Page 17 of The Captain's Curfew
She beams at me, holding up her phone.“Your poll results came in.Hockey’s Grumpiest Grump wins by a landslide.”
I groan, dropping my bag by the couch.“Violet?—”
“Oh, don’t be such a sore winner.The people love you.”
I level her with a glare.“This isn’t a joke to me.”
She softens slightly, setting her phone down.“I know.But Logan, you can’t be the enforcer all the time.People need to see more than the hard-ass captain.”
“I don’t care what people see.”
Her lips press together.“Maybe you should.”
I stare at her, the tension between us shifting from irritation to something heavier, something I don’t want to name.Because she’s right.And I hate that she’s right.
She steps closer, searching my face.“What’s going on with you?”
I exhale, rubbing a hand over my jaw.“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
I glance away.“It’s just… the team.The younger guys aren’t listening.I’m trying to fix things, but they still treat me like some drill sergeant.”
Violet tilts her head.“Have you ever considered that maybe they need to see you as a person, not just a captain?”
I scoff.“That’s not my job.”
“No, but maybe it should be.”She folds her arms, watching me carefully.“You’re a great leader, Logan.But people follow people they connect with.If all they see is rules and discipline, they’ll never rally behind you the way they should.”
I stare at her, something unfamiliar twisting in my gut.Because, damn it, she’s making sense.And that’s almost worse than the fact that I can’t stop thinking about her, can’t stop noticing the way her eyes soften when she looks at me, or the way her voice wraps around my name like it belongs there.
She’s getting under my skin.
And the worst part?
I don’t want her to stop.
Later that night, I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying our conversation over and over.
She sees through me too easily.She always has.And it’s getting harder to pretend I don’t care.
Because the truth is, I do.
More than I should.
And if I’m not careful, she’ll be the one thing that finally breaks me.
SIX
Violet
Logan Carter is a walking, talking challenge.
Everything about him is rigid—his rules, his schedule, the way he glares at me like I’m the world’s most annoying problem.And I can’t help it—Ilovepushing his buttons.It’s so easy.A little teasing, a well-placed smirk, and boom—instant irritation.
But the best part?
I think he likes it, too.
