Page 16 of Off Limits PUCK

I look at Kenz with irritation. I normally don’t mind her being bossy, but this is a bit too much. “Why don’t you tell her why, Kenz?” I mutter.

“Jake’s shoulder is still busted,” Mackenzie says, making a little face at me. She grins. I know she’s playing, but she has no idea how many secrets I’m walking around with right now. Her games feel like torture.

“Oh, no. Allie, are you assigned to work on Jake?”

“Yep,” I say, scooping up my phone. “I thought you’d be happy I’m working with someone we actually know instead of a strange man.” I raise my eyebrows at Kenz while my mom breathes a sigh.

“I just want you to do well, Allie. And hopefully, enjoy your job.” She pauses. “Is his career going to be affected by this injury, girls? Does anyone know?”

Kenz looks at me for the answer to that. If only I knew. I say what I think Coach or Ron would say, “We’re doing everything we can for him. He’s on bedrest, basically, until the opening game next week. We’ve tried everything else, so for now he’s giving it complete rest to see if that takes him over this curve and lets him heal.”

I think about the hot sex we had less than two hours ago and feel bad. His shoulder had a flare up because of the position we were in. I should have anticipated that and not let him take me that way… or at all.

“I was just teasing,” Kenz is saying. “Tonight is just a casual thing for the players and their families. I was going to go, but…something came up. So Allie will just have to go and fend for herself.”

“Kenz, that’s too bad. Are you flying tonight?” my mom asks.

I put my hands on my hips, ready to give Kenz a piece of her own bullshit. “Yeah, Kenz, what is ohhhh so important that you had to cancel on me tonight?”

She doesn’t even bat an eye. Instead, she laughs. “A man, of course. A new man.”

I shake my head. “Some friend,” I pretend to pout.

We finish up our conversation in time for Kenz to be ready to head out and for me to meet the others in the living room. Kenz saunters outside, promising to stop by if the date is so awful that she has to end it early. That leaves me in the living room feeling very casual in my blue jean shorts, little coverup top that hides only some of my bikini underneath.

“You look hot,” Jake’s deep voice sounds behind me.

I place a finger on my lips as he strides confidently toward me and pulls me in to him. He kisses me.

“Oh my God, you are so busted!” I say, looking around us.

“They’ve already left. I’m driving you and I. So that means no alcohol for me tonight, since I’m the DD.”

I laugh up at him and lean into him. “Alcohol is off limits for you until we get through this coming week. You need to rest completely—and Jones has you on such a strict diet, I doubt you’ll be touching alcohol this whole season if your recovery is slow!”

“Aw, man, you mean you’re not going to slip me any?” he says, as if crushed by the news of going sober during his recovery.

“Nope. Not one drop. But if it’s any consolation, I will not be drinking either. I’m technically on the clock, so,” I let my voice trail off, my eyes captivated by his full lips.

“See something you like?” he murmurs down at me.

A wave of guilt washes over me. I think of the life he has when he’s healthy and on top of the world—a life with models and hotties and all the women who look perfect, unlike me. I don’t belong with a gorgeous, successful man like him who has the world at his fingertips. I bite my lower lip and take a little step back.

“Allie,” he says, reaching out for me. “I know I have a shitty reputation for being a ladies’ man. And…” He shrugs.

I take that as his way of saying that’s who he is and there’s no way around it. He’s used to a new girl every week, I bet, and he’s not the type to settle down. For my own emotional safety, I need to just leave him alone. It’s hard, though. I’ve had a crush on him for so long. How do I just turn it off now?

“Yes. You do. And your sister would slap you right across the face if she knew we were…”

“If I knew what?” Kenz says as she swings the front door open. “I forgot my handbag in your room. Why were you guys talking about me?” Her eyes look between Jake and me. “Why are you standing so close to each other, and where is everyone else?”

Kenz’s hands are on her hips and her eyes are narrowed. Uh-oh. She is pissed off. I pull my arms away from his strong hands, wishing I didn’t have to. I feel so immature hiding from Kenz like this. Sure, secret sex with a hot man is thrilling. But at what point does it become just ridiculous and childish?

“I’ll get it for you,” I say, starting to walk away.

“No,” Kenz says, her eyes blazing. “You were touching my brother—or he was touching you. And you were talking about me. One of you damn well better start talking or you know I will assume the worst.” She glares at me. “You know what hockey guys are like. And you know he’s just as bad as the rest of them. Just because you’ve had a mountainous crush on him for literally your whole life does not mean that you get to—”

She stops talking and slaps a hand across her mouth. “Oops,” she mumbles from behind her hand.

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