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“You didn’t say anything at school.”

“I was busy and I knew I’d see you later.”

“How?”

“Because I know where you live.” I roll my eyes at her confused, flushed face. “Come on, little one. Let’s grab your stuff and go. We are already late.”

She looks at her bag still in Sanders’ hand, and then at Max before returning her eyes to me. She is so uncomfortable, like she wants to do anything but make a decision on this subject.

“We can still take you,” Max offers again. This guy doesn’t know how or when to give up.

“Jesus, Dotty,” Andrew looks at all of us, a shit grin on his face. I had no doubt he is enjoying the show. The guy is always bored out of his mind, and there usually isn’t much going on around here to entertain. “Who would have known that you would be so popular with hockey players?”

“Don’t call her that,” Sanders and I say in unison.

Andrew waves his head in disbelief, laughing his ass off. “You two have to stop doing that shit. It’s getting really freaky. Reading minds on the ice is one thing, but this is getting ridiculous.”

“Lia, if you say yes tohim,I’m going there on foot,” Brook threatens, standing next to the old junk of car that I assume is Amelia’s. Why am I just now noticing it for the first time? As much as it pains me to admit, Sanders is right. I don’t want her sitting behind the wheel of that car and risk getting injured.

Amelia looks at her friend and then back to me. “Let’s just go.”

I take it as my cue and take a hold of her bag. Max stares at me, and I glare right back at him, neither of us letting go of the bag. We both know who thehimBrook was talking about is, but it seems like Sanders is a sore loser.

“You’ll have to let go of that bag you know,” I murmur quietly so that only he can hear me.

“And you’ll have to do more than play games if you want Amelia to notice you,” he replies equally as quiet.

“She notices me.”

“Not the way you want her to, lover boy.”

Then he lets go of the bag and starts walking to his sister’s car. When he passes next to Amelia, he ruffles her hair slightly, smiling at her. “I’ll see you there in a bit, Lia.”

She looks at him walking to the car until the moment he closes the door behind him.

“Can I have my bag back?”

Her big brown eyes look at me with shyness and something that almost resembles softness. It stirs strange things in my gut, but, if it is possible, in a nice way. It’s not half bad being looked at this way.

“Nope.” I put my hand over her shoulder and push her slightly to start moving. “I’ll take it.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

“Why don’t you return it to me?”

“I don’t want to.” I laugh at her. “Stop arguing with me.”

“I’m not arguing with you.”

Taking Brook’s bag out of her hand, I go to the back of my SUV and open the back to put the bags inside next to mine and Andrew’s. “Yes, you are.” I lean into her and whisper against her ear. “And if you don’t stop, I’ll have to take drastic measures to make you stop.”

“Drastic?”

I take a step back and look at her wide eyes and even rosier cheeks.

“Really drastic.” I wink at her. “Let’s go.

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