Page 73 of If You Love Me

“Teenage boys do such stupid things.” I wipe under my eyes with my napkin.

“This is so true.” Peggy picks up half of her grilled cheese and dips it in her tomato bisque. “And probably one of the many reasons I barely dated in high school.” She rolls her eyes.

“I’m glad you didn’t date jerks in high school.” I dip my bacon and grilled cheese sandwich into my loaded baked potato soup.

“Oh, I did. I just broke up with them before you met them.” She eyes me from the side. “Speaking of dating…”

I give her a look.

“Seriously, Dad. You need to put yourself out there. You have so much to offer. You’re the most amazing parent. The team loves you; you love the team. You deserve someone to share life with.”

I desperately want to tell her I’ve already found the perfect woman. That I’m in love. But I can’t do that to Lexi, and I can’t put that on Peggy. It’s bad enough that I’ve been lying to her for months, I don’t want her to carry around this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, or keep my secrets.

So I say the only thing I can, “Let me retire. Then I’ll start dating.”

“How long before the girls get here?” Hollis asks for the third time in ten minutes.

“Text my daughter.” I sip my scotch. He convinced me to come out for a drink.

“I did. She’s not responding.” He arches an expectant brow.

“I’m not checking my app for you. It’s your own damn fault that you haven’t asked her to add you to the circle.” I fight a smile at his irritated expression.

“They’re here.” Flip squints. “Who’s with them?”

I follow his eyes. Dred, Hemi, Rix, Essie, and Peggy, plus one, are heading our way.

“Oh shit. Is thatCoach Forrester? Wow. Just…okay.” Flip refocuses on his beer.

The girls must have persuaded Lexi to come out tonight. And they clearly dressed her up, too. She’s wearing a deep rose slinky number that conforms to every single one of her curves. All the years of hockey and her time on the ice with us have sculpted her into a masterpiece. If she turns around…Do not think about fucking her from behind. It’s too late, though. The memory of her french braid slipping through my fist slams into my brain. I tighten my grip on my scotch. I’m so fucked. So, so fucked.

Her gaze catches mine for a moment, and she fiddles with the clutch hanging from her wrist. What I wouldn’t give to get out there on the dance floor with her. To put my hands on her, to feelher body melt against mine. To take her home so I can experience the soft and sweet sides of her. But we have months until the season ends.

“You okay, man?” Hollis asks.

“Fine. Great.”

“Aurora will be fine. Dallas and Tristan and I will keep an eye on the girls,” he assures me.

“Yup.”

“But that’s not what this is about.” He focuses on his glass.

I say nothing. Hollis watches out for Peggy these days. But Lexi is a new problem. She looks incredible, and if Flip’s reaction is anything to go by, we won’t be the only ones to notice.

Peggy and the girls stop by our table. It seems Shilpa and Ash opted out because Shilps wasn’t feeling the best. But I still wonder how they persuaded Lexi to come. Did she leave Fee in charge tonight? Her phone is clutched in her hand, and she checks it every few seconds. I get it. She wants to have a life, but she feels guilty for having fun.

“You’re coming out to dance with us later.” Peggy points a finger at me, then leans in to kiss Hollis on the cheek.

I look away, because I don’t need to see them making eyes at each other. Once again, my attention shifts to Lexi. She gives me a small smile. Dred glances between us. Her expression makes me question whether Lexi finally cracked and confided in her. And if so, what exactly has she said? Dred waves at the table, then links her arm with Lexi’s and pulls her toward the dance floor. Unfortunately, I have an excellent view of them. And now my head is spinning worse than it already was.

Drinking my feelings away won’t help, and it certainly won’t make me an asset on the ice tomorrow, so I switch to water and try my best to keep my eyes to myself.

After a few minutes, Hollis, Dallas, and Tristan head for the dance floor to play bodyguard and get up close and personal with their significant others. Flip stays behind with me.

“You don’t have to hang back if you want to get out there.”

“Just saving my ankle for the ice.”

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