Page 34 of Goal Line
“Wait,” Luke says with a laugh as he glances around the table. “This is all starting to feel very incestuous.”
Lauren lifts one of her auburn eyebrows, her big blue eyes widening. “How so?”
“Just how you’re all related. So you’re Carson’s niece and Jameson used to work for him.” He fixes his gaze on Jameson. “Jules and Audrey are your siblings, and Jules is engaged to your best friend.” He nods toward Colt. “And Audrey is engaged to one of your players.” He nods toward Drew.
“That’s not incest,” Jameson growls. “That’s just family.”
“Why are we talking about incest?” The voice comes from a girl with strawberry-blonde hair and a light smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks as she drops into the chair beside me.
“We’re not.” God, Jameson is so fucking growly. I wonder if he’s like that with Lauren in private, too? It’s kind of hot, actually.
Beside him, Lauren laughs. “Hartmann’s just figuring out how we’re all related.”
“Oh,” she laughs. “Hi, I’m Morgan. I’m Lauren’s cousin.” She reaches out to shake my hand and nods at Luke. Presumably, they’ve met before.
“She’s also Carson’s daughter,” Jameson adds.
“Hi, I’m Eva Wilcott.”
Morgan points to each of us in turn. “Coach’s daughter...team owner’s son. Got it. And you two are...?”
Luke and I look at each other and laugh, because clearly, she’s trying to figure out if we’re together. “Best friends,” he says decisively.
Morgan presses her lips together with another nod. I get the feeling she’s trying to hold something in...a laugh or a smirk, maybe?
Well, at least his teammates and their significant otherswill have no trouble believing our backstory if we do go through with this marriage. It’s a good thing they don’t know that Luke’s this affectionate and attentive with everyone.
That arm he has draped across the back of my chair? The way he looks over at me with an adoring smile? The way he leans in when he speaks to me? Even if I was a complete stranger, nothing about his behavior would be different—everyone is an instant friend to Luke Hartmann. Not that he lets many people getsuperclose, but he’s naturally charming and easygoing.
“So, do you live in Boston, Eva?” Morgan asks.
“I’m from Newbury Falls originally, that’s how I know Luke—we grew up together. But I’ve lived in LA for the past eight years.”
“Oh? I love LA. What do you do there?”
“Uh...” I don’t know why it’s hard for me to answer this question. On the one hand, I’m pretty used to people already knowing who I am when we meet, and I kind of like this rare anonymity. On the other hand, my level of performance for the second half of this season hasn’t been what I wanted it to be, so I’m reluctant to explain on the off chance that she’ll look me up.
“She’s a pairs figure skater,” Luke fills in as he glances over at me like he can’t figure out why I just trailed off like that. “One of the best in the world, actually.”
“Oh my god!” Lauren’s whole face changes to one of complete shock. “Holy crap, how did I not put that together? Evangeline Wilcott? I freaking love how you skate! I’ve known your dad for over a year, and I never made the connection!”
“Oh,” I say, drawing back. “You’re a skating fan?”
“I watch my fair share of skating, yeah.”
Jameson clears his throat and glances at Morgan, who has her eyebrows raised, staring at Lauren like she’s waiting for her to say more.
“And?” Morgan prompts.
“And nothing,” Lauren says with a laugh as she shakes her head. “I’m just a fan.”
“I feel like there’s a lot more to the story than that,” I can’t help but say.
Her cheeks turn pink, and she flinches as Morgan kicks her under the table. “Okay, fine, I used to skate.”
I smile. “Oh yeah? Competitively?”
“Yeah. I was a singles skater, though. Honestly, I like watching pairs skating better. The emotion and artistry when there are two people so in sync just adds a whole other level to the performance.”
