Page 76 of Home Game

Jensen: Hope you have a good sleep.

I put my hot face in my hands. I had no idea what I was doing anymore. The only thing I knew was I wanted more of those kisses.

CHAPTER 17

RYAN

I wokeup to my phone ringing. It was Krista. I debated not answering, but she would only keep calling.

“Yeah.”

“Have you seen Sports World TV?”

“What?”

“How about the front of any newspaper in this city?”

“No,” I sat up in bed. “What’s going on?”

“Go turn on your TV.”

“Hang on.” I yanked on a pair of shorts and walked out into the living room. Zoey’s door was closed. Last night’s kiss came screaming back to memory. Fucking fuck. I rubbed my face. “What time is it?”

“It’s 7 AM. Just turn on your fucking TV.”

I grabbed the remote and flipped it to Sports World. There were two anchors talking and behind them, on the huge screen, was my photo. The one that Zoey took. Last night.

“What the fuck?”

“Did you post a picture on Instagram yesterday?” Krista spoke in my ear.

“Zoey did.”

“Well, it’s gone viral.”

“What does that mean? Viral?” It sounded like a disease.

“Ryan. Your photo is everywhere. They are talking about it on every syndicated sports channel. It’s on the cover of three newspapers in Vancouver. This is bigger than when Gisele dropped the F-bomb after the Super Bowl.”

I sat down on the couch. “Oh, fuck.”

“Fuck? Fuck? Ryan, this is fantastic. I have had no less than nine requests for interviews this morning. The most prestigious men’s health magazine wants to put you on the cover.”

I covered my mouth and looked up at the screen. “Why?”

“Why? Because in that photo, you scream hot sex. You’re like the newest rock star of hockey. I can’t pay to get this kind of publicity.”

“Zoey posted that.”

Krista was vibrating through the phone. “Well, she is a freaking genius because that photo has hundreds of thousands of likes. It is trending on Twitter. That photo has its own Hashtag. Someone has offered you a freaking commercial.”

“What about the NHL? Are they going to be pissed?”

“Are you kidding me? They love it.”

“Krista.”

“Ryan. You tell Zoey that she’s my girl. Keep her close, let her be snap happy and tell her that the next time I see her, I’m taking her on the biggest shopping spree of her life.”

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