Page 71 of Matched with Her Athlete Boss

Trey nods and my stomach sinks. “There was a girl named Mac. She was fun and was always watching me when we were on the ice. I’d like to think I taught her how to skate just from her observations.” He laughs and hands the paper back. “Keep those.”

Frowning, I say, “Keep these? What do you want to do with them?”

“I’m not sure yet. There are a bunch of notes I’ve gotten from fans over the years. Maybe we can compile them into a book of sorts.”

Even though I shouldn’t ask the question burning my tongue right now, I need to know. “How did you know this was from the girl at hockey camp?” I ask, waving the note in front of his face.

“I remember seeing her handwriting and it looking just like this. I think she had a crush on me and I didn’t want to hurt her. Hockey took a lot of time and I wasn’t focused on relationships or anything at the time. She was a great listener, though. Especially when I was trying to decide if I should keep going or not.”

The fact that he didn’t want to hurt the younger me but also didn’t focus on relationships makes me feel a bit better.

“Did you ever go to hockey camps in the area?” Trey asks. His question throws me off guard and I suck in a breath, trying to come up with an answer that won’t link me to the girl from the notes.

“I did a few, yeah.”

He pulls out a new tote and looks in there. “Every book I had from college is in here. Let’s donate it.”

“Put it over there on the wall. We’ll have a donate pile, a trash pile, and a keep pile.”

We work for a few hours, getting through most of the boxes in the room. I sit back on the couch, sinking into the cushions.

“How long have you had this couch?” I ask, laughing as it’s basically swallowing me hole.

“About six years. We bought it at a yard sale when we needed one for a new apartment my buddies and I were moving into.”

“I hate to say it, but it’s got to go.”

Trey reaches over and pulls me out of the couch. I end up in his lap, with my face an inch from his. We sit there for a few moments and I keep looking down at his lips. What would it be like to kiss him?

My brain starts whirring, coaxing me to give it a whirl. Carpe diem and all that.

Just as I start to move in, my whole body buzzing with the possibility, a loud knock sends me jumping back and I end up sliding onto the floor.

“Are you alright?” Trey asks, reaching out to help me up.

“Uh, yeah. Totally fine.” Except I almost ruined everything by getting greedy and trying to kiss him.

Trey walks over and opens the door. In walk Jack and Spencer.

Jack’s gaze searches the room and then he locks on me. “Kenzie, I didn’t know you were here.”

I wave to the dozens of totes. “Just doing my job,” I say.

“Good luck with that,” Spencer says, walking over and sitting on the couch, sinking into the hole. “I always forget that’s there. You need a new couch, bro.”

“I know,” Trey says, hovering a few feet away. “We’re going to get a new one as soon as we have time to go to the store.”

“We?” Jack asks, glancing between Trey and me. “Are you still having trouble making decisions? Please tell me he’s not asking to take his mom furniture shopping with you.”

Shaking my head, I say, “No, there was no mention of Mama Hatch when shopping.”

“Good. Our boy needs to pick out his own furniture and make up his own mind about things.”

“Whatever, Jack. What brings you two by in the middle of the day?”

Jack frowns. “Dude, it’s six in the evening.” He holds out his watch for inspection.

I grab my bag and water bottle. “I’m going to head home. Bye.”

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