Page 73 of Desperate Pucker
Me: I’ll be cheering for you.
Ryker: You gonna watch me play?
Me: Of course I will
He sends back a grinning emoji
Me: Relax, I’m only watching so I can critique your skating. I need to know what your weaknesses are so you can work on them during our next skating lesson.
Ryker: Ouch.
I laugh.
Ryker: But I kind of like it when you ride me hard during those lessons.
I bite my lip, giddy at how flirty he’s being.
Me: Is that so?
Ryker: Yeah.
Me: Maybe I should ride you harder then.
Ryker: Just name the time and place, princess. I’m there.
My face is hot, and my heart is beating faster.
Me: You’re delirious. Go get some sleep before the game.
Ryker: Nighty night, princess
The whole rest of the day, I reread our text conversations, feeling giddy every single time. I have no idea where this thing with Ryker is going. All I know is that I like it. And I want more.
Chapter 25
Maddy
Iknock on Coach Porter’s office door.
“Come in.”
I walk over to his desk. He’s frowning at his laptop screen, then shuts it before looking up at me.
“Thanks for meeting with me on such short notice,” he says.
I sit in the club chair in front of his desk. “No problem. What’s up?”
“I’m really impressed with the work you’re doing with our players. They’ve been performing incredibly recently.”
“I’m happy to hear that.”
The Bashers won their game against Salt Lake City the other day, four to one.
“I’d like for you to start traveling with the team during away games,” he says. “I think that would really maximize the training you’re doing with them, especially when we’re gone for a stretch of away games. You can continue your lessons with the guys while we’re away. That way, they don’t lose any momentum on the road. I’d like for you to start attending some of our practices, too.”
Excitement bursts through me. My training is making a difference, and Coach Porter sees that.
“I would love that,” I say, failing to hold back a smile.
