Page 21 of Light It Up Red
“I’m far from a princess. I’m in advertising. I work at Vads,” I say while leaving out the part about it being one of the family’s legitimate businesses.
“Beautiful and smart. You’re the whole fucking package, babe. You must be creative then. Do you enjoy it? Advertising, I mean?”
“I do.” I really love my job. I could be the princess everyone accuses me of being. I don’t need to work. My trust fund is more than enough to provide for me for the rest of my life. I work because I love what I do.
The rest of breakfast breezes by with more easy conversation as we really get to know each other. It’s nice.
When Travis stops in front of my parents’ estate about an hour later, I jump out before he can continue up the drive. “I hope you win!”
Travis leans over the center console and calls through the open door. “Do not get out of this car without kissing me, Liliana.” I don’t miss the way he uses my full name.
I tuck my head back inside. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” I say into his mouth as our lips collide.
“I’m going to fucking miss you.”
“See you soon, hotshot.” I pull back and run up to the gate without looking back again.
The guard opens it for me while glaring at Travis’s car like he wants to blow it up. This is exactly why I jumped out when I did. My dad’s men are just as fiercely protective of me as he is, and having one gun pulled on my date is enough for today.
Chapter Ten
“O’Neil, Logan, Hines… you’re starting line. Get out there. Start hard, play hard. And keep control.” Those are Coach’s parting words prewarm-up. Everyone stands from the benches. Bumps fists and pats backs as we make our way down the tunnel to the ice.
Away games are different from being on our home turf. When I look out into the stands, there’s a sea of green and white with patches of red popping up now and then.
I skate out to the middle of the ice and focus on warming up. I don’t look at the crowd as much at away games. I maneuver around the boards on our half of the rink, dribbling a puck along with me while passing it back and forth to Logan. A flash of red catches my eye, making me miss that little black disk when he slaps it in my direction. I turn my head and approach the Perspex. But it’s not the color of the jersey that draws me in like a moth to a flame; it’s the fiery red of her pouty fucking lips. I smile and lift a gloved hand to the window, meeting the palm she has pressed against the other side.
“What are you doing here?” I yell out over the noise of the crowd.
Lili lifts a shoulder in a half shrug. “Seems I have a sudden vested interest in hockey,” she says with a huge smile curling those same lips.
My eyes flick over to the guy seated next to her, his arms crossed over his chest and his glare deadly. Alessandro. Her brother, who looks anything but impressed to be here right now. I nod my head in acknowledgement before returning my attention to Lili.
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“Go and do your thing before you get in trouble,” she says.
Tapping the board with my gloved fist, I skate back over to where Logan is stretching. Fall down next to him and start my own routine.
“You’re either the luckiest motherfucker on the planet or a dead man walking,” he grunts while shaking his head at me.
“Oh, I’m lucky all right.” I grin at him. “Although I think I may have lost a fan. Her brother seems to hate my existence right now.” I can still feel that death glare aimed in my direction.
“If looks could kill, eh?” Logan laughs.
After warm-ups, I make my way over to the bench while gesturing for Lili to meet me there. By the time I reach the divider that separates the tunnel from the reserved seating, she’s waiting for me. Removing the glove from my right hand, I crook a finger at her. She leans in, and if I didn’t have skates on, I’d climb the fucking railing. When she’s close enough for me to reach out and cup her face, I fuse my lips to hers. It’s a quick kiss, nothing more than a peck, but it doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone looking.
“Thank you for coming,” I tell her.
“As if I’d miss it.” She smiles back at me.
“Wait for me? After the game?” I ask her.
Lili glances over to where her brother is seated, his eyes hyperfocused on us, and then returns her attention to me. “Okay, but I’m more than likely going to have a grumpy shadow.”
“As long as I have you, I don’t care who’s third-wheeling.” I smile and drop my arm. “See you soon, babe.”
“Break a leg,” she says, then quickly tries to correct herself. “Wait! Don’t do that! Well, at least not one of your own. Feel free to break someone else’s.”
