Page 83 of Hockey Halloween
But… I didtell him how I felt back in high school. It didn’t ruin our friendship. Sure, it wrecked my heart, left it in pieces sharp enough to shred every diary page I’d ever written his name on. But we survived. And honestly, I never blamed him. You can’t force someone to feel something they don’t.
But tonight… Tonight, I’m putting everything on the line again. Not just for love—okay, yes, definitely for love—but also for that flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, he could see me as something more than the chubby girl from our awkward teenage years.
I never would’ve dared to try this if I hadn’t caught that look—pure jealousy—flashing in his eyes. If Melanie hadn’t whispered,‘go for it’, like she was handing me a permission slip, or if Tamara hadn’t said that whole poetic bit about the wolf and the full moon. I mean, come on, she had to be talking about Gunther, right?
God. Am I really doing this?
“I…uh, what?” he finally stammers, pushing back against the sink like he’s trying to disappear into it.
“You know. Like in those rom-coms,” I say, my voice breezy while my heart is racing like I just sprinted a marathon. “You pretend to be my boyfriend, Jaxon gets jealous, realizes he wants me, swoops in, we fake a breakup—boom, happily ever after.”
Gunther’s expression twists. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
A spike of panic slithers through me, but I tilt my head, keep my tone light. “Why not?”
He reaches up, scratching that scar near his ear. Classic Gunther nervous tic. Crap. This wasn’t supposed to stresshim out. I wasn’t trying to guilt-trip him into anything. I just wanted him to see me—toreallysee me.
“I mean, we’re teammates,” he says, voice higher than usual. “Jaxon might not want to cross that line. Might think it’s bad form.”
I nod slowly, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Right. Makes sense.” I throw out a casual laugh—too loud, too fake. “No big deal. I’ll ask someone else. Roman’s always up for an adventure.”
I turn to go. I haveto. This isn’t going as planned and I’ve upset him.
But then his hand wraps around my arm. Firm. Warm. Intentional. He pulls me back, and I crash softly against his chest. He sucks in a sharp, quick breath, and my heart slamsinto my ribs as I spot heat in his eyes.
Deep breaths. Keep going. Because maybe Melanie and Tamara weren’t so crazy after all.
“Not Roman,” he growls, low and tight through clenched teeth.
Was there a part of me that knewdropping Roman’s name would unleash the beast in Gunther? Yeah. Probably. I’ve seen what happens when Roman turns on that lethal smile—how the puck bunnies practically line up for a chance. And I’ve seen Gunther watch it happen. His jaw tightens. His eyes darken. Roman brings out something primal in him.
So yeah, maybe Ididknow. Maybe tonight, I’m throwing every Hail Mary I’ve got. Because if this plan doesn’t crack openwhatever’s locked behind Gunther’s walls… then maybe it’s time I let go.
“I’ll do it,” he says, low and gruff.
I blink. “Really?”
He nods, and I throw my arms around him before I can think better of it. “Thank you, Gunther. Seriously, this means so much to me.”
His body goes stiff at first, like he doesn’t know what to do with me. But then his arms wrap around my back. Not just a polite hug. A pull. Aclaim. My hips press flush against him and?—
Wait.
What... isthat?
Oh boy.
I ease back, my face on fire but my voice steady. “Okay, so if we’re going to pull this off, you need to act like you like me.”
His eyes narrow, and his voice drops a register. “Ido like you, Paisley.”
I freeze for the briefest of seconds, then realize what he’s saying. “I mean, yeah.” I force a casual laugh. “As a friend, sure. But for this to be believable, you need to touch me like we’re, you know… lovers.”
He swallows so hard I can practically hear it. “Lovers.”
“Exactly,” I say, trying to keep it playful as I take his hand and place it gently on my waist. “You have to touch me… like this. And lean in. Whisper. Laugh.” I lean forward, close enough that my breath tickles his ear, and I let out a soft, suggestive laugh.
His entire body shudders.
