Page 92 of Puck Me Secretly

He didn’t speak, so I stole a glance up at him through my lashes.

“You avoiding me?”

Think of Lolita. Lolita.

I shook my head, and gave him a small, fake smile that made my cheeks feel like they would crack. “No, don’t be silly. Come on, we’re going to be late for the meeting.”

He didn’t budge, so I stepped around him and hurried into the meeting. I chose a seat along the side of the room that had no seats nearby.

I sensed him coming into the room, but I forced myself to keep my gaze either on my notes or towards the front of the room, but I could feel him watching me.

Don’t look up. Don’t look up.

My traitorous eyes turned towards him. Blue eyes held mine. Flushing, I ducked over my books.

Think of Lolita.

By some miracle I managed to not glance his way again, but I could feel him watching me for the rest of the meeting. Max was off limits. I knew that, he knew that. I didn’t understand why he kept blasting me with his intensity, but I vowed to keep him at arm’slength. I had spent way too much time thinking about him when he’d already told me that he wasn’t able to have any distractions this year.

Except he seemed to make an exception for Lolita. Every time I felt myself weaken, I reminded myself of his gentle smile when he talked to her.

CHAPTER 33

TWEET

Hockey Gurl@hockeygurl

I was told that when the Vancouver Wolves hockey players see Rory coming, they are suddenly busy. An unnamed player said she’s embarrassingly immature. #GrowUp #SpoiledBrat

CHAPTER 34

I foundMom in the kitchen, talking to the catering staff. In less than an hour, a hundred guests for my parents' annual Christmas staff party would fill the house.

For as long as I could remember, my parents hosted the entire Wolves hockey team, the coaching staff, and the admin staff along with their significant others for a festive party to celebrate Christmas.

Mom always had the house professionally decorated. And she had hired six bartenders and over a dozen wait staff.

“Rory, come here and taste this,” Mom motioned me over to the island in the kitchen. Around us, staff worked overtime getting the food ready.

“What is it?”

“Jeff, what is this again?” she asked the chef.

“That is the sautéed polenta cakes with mushroom Ragu and micro greens.”

I put the tiny appetizer in my mouth.

Flavors exploded in my mouth. “That’s delicious.”

Mom smiled up at me. “Your outfit is lovely.”

I glanced down at the red tartan dress that had a fittedbodice and flirty skirt. I had paired it with black high-heeled boots. My long hair was tied back into two messy French braids that twisted in a knot at the base of my neck.

“I invited Calder and his parents.”

“Mom!”

“Calder is a nice young man.”

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