Page 34 of Pucking Knox
Even if loving him isn't easy.
Because not loving him is impossible.
I touch the folder in my bag, evidence of all the ways this could go wrong. Then I watch Knox move across the ice like he was born for it, and I know…
Some things are worth the risk.
Now I just have to convince him of that.
If he'll let me.
Chapter 14
She's watching me from the bench.
I take another shot, pretending not to notice. Pretending my whole body doesn't automatically orient toward her like a compass finding north. Like my dick isn’t pointing straight at her like she’s the chosen one.
"Well, look who finally remembered she has a boyfriend." I keep my voice casual like I haven't been checking my phone for days. Like I haven’t been able to breathe without her near.
"Thought you could use some support." She stands at the edge of the ice, perfect in her oversized sweater and leggings. "Patricia says you're quite the liability these days. They ran a background check on you."
I take another shot. The puck hits the net with too much force. "That’s what the background check told her, huh?"
"Among other things." She steps onto the ice carefully with no skates. "Apparently you're dangerous. A bad influence. No good for a senator's daughter."
Something in her tone makes me look at her. "Is that what you think?"
"I think..." She slides a little, and I catch her automatically. "I think everyone's so busy warning me about the big bad enforcer, they forgot to notice something important."
My hands stay on her waist longer than necessary. "Yeah? What's that?"
"That maybe I like dangerous." Her eyes meet mine, something honest and raw in them. "Maybe I've never felt safer than when I'm with the guy everyone says I should be afraid of."
Fuck.
"Kennedy..."
"I know." She steadies herself but doesn't step back. "You've got the combine coming up. The draft. All these expectations. I know we're supposed to be pretending. But Knox..." Her hand comes up to my chest, right over my heart. "I don't want to pretend anymore."
Before I can process that – before I can remember all the reasons this is a bad idea – Ace's voice cuts through the moment.
"There you are!" He appears at the bench, eyes narrowing at our position. "Coach wants to go over plays before tomorrow's game."
I release Kennedy like she burns. The disappointment on Ace's face tells me he remembers my drunk confession.
"Right." I skate back, putting distance between us. "Give me five minutes."
"Actually..." Kennedy reaches into her bag. "I have something for you first."
She pulls out a tiny handmade envelope, sealed with her signature green wax.
"What's this?"
"Good luck." She presses it into my hand. "But you can only open it if you win the game tomorrow."
"And if we lose?"
Something dangerous flashes in her eyes. "Then I guess you'll never know what it says."
