Page 74 of Puck Me Secretly

She batted her eyelashes. “Great because I have the most amazing dress I’m dying to wear.”

I couldn’t take another second of this conversation anymore. “I look forward to seeing you both at the gala. If you’ll excuse me, please.”

Without letting either of them speak, I turned and walked away. Katrina was worse than a puck bunny. Why couldn’t I get this guy out of my brain? Now I would have to sit across from them for the entire night and watch them flirt. Maybe I could skip the event? Maybe I didn’t have to attend?

“Rory, don’t be pissed.”

I stared out the car window and worked to control my frustration. “Dad, how do you expect me to gain respect in this industry if you treat me like your daughter?”

He gave a sharp laugh. “You are my daughter.”

“If I was your son, would you ask someone on the team to have my back?”

“That’s different.”

“It’s not!” I argued. “And not only was it embarrassing, but it undermined me. It made me seem childish and incapable.”

“I’m sorry Baxter’s delivery was so poor.”

“Dad, you can’t treat me like someone that needs to be protected with kid gloves and then expect me to be one of the guys.”

“You need protecting.”

“No! What I need from you is to show me how to protect myself.”

We both did the stare down.

“Rory, when I saw you on the news getting almost attacked by that mob, I thought my heart would stop.”

“Dad. You need to pick. Either you want me in this hockey world and you help me figure out how to survive, or you let me go. But you expect me to thrive in this world while being hog-tied in bubble wrap.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not trying to bubble wrap you.” His words rang hollow.

“The position you’ve put me in is unfair. So, I am your protégée or I’m your daughter, but I can’t be both.”

Dad turned his face away from me and the rest of the drive home we sat in silence.

CHAPTER 29

“Oh Rory,”Mom stood behind me, her hands over her mouth.

“Do I look okay?” I turned and smoothed the fabric of my gown over my hips. My elegant, spaghetti strap, floor length blood-red ball gown fit me perfectly. I had piled my long hair up on the top of my head in an elaborate twist of braids and curls. My makeup was dark and dramatic, with red pouty lips and dark eyes.

Teardrop diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet completed the look.

Tears welled in Mom’s eyes. “You’re gorgeous.”

“I want to stay home.”

“This is the Autumn Ashford Gala! Staying home is not an option. What time is Calder picking you up?”

I rolled my eyes. I had been forced to invite Calder, the son of my parents' friends, because I lacked a social life and had no prospect of a real date. I grew up with Calder. When we were kids, he used to chase me around with his boogers. Calder was more annoying brother than date material.

“He said he’d be here at 6 PM.”

“Helene,” Dad’s voice boomed from downstairs. “Time to go.”

She leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you there.”

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