Page 4 of Facing Off
Before I can convince him by listing the nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine ways we’re bonded for life in eternal bromance, Coach yells at us to head into the dressing room.
An hour later, I’m the first one done showering and striding out of the dressing room. I almost don’t see her, but then I do.
She’s leaning against the wall, wearing a black tank top, black leggings, and boots covered in studs. Her hair falls to the middle of her back, a curtain obscuring half ofher face. From where I’m standing one eye is visible, and it’s flicked with her usual dark makeup. All lean lines and edges, her body language is a warning sign. It screams,don’t you dare fucking approach me.
Quinn’s words echo in my head.Rude.Closed off.But worth getting to know.
Not that I’m trying to do that… Getting to know her…
I’m going over to flirt, because why not? I should test my charm on Sonya when we’re not in the middle of a game, and she’s stuck behind the glass.
I stroll up to her with my hands in my pockets, whistling loudly. “Sonya darling, do you want to see me that badly? Is that why you’re here?”
She doesn’t even glance my way. Just keeps staring somewhere a few meters to my right like I’m not worth paying attention to. Her mouth barely moves as she grumbles, “I’m not your darling.”
Unfazed, I grin. “Do you want to be?”
“Not a chance.”
Leaning my elbow next to her against the wall, I try to make my shoulders look as broad as they can. To make myself impossible to ignore. “Really? Even after all the hard work I’ve been putting in for you?”
“What hard work?”
Her voice is pure derision. She’s giving me nothing. Less than nothing.
I push on and tap my chin with my finger. “Remember when I scored a wraparound goal to beat Winnipeg and dedicated it to you? Pointing you out in the stands? The game winner?”
“Did that happen? Can’t recall. I wasn’t paying any attention to you in that game.”
“As opposed to all theothergames where youdopay attention, Sonya?” My eyebrow arches.
“What’s there to pay attention to?” she asks, monotone.
Okayyy. Flirting with Sonya is like trying to get water from a rock. And yet?—
I double down.
Maybe she needs to hear more about how impressive I am!
“You tell me, darling.” My smile is megawatts. “Usually the whole city is on the edge of their seat, chanting my name right before I charge towards the net. Or they scream my name when it’s double overtime and all the guys work to get me the puck, knowing I’ll finish it. That our best chance of winning is me.”
I let the words hang in the air, watching her like I’m waiting for applause. Yeah. I’m being the most arrogant that I can be. This is Olympic-level smug. But it gets attention.
She finally looks at me.
And something strange lands in my chest.
Her eyes are smoky and unreadable, like there’s a locked room behind them. They’re also dark and gorgeous. I can’t look away. I stare at her and watch them blink…and shift? With a flicker of annoyance? Pointed at me? I think so. That’s nothing new, but there’s a spark. Maybe a crack in her armor.
Right, then. If being extra arrogant gets results, then I’m filing that away for later.
She shifts slightly, arms crossed tighter. “You’re so damn cocky, Hughes.”
I smirk, because with that direct answer it’s like she proved my theory.
“So you know my last name, do you?” I laugh, lean in closer, and whisper, “And yeah, I’m cocky. Do you like it?”
She glares at me and says nothing. But she doesn’t lookaway, either. And I swear I see it, just for a second, her eyes flick down to my mouth. Then jerk back up.
