Page 50 of The Final Draft

“Look away,” she orders as she tosses her cardigan and unbuttons her shirt. Always the gentleman, I comply. Thankfully, the heavily tinted windows prevent anyone from seeing Harper without a shirt on. Although I try to look away, I see her reflection in the window, and I can’t help but lick my lips at the tease of her perky breasts in a lacy pink bra. She tosses her shirt over the seat and covers up in the red jersey.

Her arms wrap around my waist, and she presses her cheek against my shoulder. “You make my heart flutter.” Her whispered confession wraps around my heart.

“Same, gorgeous. Same.”

“We’re here,” Kat announces. Harper looks around, confused.

“That didn’t take long. I thought we were going to New Jersey?” Her face is a mask of confusion as she tries to figure out our location.

“We are. Traffic is a bitch, and Kat has a date, so we’re taking the train.” Introducing her to different parts of New York is oneof my favorite things to do. Today, it’s Penn Station and a quick train ride across the river.

“I thought you hated the subway?”

“Yep, not a fan. But this is different. Come on.” She lets me take her hand, and we make our way to the track as they announce boarding. Several people are wearing hockey jerseys, but Harper’s Renegade jersey stands out. She’s entering enemy territory, but I’ll be by her side the entire evening.

We’re rink side again, and when Chance and Lawson come out on the ice for warmups, Harper jumps up and cheers for them. There’s no swarm of Havoc players vying for her attention. Tonight, she’s all about her brother. She values family, and that’s another thing that makes us compatible. Family means everything to me.

Our popcorn is sitting on the ledge in front of us while Harper snaps pictures on her phone. Chance slams against the glass, popcorn flies into my lap, and her laugh fills the arena. Lawson slams into him, and she laughs harder. Seeing her happy is becoming my new kink.

“Glad you could make it,” Chance shouts at me through the glass. “Why aren’t you wearing my jersey?” He pokes his lip out in a pout.

“You don’t pay me enough for that!” He kisses the glass in front of me, and his lip prints are in my line of sight. Great, I’ll have to look at them the entire game. What a loveable asshole.

Harper loops her arm around mine, and Chance arches his eyebrow. I shrug, pretending I don’t know what’s going on.

The Renegades dominate tonight, and New Jersey isn’t happy about being down four goals on their home ice. They’re pounding on Chance and Lawson pretty hard, but it only increases their chirping and smack talk. When Jack Houston checks Chance into the glass right in front of us, I wince at the hit. That had to hurt. But at least the lip prints are finally gone.My best friend’s face is pressed firmly against the glass, and Harper smacks the glass and yells at them. I swear I see them smile as they skate away.

“He’s so hot,” Harper says when she sits back in her seat.

“Who? Chance?” I may have to rethink my friendship with the loveable and handsome hockey player.

“No silly, Jack. He’s the king of the hockey thirst traps.” Jack Huston is media gold and I’m not surprised Harper follows him. He’s got a new viral video every week, ranging from his snappy media clips to his shenanigans with his brother.

I roll my eyes and pretend to ignore her. That lasts until she puts her hand on my thigh. Nope. Not ignoring her anymore. I lace my fingers with hers and give her hand a squeeze. She wants thirst traps? I’ll send her some of me. There’s no denying I want all of her attention directed at me.

Lawson is cooling off in the penalty box, and Harper watches him with an eagle eye, not missing a thing. “I was worried Lawson would miss his team in Atlanta, but he’s having a good time.”

“Appears that way.” The clock ticks down, and the game ends in a Renegades victory. Lawson is awarded the number one star of the game.

“Come on, want to see him before they leave?”

“I didn’t get credentials.” She looks sad and I need to turn that frown upside down.

“I got you, gorgeous. Let’s go.”

I give her a tap on the nose. When Frankie told her I was the one to get sports tickets, she didn’t fully understand the implication. I can get her access and tickets to any team, anywhere. Being the number one sports agent in the country isn’t usually that big of a flex, but I’m about to use it.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

HARPER

He takes me by the hand and walks us through checkpoints and doors like he owns the place, not a lanyard, credential, or ID shown.

“How do you do it?” I shouldn’t be amazed or shocked anymore, but I am. Doors are literally opened for him. This guy is connected. Sports. Hollywood. It’s like I’m hanging out with the quarterback and prom king. It’s an unfamiliar feeling because I wasn’t that girl back in the day. My high school days were full of new surroundings, grief, and trying to hide from the world. I talked to my therapist more than anyone and, well, that didn’t make me the popular girl.

“Do what? Because I’d prefer to show you rather than tell you.” His breath tickles my ear and goosebumps cover my arms at his innuendo. I feel the heat fill my face and I’m sure I’m blushing.

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