Page 50 of Flirty Pucking Wolf

“Back to New York for game five Thursday night. Shame you won’t compete in the finals forCelebrity Dance Dare. You were favored to win.” Hayley’s statement rips a gasp from me. I didn’t realize game five was scheduled on the same night as the finale. Judging from Trevor’s stunned expression, he didn’t either.

“I wasn’t aware of the schedule. Is that official?” He’s looking around for someone, but I don’t know who. He’s not looking at me, which is good. I’m able to slip away from the group before the tears fall. We’ve spent the past few days perfecting a beautiful routine to “500 Miles” no one will ever see.

Daphne slips her arm through mine. “Let’s go to my office. It’s right down the hall.”

I gratefully accept the bottle of water and box of tissues she offers.

“I’m going back because there’s stuff I need to deal with. I’ll let Trevor know you’re here, okay?” I nod as she slips out the door.

The click of the door closing is like a switch, turning on the tears. I was so close to doing it. I was going to prove I belonged as a pro. That I was as good as Ian and didn’t need my spot as a favor. I deserved it because I was the best. Now I’ll be an asterisk on the show’s Wikipedia page as a finalist who didn’t compete. I’ll still be Ian’s sister, not a Platinum Paw winner. There’s no question Trevor’s going to choose to play in game five instead of dancing. That’s what he should do. He’s worked so hard to get here, and his team needs him. I want him to have this.

I’m not sure how long I sit there, trying to control myself, when Miranda pokes her head in.

“Hey, Soph. Can you come with me?” she asks.

“Yeah.” I shove some tissues in the pocket of the hoodie I’m wearing with Trevor’s name and number on the back.

We take the elevator to the floor where the administrative offices are. There’s carpeting instead of cement floors, and it doesn’t smell of sweaty hockey gear. She raps on the door with Jake Whitman’s name on it. He’s the general manager and third co-owner of the Devil Birds. I don’t know him as well as I’ve gotten to know Teagan and Liam, the rest of the team’s ownership. Trevor opens the door, grabs my hand, and pulls me into a hug.

“Sophie, I’m so sorry. We’re trying to work this out.” He’s murmuring next to my ear and holding me tightly. I think it’s to comfort me, but maybe he needs comfort too.

His team T-shirt is soft as I wrap my arms around his back. It’s slightly damp, like he threw it on the moment he got out of the shower and rushed to be here.

“It’s okay,” I whisper.

Jake is pacing behind his desk, talking into his phone to I don’t know who. “You make us put a player on the reality TV show. He does a great job and brings lots of attention to the PHL. And you’re going to punish him and his partner for their success by making him choose between being there for his team or fulfilling his obligation to his partner and the showyou made him do? What the fuck is this? Adjust the damn schedule. Make game five a day later.”

“We can’t do that!” The voice on the other end of the call is so loud, I hear him like he’s standing in the room with us. “That’s not how it’s done!”

“That’s Barry Wagerman,” Trevor whispers in my ear. “Interim league commissioner.”

“Bullshit!” Jake yells. “It’s the first year of playoffs. You can do whatever you want. Tickets haven’t even gone on sale yet! Unless there’s a reason you want to hinder our chances of advancing to the next round. I’ve spoken to New York’s manager, and they have no objection to playing the next day. They’d love an extra break day. You can ask them yourself.” Jake shoves his fingers through his dark hair and then tugs it in frustration. “The whole point of having Carter on the show was to get people watching our games. It’s idiotic to make the new fans we’ve gained fromCelebrity Dance Darechoose between watching the game or the finale. If you make them choose, they aren’t choosing the game.”

“We can’t move the game,” Wagerman says. “Our broadcast partners want the game on Thursday, and we have to honor their wishes.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Teagan bursts into the room and walks over to Jake’s side. “It’s the end of February. There could be a blizzard causing the game to be postponed and the schedule would be adjusted. That just happened in Buffalo! Games that have been scheduled for months get postponed and moved. Certainly a game that just became a necessity and doesn’t have tickets sold for it yet can be moved a day in either direction.”

“Ms. Penhall, my hands are tied. The game’s on Thursday evening. Your player is either on the ice or not. That’s a team matter, not a league matter. Discussion closed.” Wagerman disconnects the call.

Teagan pulls out her phone and types quickly.

Jake reads over her shoulder and snorts. “Teag, you can’t ask your parents to buy a television network just because you’re pissed off. It may not even be the network’s issue. This could be Wagerman trying to wave his tiny dick around.”

Jake flushes and apologizes when he realizes what he said in mixed company. Like I care. I’ve heard worse. Hell, I’vesaidworse.

“Sophie,” Jake says, “we’re reaching out to CDD production to see what our options are. Maybe you guys can be judged on a recorded performance, or they can be flexible with the broadcast?”

“Maybe.” But I know the answer is going to be no. I’m just not ready to admit it out loud. “I’m going to New York tomorrow to rehearse for the finals. I have group dances to learn. No matter what happens with the hockey game, I’m contractually obligated to be at the finale.”

“We’re going to work this out, Soph,” Trevor tells me. I can see the sincerity shining in his eyes and love him for it. But it won’t work out. It never works out. I’ve accepted it.

I grab a fistful of his T-shirt so I can pull his lips down to mine and give him a too-quick kiss. “It’s okay. Follow what the league says.” I lower my voice. “This is your dream. Go along with what they say, don’t make waves. This is your career, and it’s impacting the entire team. It’s not worth making a ruckus.”

Trevor growls in frustration. “Sophie, your career matters too!”

Mindful of the others in the room, I murmur, “Let’s talk about this at home.”

Home. We’ve made that little pool house our home without realizing it. No matter what else is happening, that’s our safe haven. He nods.

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