Page 17 of Blocked Shot
And now? Now she has to live with the fact that Mr. I-Forgot-to-Mention-I'm-a-Professional-Hockey-Player isn't just some random guy she can hate from a distance. No, that would be too easy. He's on Jesse's team. Her baby brother's team.
The universe certainly has a twisted sense of humor.
Jesse filled her in after his meeting with the coach. Jake is his designated babysitter. Hismentor. The guy who's supposed to keep her brother from making career-ending mistakes.
It should be comforting, knowing someone else is looking out for Jesse. Someone with experience who can guide him through his rookie season.
Instead, all she can think about is how Jake's hands felt on her skin, and how she's definitely going to hell for having impure thoughts about her brother's teammate.
Perfect. Just perfect.
She picks up her phone again, her thumb hovering over the screen. Should she call him? To… what? Yell at him some more? See if he has another convenient excuse? What would she even say?Hey, just thinking about how sexy you are and how much it irritates me.
She groans, flopping backward against the couch. This is pathetic. She needs a distraction. She needs Mila.
It rings once before she picks up. “Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to call me.”
Natalie rolls her eyes, already feeling lighter hearing her best friend’s voice. “We spoke for an hour on my drive home this afternoon.”
“And yet, I feel like I haven’t heard from you in years. Are you still in a lather over your brother’s sexy new manny?”
Natalie huffs. “I am not in alather.”
Mila cackles. “Oh, please. I can hear it in your voice. You’ve been thinking about him, haven’t you?”
Natalie groans, rubbing her temples. “Ugh, I don’t know. I’m just so pissed! The first guy I meet who I am even remotely interested in, and he’s off-limits.”
“He’s not off-limits, babe. He’s offyourlimits.”
“That doesn’t make sense, Mil.”
“Yes, it does. There’s no rule against you two boning like horny badgers. I checked.”
“Of course you did.” Natalie closes her eyes. “And even if that’s true, I could never do that to Jesse.”
“What Jesse doesn’t know won’t hurt him!”
“Jakeliedto me. I can’t go there.” Natalie sighs.
Mila clicks her tongue. “You’re right that he has some explaining to do. He can make it up to you in bed.”
Natalie exhales. “Look, I needed a distraction, so I figured I’d call you instead.”
“Well, lucky for you, I’m an excellent distraction. And also an excellent friend who is now demanding you take me to dinner tomorrow so we can discuss this Jake situation in person.”
“There is no Jake situation.”
“There will be if I have anything to do with it.”
Natalie pinches the bridge of her nose. “Mila.”
“Shhh, don’t fight it. So, dinner? I assume you’re free, now that you’re an empty nester and all.”
“I hate that you just called me that.”
“But am I wrong?”
“…No.”
