Page 36 of Drop the Mitts

Grace pursed her lips. “Well, that would’ve been good to know.”

Half the guys hurried into the showers and the other half migrated behind the middle set of lockers, changing like they were about to miss the cut off for half-priced beers at One Place.

André lazily dried his torso, trying not to laugh as Grace did her damndest to keep her eyes north of the border. He took a step closer before wrapping the towel around his waist. The breath Grace released was visible.

He walked past her to his locker at the other end of the bench. “I might be a minute if you want?—”

“No. I’ll wait.”

A chorus of disembodied "Ooooohhh shit" rippled through the room. André rolled his eyes.

Sean, who had been unwrapping the tape from his shin pads, stood up and clapped André on the back. “Good luck, bud.” At least he had pants on.

André shrugged him off, glancing to the side to find Country, but the bench was empty. He must’ve disappeared behind the wall with the others. A nervous flutter hit the back of his ribs. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but he also hadn’t exactly told Country he’d gone over to Grace’s unannounced. He may have led his friend to believe he was invited, which, if Grace’s unannounced appearance had anything to do with that night, wouldn’t go well for him.

Thankfully, she didn’t say anything. André dropped his towel, giving her full view of his backside as he reached for his boxer briefs. “Did you see the game?”

Grace scoffed. “That’s not why I’m here.”

“That’s not an answer.” André pulled on his boxers and turned.

Her eyes flashed. “I saw part of it.”

“You didn’t want to storm down to the bench? We could’ve had whatever conversation you want to have there.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, looking unimpressed. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

André frowned and pulled his T-shirt over his head. “Tell you what?”

Grace glanced around. The other guys were still filtering through. She gave him a look that said,If you don’t know the answer to that, I’m not telling you until we’re alone.

André shrugged, ignoring the slam of his heart against the back of his ribs. What could he have possibly kept from Grace that she’d be this pissed about? He wracked his brain, but the lack of obvious answers rankled. They’d just won the Tom Hart tourney, and now he had to sit here and listen to this whileeveryone else walked to the pub? What about his cigarette in the parking lot?

One by one, the guys grabbed their stuff and filed out. André finished dressing and packed up his gear. The smell of sweat and cedar soap clung to the air, mingling with the faintest trace of Gatorade and damp hockey tape. Laughter and shouts sounded faintly from the tunnel.

When he turned, the room was empty. Just him and Grace.

“You knew.” Her voice was low.

His stomach dropped, but his mouth quipped, “You’re going to have to narrow that down for me.”

She didn’t smile. Didn’t flinch. “You came to my house, and I told you I was trying to contact the therapist on this case, and it wasyour sister?Really?” Grace threw out her hands, and her blazer split, revealing her slightly untucked blouse and the line of her pants along her hips.

Focus.His sister? That’s what this was about? André cleared his throat. “Ah, no. I did not know.” He stepped toward her. “I found out when I saw her name flicking across your phone screen. Maybe I should be pissed that you didn’t tell me.”

Grace’s jaw dropped. “How the hell was I supposed to know that Elodie Shaw was your sister?”

“I told you my sister was a therapist.”

She laughed out loud. “I couldn’t tell what was true in that conversation! And even if I had believed you, am I supposed to assume any therapist I talk to is related to you?” She screwed up her face. “You know what? It doesn’t even matter when you found out because you’ve known all week and you didn’t say a damn word!”

“You want to drop mitts? Fine, let’s drop mitts.” Andre took a step toward her.

“Yes. Please. Let’s talk in terms your jock brain will understand.”

Andre gave a sardonic laugh. “I didn’t know why she was calling you. For all I knew, you two were bosom buddies.”

“I don’t have bosom buddies.”

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