Page 34 of Silver Fox Puck

Instead, I focus all my energy on acting completely normal.

Which, spoiler alert—I am absolutely failing at.

Jake bumps my shoulder affectionately, grinning at Grant.

"Kenzie practically grew up in this arena," he says. "You’ll be seeing plenty of her."

They both look at me, expecting me to say something—anything.

"Uh… yeah."

Shit. My voice comes out wrong. Off-kilter. Too high. Too forced.

Jake frowns, shifting beside me. "You okay, Kenz?"

Crap. Too much. Dial it back.

I force my shoulders to relax, shooting him what I hope is a casual smile instead of the full-brain meltdown I’m currently having. "Yeah, totally. Just… long day."

Jake eyes me. I know that look. It’s the same one he’s given me since we were kids whenever I did something shady—like that time I broke Mom’s favorite vase and blamed it on the cat.

Jake didn’t buy it then. And he sure as hell isn’t buying it now.

His gaze flicks to Grant, then back to me.

"You two met before?"

Oh, fuck no.

I laugh too fast. Too loud. Too suspicious. "What? No. Why would you—nope, definitely not."

Jake blinks.

Grant?

Completely unfazed.

The bastard leans back against his desk like none of this is affecting him at all. "I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced," he says smoothly. "But it’s nice to meet you, Kenzie."

My jaw tightens.

He’s playing me.

And he’s winning.

Jake’s brows pull together, his gaze flicking between Grant and me.

I need to get my shit together. Fast.

So I flash him an easy, practiced smile. "Relax, big bro. You’re being weird."

"Yeah, well, so are you," Jake mutters, still eyeing me.

I laugh again, forcing it to sound breezy. "I’m always weird."

Jake grumbles something under his breath, but before he can press further, one of the assistant coaches calls his name from the hallway.

Jake points at me, narrowing his eyes. "This conversation isn’t over."

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