. Even a few of the Wolverines are doing some stretches on the opposite side of the rink.

Myles skates over, winking at me, a wry grin on his face.

I stare at him, eyes wide, mouth agape. I am so not used to Myles flirting, or ready to deal with it.

Holy shit.

He shakes his head, smiling, waiting for me to say or do something.

I just stare at him, dumbfounded. He skates closer, the smile growing on his face, and my cheeks instantly heat. He’s not going to let this go.

I’m beginning to get to know a little more about Myles. He always has to win, not just in hockey.

“Babe, you’re not wearing my jersey,” he says through the plexiglass. He blows me a kiss and I force a smile.

I want my bookstore. I need to honor my end of the bargain.

I lift my hand and offer a faint smile and nervous wave, before he skates backward and heads toward his teammates.

“What was that?” Rowan asks.

Here goes nothing.

“My boyfriend,” I say, pursing my lips and glancing away.

“Your boyfriend?” Rowan deadpans, glancing from Myles to me. “I don’t fucking believe you.”

I bite down on my tongue.

If I can’t convince my best friend, how am I going to convince everyone else that we’re together?

Smiling, I tug my bottom lip between my teeth and glance at Rowan. “I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you’d freak out. Especially since I’ve hated him for a while now.”

“Freak out? No way! You two finally pulled the trigger?” Rowan squeals and claps excitedly, her eyes wide and full of glee. “I knew it! Wait, why aren’t you wearing his jersey?” She glances me over, confused.

My cheeks burn just thinking about what I did to the jersey that I owned of his. I burned it in a metal wastebasket. Damn thing cost a fortune too.