Page 36 of Match Penalty

Brynn and I share a concerned look. We weren't expecting her.

She's supposed to be at the stadium putting in extra time.

"What happened to you?" Brynn asks, jogging around the island toward her.

"He fired me," she announces, her voice cracking.

"What do you mean he fired you? Weren't you going into work today?" I ask, jumping out of my seat and pulling out the one next to me for her.

She takes my offer and sits down, slumping in the chair.

Aria is as graceful as a swan, she never slumps.

"I knew Everett didn’t see my worth. But you know what? I don’t regret putting myself out there. Better to take the risk than sit around wondering ‘what if.’"

Her words hit me harder than I want to admit. What if I’m too afraid to take the shot with JP? What if I’ve already missed it?

"Oh, honey," Brynn rushes forward to the chair Aria is perched on, pulling her into a hug.

I point to the carrot in her hand. I know what she needs. "Do you want some wine to go with that?"

"Got anything stronger?" she asks.

"That's my girl. Coming up," I say and head for my dad's office, where he keeps the good stuff.

The thought of Everett firing her has me thinking about my own situation with the slapshot bet. What if Everett finds out that I knew about this bet and didn't prevent it from happening? I try to push off the thought for now. Maybe JP will win the slapshot and my concern will be for nothing.

Soon, the kitchen fills with the rest of our usual crew—Penelope, Juliet, and Isla, all bearing wine and sympathy for Aria. Brynn starts applying face masks to everyone while I finish the snack spread.

"We should go to Ground Zero on Thursday. It's ladies' night," Isla, the wife of retired player Kaenan Altman, declares as Brynn smooths green clay over her cheeks. "A girl's night out to help Aria forget about Everett, and we haven't had a girl's night out on the town in ages."

The conversation shifts to planning our night out at Ground Zero, but I can't shake Brynn's words from earlier. A hockey player willing to risk his career for a chance with me. It should mean something—everything, really.

But then I remember Angelica's name lighting up his phone after the slapshot, how quickly he left that night in San Diego, how he left my apartment after she called again last week, not giving me an explanation for what happened the night of the accident.

If JP wants to be with me so badly, why is she still in the picture? Why can't he just tell me the truth about what happened? Or is he really the player my dad says he is?

"Earth to Cammy," Penelope waves a hand in front of my face, snapping me from my thoughts. "You're thinking too hard. I can see it through the face mask."

I force a laugh, accepting the fresh glass of wine she offers. "Just planning my strategy for Monday and that long list of emails I need to get through."

The wine and laughter should be enough to drown out my doubts. A hockey player risking everything for me? Maybe it’s not just a game to JP after all.

Chapter Eleven

Cammy

I've been staring at the same spreadsheet for twenty minutes, but my mind keeps drifting back to the slapshot bet that my dad and JP are now willing to risk their careers for.

My phone buzzes, Brynn's name lighting up the screen.

Brynn:We didn't get to finish our conversation on Saturday night. What are you going to do about that bet between Seven and JP?

I read her comment, biting on my thumb nail, trying to determine how to respond. But how can I respond when I don't even know what I'm going to do about it myself? Or if there is anything I can do about it.

Me:I'm at work. And I haven't decided.

Brynn:Haven’t decided? You’re just going to let them duke it out on the ice?

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