Page 118 of Home Game

The rational side of me understood that Bianca was his PA. He needed to be friends with her, but it filled me with angst to see how easily they got along.

With practiced silence, I moved towards my bedroom.

“Zoey,” Ryan spoke my name.

I paused and turned around, pretending I was just noticing them. “Oh, hey.”

“Bianca made the most amazing pecan waffles. Come have some.”

“Oh, well, I didn’t make enough for three,” Bianca stood behind him, giving me the stare down.

“Oh, Zoey can share with me,” Ryan motioned for me to come closer. “Come try this.”

“It’s okay,” I said, moving to stand near the island.

He moved towards me and then he lifted his fork to my lips. Our eyes met as I opened my mouth. Tantalizing tastes exploded on my taste buds. I shut my eyes and moaned. When I opened them again, Ryan's eyes were on my mouth.

“What is that?”

“Pecan waffles and Saskatoon compote. I came back from my run and Bianca was here on her day off cooking us breakfast.”

Bianca gave me another hard look from behind Ryan’s back.

“That was nice of her,” I lied.

“Ryan and I need to go over his website changes,” her eyes cut into me.

“I’ll leave you to it,” I backed away.

“You can stay,” Ryan watched me.

“I have some things to do,” I lied, moving towards my room.

I lay on my bed, conflicted about the promises I had made Ryan. I needed to talk to him and tell him about Terrance, I just wasn’t sure how.

I’d find the right moment. Maybe he’d agree that I needed to leave. What I knew for sure was that Terrance was not someone anyone wanted to get involved with.

CHAPTER 25

RYAN

We were up2-1 and about to face off but the opposing team’s coach called the ref. I scanned the crowd, looking for Zoey. She stood by the glass, phone in hand. She beamed a smile at me and gave a quick wave. I raised my glove and smiled at her.

“You know the coach will have your head if he catches you flirting with your girlfriend,” Mica said from beside me.

“You know she’s not my girlfriend.”

“Yet.”

The ref skated towards the other ref and they spoke.

“I like to see her happy,” I spoke under my breath.

“You make her happy.”

No, she makes me happy. The truth of that thought startled me. I glanced up towards the glass again. Zoey chatted to Krista and said something that made Krista laugh. What was it about Zoey that drew me to her? I’d never met anyone like her and I wasn’t sure I ever would again. Everything had been so bleak when I arrived in Vancouver, but Zoey had changed all that. Somehow she made this place feel like home. Because of her, and her little accounting side business, myteam was warming up to me. We weren’t where we should be, but we had come a long way.

I glanced up at her again. Zoey was now showing the guy next to her some photos on her pink phone. He smiled and pointed at the photo and they both laughed. What was it about her that people just automatically loved her?

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