Page 54 of Puck Me Secretly

He lost his cool when the reporter threatened me. “Thanks for standing up for me.”

Anger flashed in his eyes. “That guy was out of control.”

“I’m reinstating the media ban. I don’t want you to talk to the media. When I think you’re ready, I want to set up an interview with a friendly reporter.”

“Yeah, sure.”

I watched him. He stared pensively out the front windshield. What was he thinking? What did he need? What was going on with his mom? Why couldn’t I get this guy out of my mind?

“I should go.”

His smile was tight. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He was thanking me? He drovemehome. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime.”

I climbed out of his vehicle and turned back to Max. Something passed between us. Without speaking, wishing that I could spend more time with him, I shut the door and moved to the house.

Max was off limits. I needed to remember that.

CHAPTER 18

TWEET

Hockey Gurl@hockeygurl

Rory Ashford is a spoiled little brat who doesn’t have a clue. The only reason why she has a job with the Vancouver Wolves is because Daddy knows she can’t manage real life. @VancouverWolves @rory_ashford

CHAPTER 19

4,798 times.That is how many times the offensive tweet had been retweeted. Who was Hockey Gurl and why did she dislike me so much? I tossed my phone on my desk. It wasn’t public knowledge I worked for the Wolves, so I suspected that this tweet was from someone who worked in our club.

Nepotism is the worst, and I blamed no one for resenting my position, but I wasn’t strutting around, acting like a queen bee and making nefarious demands of people. I only wanted to get through this year unscathed.

I packed up my office. Dad stepped in.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Hey,” he was vibrating with energy. I did not understand where he got it. This place drained me.

He looked thoughtful. “Your mom is waiting in the car. She’s bound and determined to have one last weekend getaway before the regular season gets underway. You want to come? We’ve booked a house on the water outside Seattle.”

“Thanks, but I have plans with Ola tonight.”

He winked at me. “Well, make sure you enjoy your last weekend of freedom. Once the regular season starts, you will not have a life.”

Wow. That sounded like so much fun.Not.

“I guess the same advice goes to you. Enjoy your freedom.”

He put his hands in his pockets. “We’re taking the car this weekend. Are you going to be okay without a ride?”

I found it ridiculous that my dad insisted we get driven everywhere. In New York, I had only used the subway. “I can take a cab.”

“Okay,” he nodded. “Have a good weekend.”

“You too.”

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