Page 58 of Zero Pucks Given
But we had a chance, and that’s all a team could ask for.
The first two games were scheduled in Edmonton, and then we would come back to San Antonio for the next two games. Mason and I took an Uber to the airport to board the team’s private jet. Everyone was standing around on the tarmac, waiting to board.
“Grayson, just the man I wanted to see,” Bob Trent said, slapping me on the back. “Ready for this series?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied. “Why do you want to see me? You’re not going to make me reshoot the promotional playoff photos again, are you?”
“Something better. We’ve finished planning your final date with Josie Harper.”
I felt myself stand up a little straighter. “Oh yeah?”
Bob grinned at me. “Someone’s excited.”
I forced myself to scowl at him. “I’m surprised you’re scheduling it already, since our calendar is up in the air. We could be out of the playoffs next week, or we could be playing into June if we somehow make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Unless you’ve scheduled the date for July?”
“That’s much too far in the future,” Bob answered. “Nobody will care about the team once the finals are over. We want to take advantage of your fake relationship while it’s popular. Your next date is on Thursday.”
I blinked at him. “ThisThursday?”
“That’s right.”
I looked at the private jet sitting on the tarmac right in front of us. “You know we’re about to fly to Edmonton, right? Game one is on Wednesday, and game two is Friday.”
“Which is why the date is scheduled for your off day.”
“You don’t think that’s a distraction?”
“Why would it be? It’s not even a real date. Just some publicappearances. She’ll travel with the team, watch the game from the front row, and then you two will walk around downtown Edmonton on Thursday.”
I gave a start. “She’s traveling with us?” I looked around, expecting to see Josie approaching with a suitcase any moment.
“Nowthatwould be a distraction. No, she’s flying commercial. You won’t have to see her until Thursday. Relax.” He clapped me on the back again. “Don’t worry, you’ll be free from all of this bullshit soon enough.”
Bullshit. Right. I had to remind myself that I didn’twantto be doing this, that I was eager to put it behind me.
Yet as we boarded the plane, I felt conflicted about the whole thing. Josie was a distraction—that was just a fact. Succeeding in the playoffs meant eliminating distractions and focusing on one singular goal.
But God, I wanted to see her again.
I’d loved every minute of our ice skating date. The playful banter, the subtle glances. Holding her waist from behind while maneuvering her around the ice, controlling her body, imagining another way I could be gripping her hips from behind…
“You all right?” asked Hunter, the backup goaltender, when we were on the plane.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re staring at the back of the seat like it’s a puzzle.”
“Just thinking about this series.”
Another player, Tyler, twisted around in his seat. “He’s thinking about his girlfriend.”
“Captain has a girlfriend?” someone else asked.
“That fan who won the date with him,” Tyler replied. “Josie.”
“I thought that was just one date!”
“They’ve gone on a bunch now. The marketing team loves it. Captain’s so attractive they want to make it last.”
