Page 99 of Facing Off
“It’s contract stuff,” I tell Kavi. “You know, that boring, negotiating side of hockey. Strategizing a few things with Forrester there, too. All things I’m making sure get handled before our next season starts.”
Above Kavi’s head, Sonya’s expression shifts subtly. Our eyes meet and something raw passes between us. Somehow I feel naked. Exposed.
I rub a spot over my chest, unable to move otherwise. There’s an urge to look away. Her hands twitch to the side as if she feels it, too.
I see what you’re doing,her dark gaze tells me.Pretending.
You also do it, darling.So well.
But I still see you.
And I see you, too.
“It’ll be impossible to find Jung.” Kavi goes up on her toes as if it might help. “Especially with the game about to start.”
I pretend my hands are goggles and press them against my eyes, dramatically swinging my head around. “But we must find him!”
Kavi sniggers.
I smile, cloaking the worry coursing through me. Because she’s right.
All around us fans are heading to their seats, chatting loudly, arms full of snacks and drinks. Bodies crammed together around the concession stands, the bathrooms, and the stairs leading to the bowls of the stadium. In this crowd, Jung will be impossible to locate.
“Hm.” Kavi’s mouth quirks to one side. “There’s a party tonight after the game. Every player and their friends are invited, no matter what country you’re playing hockey for. Do you think he’ll show up to that?”
Hell yes.
Jung is in his early twenties, attractive, single, and loves a good time. If he’s here in Oslo, he’ll be there.
Even so, I genuinely try searching the crowd around us—and fail at seeing anyone resembling Jung. Before we met up with Kavi, Sonya and I already toured the luxury box. He wasn’t there. Macklin also hasn’t gotten back to me yet.
“This party might be easier to search,” Sonya says—then glances sharply at Kavi. “Not that I’m here to help Hughes with that. No, I’m here to…watch the game. And have fun.”
Her face scrunches as if she’s swallowed something sour. I smother a laugh.
“Okay, yay!” Kavi pulls us towards the stairs, but deflates right at the entrance. “Wait, you two don’t have seats, right?”
Twenty minutes later, the three of us are sitting against the glass.
“How do you do it?” Kavi wonders, unabashedly staring at me.
Sonya’s nose wrinkles. “He’s a people person.”
“But it was like magic. One minute we were talking tothe people sitting here, the next you’ve got their life story and are signing autographs, taking photos, upgrading them to watch from the box, but also giving them ideas on where to travel because it’s their fiftieth anniversary. And they’re thanking you?”
I smirk. “You’re right, Kavi. Iammagic!”
Sonya and Kavi groan, before their attention is stolen. Team Canada is skating onto the ice.
One player heads straight over to stand in front of us. Kavi must have texted him about our new seats. Even in his gear, you can see the tattoos marking his neck and hands. Normally, his mouth is permanently turned down but it softens as soon as he sees his wife. He hasn’t even noticed Sonya and me here.
Dmitri’s glove comes up to tap the glass. Kavi leans forward and puts her palm on the other side.
“I’ll never get over that,” Sonya mumbles.
I snap my gaze over and stare at her. I’m imagining me being on the ice, skating over to Sonya in the stands, eyes only and always just on her, lifting my glove?—
Kavi pokes me. Lokhov finally noticed his wife wasn’t alone. His eyes have widened on me, then they flick over to Sonya. Then come back to me. It’s like the gears are turning in his head, and that’s when I remember?—
