Page 96 of The Flirty Forward

I laugh louder, but I do take out a roll and butter it. I hold it up to my mouth but don’t take a bite. “I don’t know if I should eat in the presence of such royalty.”

He nudges my foot under the table. “You’re the only one that doesn’t care a lick about what I do, and ironically you’re the only person that I care knowing about what I do.”

My mouth drops open. “I know what you do, and I care about it.”

“When was the last time you came to a game?” he challenges.

“I’ve gone to a few games,” I remind him.

He lifts an eyebrow. "Only because you had to.”

I’m speechless as I stare at him. “You care that I go to your games?” I shake my head. “That sounded dumb even coming out of my mouth. Hockey’s what you love, what you’re passionate about...of course, you care.” I meet his eyes. “I’m sorry, Sebastian. I’ll make it to more.”

He mumbles something under his breath. “I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad.”

“No, you were just trying to guilt me into coming,” I retort.

His lips tighten before he finally smirks. “Okay, yeah. Is it a shame to want my girl to come to my games?”

“Oh, I’m your girl now?” I push back; I can’t help it. I love going at it with him.

“You’ve been my girl a lot longer than you’ve been willing to admit,” he responds.

Randy arrives back at our table. “Did you decide what you want to eat?”

I quickly open the menu I haven’t even glanced at. Sebastian nudges me under the table again but places his order of honey garlic chicken with asparagus and seasonal veggies, and I order the wood-grilled salmon with mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies. I try not to grin the entire time because Randy has a hard time focusing on anything but Sebastian. When he walks away, I laugh into my napkin; and Sebastian just shakes his head.

“I’m not going to be able to take you anywhere, Trouble.”

“Did you just call me Trouble?” I ask.

“Sure did,” he says with a grin. I cross my arms across my chest and give him a mock glare. “So, will you come to my next game?” he asks.

I act like I’m thinking about it. “Sure,” I finally concede. “When is it?”

“Tomorrow night. My family will all be there; I’ll make sure Chloe gets a ticket for you.”

“I can get a ticket,” I argue.

“You’re not paying to come to my games,” he says dismissively. “I have another favor to ask of you.”

“Go for it.”

“I have an event I have to attend Saturday night, and I need a date. Will you go with me?”

“Sure,” I answer before I even have the details.

He looks surprised. “Don’t you even want to know what it is?”

I shrug. “I’ve been to enough events over the years with my family. I know how to dress nice, and I won’t embarrass you.”

Sebastian frowns fiercely. “That was never a thought in my mind. I’ll be the envy of all the guys there with you on my arm.”I scoff at his words, and he cocks his head to the side. “You don’t believe me.”

I roll my eyes. “What time do I need to be ready?”

“First of all, we’re not done with this conversation. Second, thank you for being willing to be my date for the night. And third, I’ll pick you up at six. It’s formal.”

I nod. “Okay. I’ll find something.”

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