Page 72 of Revenge Puck

“Asked around?”

“I stopped by a few hotels and asked if you were a guest.”

“How many hotels?”

“All the ones from here to the arena.”

“Oh my God.” I rest my forehead on the door. He must be really desperate for that booty call.

“Maya sent Audrey a message on Insta. She told her which hotel but not the room number…”

He walked around looking for me? Had his sister message Audrey? Why didn’t she tell me? Not that I’ve had a chance totell her how this whole thing blew up in my face. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone tonight, not even my best friend.

I can’t believe Preston would go to so much trouble after a grueling hockey game. I also can’t believe the hotel would rat out my room number.

“And the front desk just told you which room I was staying in without my permission? What if you were a criminal coming up here to rob me?”

“Since the man at the front desk and his manager recognized me, I don’t think they were too concerned about me robbing you.”

Shaking my head, I mutter, “Oh. Right. We’re in your hometown.”

He uses every inch of his height and size to crowd the small opening. “Is there any way I can talk you into letting me come in?”

“Why?”

“So that we don’t have to talk through the crack in the door?”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”And I can’t sleep with you.

I don’t say that last part to him. It’s not that I don’t want him. I do. It’s that he was right. I’m not over Christian, or at least the pain he caused. Until I am, I shouldn’t be intimate with Preston or anyone else yet. Especially when my feelings are one-sided in this situation.

“Oh really?” he asks. “Maya seemed to think there was some confusion that needs to be addressed.”

“No, there’s no confusion. I get it, Preston. Really, I do. What Christian did to her, you have every right to hate him.”

“Agreed. Please tell me you don’t feel guilty about making him jealous, Elle.”

“No, I don’t feel guilty about that.”

“Then what’s going on?”

“I…I think I got the wrong idea about us. I thought maybe it was real. And I shouldn’t be upset with you. From the beginning, you told me you don’t date, that you don’t want any distractions. It was stupid to think I was an exception.”

“That’s true, I don’t date. I haven’t dated anyone since I made it to the pros.”

“I know, and I understand. You’ve been so focused on helping take care of your sister and your nephew. They depend on you, on your paycheck. I get it. You have to avoid letting anything mess up your career at all costs. I don’t want to cause any problems for you either. Even if this doesn’t count because it’s not real…”

“Elle, I want you to be the exception to all my rules. I want it to be real, too.”

“Why?” I whisper.

“I know it’s probably hard to believe, but I like you more than I hate Riley.”

Trying to purse my lips together rather than smile like a lunatic, I say, “If that’s true, then you must like me a whole hell of a lot.”

“I do. Why else would I have spent an hour searching the city for you in the middle of the night?”

“I-I don’t know.”

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