Page 106 of Hockey Halloween
The gears were visibly turning in Saralynn’s brain, and she nodded. “I like that. They won’t. But that’ll be your job. That, and keeping it platonic with Reid.”
“Not a problem.”
Saralynn had that knowing grin again.
Teddy puffed out an exhale and focused on the game. One way or another, she’d figure out how to stay here.
Archer
Postgame Party
Archer sat in a back corner of Club Ego, nursing a beer so slow he wasn’t actually drinking it and trying to blend into the dark wall. While the venue was low-lit, the neon blue and pink lights made it hard to hide, but he was trying his best. His late arrival aside, the game went okay. Not his best, but not his worst. The problem with that was the depth of talent on the Sinners. If you didn’t stand out, you were shipped out. He’d do better next time.
Meanwhile, laying low at the mandatory Halloween party was all he could manage. For one thing, no one had told him to bring a costume. But he couldn’t exactly beg off because showing face was one way to earn a spot here. If people liked you, they fought for you. And he liked them. From what he knew so far. His social battery was just at zero for the night. So there he sat in his postgame suit looking corporate while his teammates partied in guises of everything from vampires to super heroes.
“Hey, Lone Ranger. What are you supposed to be? Let me guess. Broody hockey player.”
Archer glanced up to meet the gaze of his taunter and froze for a second. It was Teddy, but with the black lights hitting her iridescentcostume, sheglowedlike a real angel. Even her makeup gave her face an ethereal shine, and her long, blonde hair flowed around her shoulders in loose curls. All he could do was stare, the capability for language abandoning him.
She curtseyed. “I’m Angel Princess Barbie.”
She sure was. “Hi.”Brilliant.
“Hi.” She dazzled him with a genuine smile, dropped into the seat beside him, and crossed long, tan legs he had to look away from to stay polite.
So much for his efforts to fade into the background.
“I have an enormous favor to ask.”
Here it comes. In preparation for Hurricane Teddy, he’d watched a handful of her videos on Cole’s phone in the locker room after the game. Her content was upbeat, full of energy, a little ridiculous just like the woman herself. This would be when she begged him to get on social media. He dared a glance at her, got snared by her big, blue eyes and guileless little girl smile. It was too late. He was stuck in her tractor beam.
“I’m guessing you heard from your teammates I’m the new social media manager. Well, on a trial basis. They’re thinking of hiring me because I know how to get follows and likes and work an algorithm like a stripper pole, but I need some help.”
His brain stuck onstripper pole, immediately followed by images of Teddy that made him blush, shift uncomfortably, and direct his gaze to the glowing purple floor. And she’d said it all in that sweet, innocent voice without skipping a beat. He was in trouble.
“I need an in with the guys to make them more receptive to some ideas I have for team videos. It’s never easy being the new kid, and since we’rebothnew kids, I thought we could help each other out.”
Resistance was reflex, and Archer was about to ask how she could possibly help him when three of his teammates strolled over and stopped in front of them.
Dylan Cole, Shane Reese, and Dashel Knight, dressed as Captain America, Batman, and Superman respectively, grinned at him like he’d been holding back on them. All three were happilytaken. They were more interested in teasing him. Reese clicked his tongue. “Reid. Here we thought you didn’t have a costume, but you were just waiting for your other half. I get it now. Ken and Barbie.”
Shock kept Archer silent. Shock and the knowledge that his new teammates thought he looked like a Ken doll.
Nothing could keep Teddy silent. She stood up and held out a hand. “Teddy Walker. The Sinners are thinking about hiring me as the new social media manager.”
“Right. My sister Saralynn mentioned you.” Reese nodded as he shook her hand. “Welcome aboard this crazy ship.”
Knight hummed. “And lucky that you and Reid would get to work together. We can all attest to how great that is. You guys will fit right in.”
A protest stuck in Archer’s throat struggling to get out when Teddy’s fingers slid through his hair and sent a wicked shiver down his spine, severing the connection between his brain and his tongue. She smiled at the guys. “One of the perks for sure. Can’t get enough of this one.”
Only Dylan Cole knew they weren’t really dating, but he kept his mouth shut with a curious smile like he was interested to see how this spun out.
He wasn’t the only one.
Archer could feel Teddy’s gaze on him, warm and adoring. Theweirdthing was it didn’t feel fake.
“All right, well we’ll catch you later at the bar, Reid?” Reese asked over his shoulder.
