Page 68 of One Shot

He almost spits out his drink. “Really? You’ve already auctioned off two?”

“Yep, and there will be plenty more, Captain Hot Shot!” It’s so easy and comfortable falling into this flirty pattern with him. How did it take me so long to realize I feel myself around him? Nick would even like him.

“By the way, Laur, I still have Nick’s notebook,” Lucas says. I almost forgot he had it.

“So, Luc,” Connor butts in, and we are back to talking about NHL potential. “Are you talking to any scouts?”

“Of course. But you know me, Riz, I’m holding my cards close to my chest until next year,” Lucas replies smoothly, running his hand through his hair.

“Well, then I assume you know Landon Cox is working for the Blackhawks now, right?” Connor asks.

Does Lucas want to play for the Blackhawks? He’s never told me in any of our interviews or conversations which NHL team would be his number one pick if he could choose. But he did mention his dad being a Blackhawks fan a few times.

“Of course,” Lucas replies casually.

“And that he will be at the home game in two weeks?” Connor asks.

“So will one of the scouts for Seattle,” Tyler adds, “or at least it’s rumored that he will be.”

“And I heard someone for the Knights will be too,” Connor says.

“Sounds like a party,” Lucas says, “Laur, will you be at that game? Sounds like everyone is going to be there.” Is he playing with fire or is he making an innocent joke? It seemed like we moved past me missing the game and are back to being friends, or pretending to be friends when we are both interested in each other. Maybe he’s still mad I rejected him. I can’t blame him for that.

“Don’t be silly, Lucas; of course I will be,” I roll my eyes at him.

“Thank goodness. With my luck charm watching, I’ll impress scouts from all thirty-two teams that night. Did you hear? Everyone’s coming!”

Okay, so he is innocently joking. Thank God. I know I have a big dorky smile across my face.

“Nah, not anyone from Seattle.” Liam interjects, joining the group. Conner seems disappointed with Liam’s update. “Sicel for Nashville will be at our last home game in January, the one versus East.”

Lucas is laughing now with all the guys spreading conflicting scout rumors. He must have missed the part about the opponent being East, but he does notice I’m not smiling anymore.

“Will you be there?” Lucas asks with a look of plea on his face, like he is asking me to please be there.

“I . . . what?” I’m struggling for words with my nerves.

“The next home game,” Lucas asks, finishing his beer, “you’ll be there, right?”

“I . . . I’m not sure.” My voice is barely a whisper. But he hears me.

“Why wouldn’t you be there?” he asks.

“Why does it matter if I’m there?” I try to play it off flirty, but I know he can sense the tension that is creeping into my voice with the thought of the Wyverns playing Nathan again.

“Because.” He smiles a crooked grin trying to be flirty and ease the tension.

“I . . .” I feel my walls closing in, and before I can help it, I snap at him out of fear and pain. “It doesn’t matter if I’m there.”

“You’re Lauren Bellinger—my good luck charm, the Wyverns’ good luck charm. You have to be there.” He grabs my hand, and I quickly yank it away.

My fear and pain push me to snap at him again. “I’m not a good luck charm Lucas. I’m a person, with feelings and emotions. Maybe I don’t want to be there. Did you think about that? How maybe I don’t want to be there?”

Everyone is staring at me now. He takes my hand again and this time I don’t pull away, “Okay. So you won’t be there. Thanks for telling me,” his voice is genuine and kind, “Do you want to go somewhere away from all these people? You can tell me why and we can—”

“No. I don’t want to.”

I interrupt him without a second thought. My eyes are starting to swell with tears.

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