Page 39 of If You Love Me

“Because I don’t want to lose it again.”

“Why would you have to?” I cover her hand with mine. Even that innocent contact makes my body feel like a live wire. It would be so easy to give in.

“In what world do I get to have you and my career with no consequences?” she whispers.

We’re both so close to breaking. I lift her hand and brush my lips across her knuckles. “Go to bed, Alexandria, before I entice you into mine.”

She releases an unsteady breath and I let go of her hand.

“Now, angel. Go.”

Her eyes soften. “Yes, Roman.”

It takes every ounce of restraint I have left not to follow as she rushes out of the room.

CHAPTER 14

LEXI

“That was quite the win last night,” Dad says.

“Oh, did you catch the game?”

“The highlights.”

I shouldn’t be surprised. The only thing my dad can do for three hours at a time is work. “The hockey-gossip sites have a lot to say.”

“I thought you stayed away from those.”

He’s typing and talking. He never just has a phone call. I’m packing lunches, though, with Dad on speakerphone, so I guess I’m no different. “They come up in my feed because they’re hockey and Terror related.” Andmerelated. “It’s not unexpected, but it can be irritating.”

We won the last game, but it was dirty. As good as Connor is on the ice, he still tends to play with his emotions. And I still don’t have an answer to why he and Madden hate each other so much. Yes, I’m making gains, finding my footing, but it’s infuriating to be unable to get to the bottom of this. And Thomas is all about protecting his center, which doesn’t help at all.

“Are they blaming you for Grace and Madden?” Dad asks.

"I’m the new assistant coach and I work with the enforcers, there’s speculation that I’m part of the problem.”

“You don’t control how the players behave on the ice,” Dad argues. He’s such a lawyer. And this is how he shows he cares.

“You’re right, I don’t. The chatter I can handle. I know Connor has a long history of chippy behavior, but he’s been playing a lot cleaner lately. He has one bad game and everyone writes him off.” And me. “He’s so used to being a punching bag.”

“Do you think he’s turned it into a self-fulfilling prophecy?” Dad asks.

“Possibly. I need to pull him aside when the rest of the team isn’t around so he doesn’t feel like he has to save face.” I drum my fingers on the counter, pondering. “Grace is my responsibility, and his actions reflect on me and the team.” Getting him and Madden on the same line is imperative for a successful season—which means getting to the bottom of their sandwich problem. But Grace doesn’t socialize off the ice, and Madden is always surrounded by his friends whenever we’re at the Watering Hole.

Grace and I have a good rapport on the ice, and off it, but getting him and Madden to not just play nice but play together is the ultimate goal.

I realize there’s been a pause in conversation. I still hear Dad typing, so hopefully he didn’t notice. “Maybe you could fly out and catch a game soon? You could stay overnight?”

“My schedule is pretty packed,” he hedges.

“We’re two months into the regular season. You haven’t even had a chance to see the living room you bought us.” I hate that it feels like I’m begging. “What about Friday? Didn’t you say you were only in court until Thursday? It could be a quick trip.” That’s two days from now.

Ophelia ambles into the kitchen and peeks over my shoulder, checking out my phone screen. Her lips push out, and she grabs a banana from the fruit bowl. She struggles to warm up to my dad. Callie, on the other hand, loves when he comes to visit. Probably because he brings her presents.

“I might be able to swing it.”

Ophelia rolls her eyes.

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