Page 91 of Delayed Penalty

She’s clearly smitten with him, and all I can think is,Same, girl. Same.I’ve never really been into older guys, but I could certainly get into this man. He turns his attention to me, and I can’t help but stand up a little straighter. I’ve met a few of Hayes’s teammates, but this is different, and I’m admittedly a little nervous about today.

Will they be able to tell we’re sleeping together? That he sneaks into my room every night and whispers dirty, dirty things into my ear? That he calls mehoneyand fucks me until I scream? I sure as hell hope not. I don’t need their judgment. I get enough of that from my family, thank you.

“Which must make you Quinn. Heard a lot about you. All good, of course.” He tugs the redhead to his side. “This is my Emilia.”

NotThis is Emilia. No.MyEmilia. I want to be somebody’smy.

I sneak a glance over at Hayes and am surprised to find he’s already watching me. I can’t quite decipher the look in his eyes, which are a shade or two darker than normal.

I swallow, then turn back to the coach and his partner, waving at them. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”

“We have skates here you can use.” Emilia points to a rack holding several different pairs. “Or if you brought your own, that’s fine too. We also have snacks and drinks over there.” She points across the way. “We just ask that you don’t bring them onto the ice. Other than that, have fun!”

We thank them and move to the rows of skates. Hayes explains the sizing and picks out the best ones he can find, then directs us to one of the benches they have set out. Hayes gets his skates on, then works on Flora’s while I lace up my own, having been out skating with Brody several times. I’m no expert like Hayes is, but I know enough.

“You ready, kid?” Hayes asks Flora once she’s all laced up and ready to go.

She looks out to the ice, her lips turned down. “I don’t know…”

She’s scared. I try to look at it from her perspective—this big arena with bright lights and loud music and people she doesn’t know. Not to mention she’s never done this before. I would probably be scared too if I were her.

“Your uncle and I will be right there with you the whole time, okay? We’ll even hold your hands if you need us to.”

“You promise?”

I tuck my lips together to hide my smile and nod. “I promise. Right, Hayes?”

He nods. “Yep. We’ll be right there. Promise.”

“Then okay,” she says, rising from the bench. “Let’s go.”

I look over at Hayes, who has pride shining in his eyes as she shoves her shoulders back and shimmies out toward the ice. She slips when she takes her first step, but Hayes is there to catch her, and she gives him a wobbly smile.

“See? Told you I got you. You okay?”

She nods. “I’m good.”

She tries again, making it a few feet this time before stumbling. I skate slowly beside them as we make it halfway across the ice, Flora getting braver by the second.

“You’re doing great, kid,” Hayes tells her. “I’m proud of you.”

“Th-Thanks,” she says, still a little shaky.

We do this for about ten more minutes before she asks to try by herself.

“Are you sure?” Hayes asks, frowning slightly, and I love that he’s so worried for her.

She bobs her head up and down, her tongue poking out the side of her mouth as she concentrates on skating. “I’m ready.”

“Then go for it. I’ll stay nearby in case you need me.”

She takes off, her little legs moving as fast as she can get them to. She’s not smooth by any means, but she’s doing it. Hayes hangs back with me, watching her closely.

“She’s horrible,” he says, and I laugh.

“We can’t all be professional skaters, you know.”

He moves toward me, and for a second, I think he’s going to wrap his arm around my waist and tug me to him, but he stops, almost like he catches himself, and I exhale sharply. I glance around, making sure nobody just saw that, but instead of being relieved they’re not paying attention, I’m hit with jealousy because that’s what they’re all doing—touching. Laughing. Playing with one another.

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