Page 108 of Hockey Halloween
“Yeah, you’re not kidding. I always have to make a point to talk with the server…oh. I see what you mean. Good tips. I’m also nervous about the games. I did okay last night, but I’ll have to do better than okay to stay here. Every game matters, and everyone’s watching me. And I feel like I can’t talk to anyone here about it. Not yet anyway.”
“You can talk to me.”
He hesitated like it felt too big of an ask.
She smiled and squeezed his hand again. “We’re friends, right? You and Saralynn talked those guys into doing that dance for me.And you’re talking to me now. I mean it, if you start stressing on the road, you can text or call.”
“Teddy, I just met you. You really want to listen to my neurotic rambling?” Adorable vulnerability shone in his eyes. Obviously, no one up until now had made that offer.
“I really do.” And it was more than wanting to help him with the team so he’d keep helping her. He had a lost puppy quality that made her want to look out for him. And even though their relationship started out fake, maybe it didn’t have to stay that way. Not that she was getting her hopes up. Even if he was looking at her like he might feel it too.
“In that case, I might take you up on it. But right now, I need to get to the hotel and pack.”
“They still have you in a hotel?”
“I’m switching to an Airbnb when I get back. Didn’t make sense to do it too early since I knew we’d be leaving for these away games.”
“Right, well, good luck…” The door behind him opened and Knight, Reese, and Cole reappeared. Teddy swayed into Archer’s space, grabbed his jersey, and pulled him down for another kiss. He did that stunned deer thing again, but only for a second. Then his arm slid around her waist, pulled her closer, and he kissed her back. Like hemeantit. She sighed and her arms wound around his neck to keep her vertical since her knees liquified, and just as things were about to get interesting, his teammates catcalled and whistled, breaking the spell.
Archer stepped back, blinking at the guys like he just realized why she kissed him, and was that disappointment in his eyes?
Her chest ached. This was getting more complicated by the minute.
Dashel Knight wiggled his brows. “Hands where we can see them, guys. At least until we get to the parking garage.”
Teddy felt her cheeks warm and waited until the door to the underground garage shut before clearing her throat. “I’ll, uh, talk to you?”
Archer couldn’t look at her, but he nodded and disappeared into the locker room.
She released a slow breath and slid a hand back through her hair, updating her to-do list: Edit the video. Talk to Saralynn. Try not to lose her sanity or her heart to get this job.
Teddy
Friday, October 31
In oversized sweats, Teddy curled on her sofa, hair piled into a high, messy ponytail, a blue mud mask on her face. She sipped a Diet Coke through a straw and checked the team’s TikTok account for the thousandth time since she’d posted the “Thriller” video. The video itself had skyrocketed, especially during the game, and it continued to climb. Better? The team Tok account had gotten thousands of new follows, and they kept coming.
Post game chatter played low in the background from the TV. The Sinners had won in Los Angeles after a less-than-stellar game in San Jose on Wednesday. She’d talked Archer through the loss, pointed out that his own performance had been on point. Reese just had a bad night. It must have helped, because Archer had been on fire tonight, lighting the lamp twice. For sure he’d be out celebrating with the guys, so she’d decided to indulge in some self-care and online boutique browsing. It was an add-to-cart kinda night. As she was scrolling fall sweaters, Archer’s picture popped up on her screen along with a video chat request.
She gasped and threw her phone down, her hands flying to her face and the blue mud caked all over it. ItwasHalloween, but hedidn’t need this kind of scare. Not yet anyway. They’d just barely started fake dating. She grabbed the folded paper towel she’d been using as a coaster for her Diet Coke and clawed the mask off as fast as she could. With her fingertips, she checked all over for any she’d missed, but her skin felt smooth. With a sigh, she accepted the request on her phone.
Archer’s stomach dropped as the video request rang and rang while he sat on the edge of the bed in his hotel room. They’d kept it to texts since he’d been gone, but he’d dialed her up on a whim. She wouldn’t be sleeping yet…he didn’t think. Just as he was about to cancel the request, she picked up. At least, he thought it was her. Without makeup, she looked less runway and more like the girl next door. Pink in her cheeks, freckles, natural dark lashes that weren’t quite as long as usual. The ponytail really sealed the innocence. Or it would have if not for the trademark teasing spark in her light eyes.
He cleared his throat. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
She grinned. “It’s only eleven. Congrats on the game! I thought you’d be out with the team.”
His cheeks warmed, and it spread down his chest. Compliments from Teddy hit differently.Shehit differently. He shoved a hand back through his hair, still a little damp from the post-game shower. “Yeah, they asked me, but we have an early morning flight to Seattle, and I’m apparently the only one who can’t sleep on planes.”
Teddy tsked and shook her head, ponytail swinging from shoulder to shoulder behind her. “The goal is to assimilate, remember?”
“I’m doing better, I think. I tried those tips you gave me in San Jose, and I was the life of the party without actually having to say much. I promise I’ll go out after tomorrow night’s game. Besides, when I told them I wanted to come back to the hotel to talk to you, they gave me no grief. Having a girlfriend rocks.”
She laughed then stuck out her tongue. “Happy to be of service.”
The day’s tension melted from him, replaced by something warm and steady. “And hey, congrats to you too. Cole showed me the video you posted of us. Looks like it really took off.”
She beamed at that, and it lit him up from the inside out. Lines were starting to blur, but he wasn’t about to point that out. He didn’t mind it. He smiled. “I guess we don’t make such a bad team.”
