Page 49 of Ice Princess

She nods and starts chattering happily.

Renthrow’s daughter is an absolute delight, and I’m not just saying that because she was named after one of thebesthockey players of all time.

“Excuse us, excuse us,” a familiar voice says.

My smile collapses when I see Carol Kinsey wiggling into the row behind us. She’s not alone. Gunner’s ex, and the woman who originally received permission to join the Society, is moving closely behind her.

Victoria looks like she’s ready for a night on the town, as she’s wearing a short black dress with heels and, surprise-surprise, she’salsowearing a jacket with Gunner’s last name.

However, her jacket shares a similar design to the one I bought with Renthrow’s name. Which means she probably bought hers from the merch shop available to the public.

I can instantly tell when she notices that my jacket is different than hers. Her eyes fasten on the embossed threads and the hockey association patch on both sleeves.

She scowls so deeply that I wonder if I should offer to exchange jackets.

Who cares? She can wear Gunner’s team jacket and make moon eyes at him all she wants. Heck, she can have him.

What matters isn’t that Victoria still likes Gunner.

It’s that Victoria is still Carol’s pick for the Society.

The two ladies don’t acknowledge me and, though I wish I could be just as rude, I decide to take the high road. After all, I’ll need to talk to Carol Kinsey later about my admission and get details on the next meeting.

“Goodnight, Carol. Victoria,” I say dryly.

April turns around too and nods in greeting.

Carol tilts her chin up and ignores me.

Victoria smiles stiffly.

None of the ladies return my greeting.

My ego stings. I hate being ignored and the fact that I went out of my way to be nice only to be disregarded scratches at me.

The game starts and I’m still so upset that I barely pay attention. That is, until Gunner commandeers the puck from his opponent in a move that would make the original Gordie proud.

Behind me, Victoria charges to her feet.

“Go, Gunner!” She yells the words as if she’s channeling all her years of high school cheerleading. “That’s how you do it, Gunner! Yes!”

I release a disbelieving laugh and swing my head around to stare at April.

“Can you believe her?” I mouth.

April blinks and shrugs. My best friend is way too calm about this.

Determined not to be outdone by Gunner’s ex, I wait for another impressive move from Gunner. Unfortunately, the other team fights fiercely for the puck and there’s not a perfect moment to out-do Victoria.

Until, finally, near the end of the second period of the game, Gunner takes a shot at the net and it goes in. The moment he scores, his teammates converge on him, tapping his helmet and his butt.

The crowd is roaring, a deafening sound that makes the entire floor tremble.

I’m on my feet, arms raised, screaming at the top of my lungs.

“Whoo! That’s my boyfriend!” I twist around, pointing my arms at Gunner like an airplane marshall guiding a plane home. “That’smyboyfriend!”

The glamorous lawyer glances away, brushing her hair back in exasperation.

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