Page 96 of All Your Dreams

“You won't. Instead, you'll behave like a perfectly normal adult.”

I stare at my friend and she stares right back. The standoff lasts exactly five seconds before Jax emerges from the back. He spots us and grins.

“There you are,” he says to Soph, leaning down to kiss her. Then he looks at me. “Peyton, you good?”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Soph pats my shoulder. “She’s about to meet Felix Hildebrand and is doing her best not to pass out.”

Jax’s easy grin widens. “Follow me and I’ll make the introductions.”

“Jax, don’t do it,” I hiss.

Too late. He’s already on his way to say hi to the German powerhouse. “What’s up, man? I’ve a friend who’s a huge hockey fan and would love to meet you.” Jax gestures my way. “Felix, this is Peyton.”

One of the best goalies in the League smiles at me, his friendly eyes softening behind his glasses. “Hi, it’s always great to meet fans.”

“Hi,” I manage and clear my throat. “I’m originally from San Diego, but recently moved here, so I can’t say I’m a Peacocks fan, but still, what an honor to meet you and—shit. I’m totally rambling, right?”

He laughs knowingly. “No worries. It happens to the best of us. You should’ve seen me meeting my hockey idols when I first started playing in the League.”

“Really?”

“Oh yeah. Painful stuff.” Felix grimaces. “I’m pretty sure I forgot my own name once.”

A laugh slips out of me, taking some of the tension with it. We chat a bit about his tattoo and he explains the inspiration behind the design. And how he had to wait until now to get it done so it wouldn’t interfere with the season. Felix shows me photos and Jax explains different details he added to the design.

“It’s incredible,” I tell them. “You’re basically carrying an entire library on your back.”

“That’s the goal,” Felix confirms proudly.

When he and Jax head back for their session, I exhale like I’ve been holding my breath the entire conversation. “You handled that beautifully,” Soph tells me.

“I’m never recovering emotionally,” I say, dropping onto the couch in the waiting area like my bones have stopped working and can’t keep me upright.

She waves a dismissive hand, completely unbothered. “You should come to the Peacocks games with me and Haisley. You could get to know the guys better.”

“Oh, you two get tickets from the players?”

Soph’s expression goes oddly blank. Then she winces. “Okay, don’t freak out on me again, but you should know something…um, Haisley’s dad is the Peacocks’ GM.”

My brain stalls. “Wait,” I say slowly, sitting up straighter. “Jeremy Lavigne is her father?”

“Yup, but she’s very normal about it,” she assures me. “We all are…mostly.”

I blink at her, still trying to process everything. “Holy shit. You’re too cool for me.”

“Oh, please. You’ve had more main character moments this month than I’ve had in the past year.”

“That feels statistically unlikely,” I counter.

Soph gives me a look that says she has receipts, but thankfully, she doesn’t start listing them. We hang around the shop a little longer, talking about everything and nothing while the afternoon slips by. When it’s finally time for me to leave, Soph loops her arm through mine and walks me outside.

“Best lunch ever?” she asks.

“Objectively.”

She hums, satisfied with my answer. “You’re building something here, huh?”

“You mean with Ollie?”