Page 21 of Inside the Penalty Box

“What did you say?”

“What I should have said. No.”

“Okay and…”

“What do you think? He wouldn’t take that as an answer. So, instead, the second we were alone, he was all over me. Flirting, putting his hands on me, his lips on me, pulling me into him. He even said if I thought the first time was good, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like the next time now that he knows my body.”

I could feel my face heating at the memory of that night. At his words.

“Ohhhh my god.!!!!!” Lorelai screeched.

“Shut up!” I said, holding my hands out to a now excited Lorelai.

“I will not. You’ve got to think about this,” she said.

“I don’t, because there is nothing to think about.”

Just then, my cell phone rang, and I looked down at the screen to see Walker’s name appear.

“Is that him?” she asked, excitement growing in her voice.

“No. It’s Walker. He’ll be worried if I don’t answer it.”

“Fine, go ahead.”

In a matter of minutes, I’d found out that Walker wouldn’t be attending the wedding party on Saturday, which made me sad, but made me worry. I swallowed hard as I listened to him talk about the fact that his commanding officer wouldn’t allow him leave. He sounded disappointed but nowhere near as disappointed as I would be on Saturday night. I’d be alone with Dylan in a house full of people.

I hung up the phone and looked over at Lorelai jumping right back to the beginning of the conversation.

“Bottom line, there is no way I can accept a job with the Dominators.”

“If you think I’m turning down that interview my brother has worked so hard to get for us, you are mistaken. I’m also not turning down a job if I am lucky enough to be offered one. Now what did Walker want?”

I dragged my fork over my salmon and then took another bite, while I quickly figured out a solution for Saturday night. I was already being forced to go to the wedding party. There was no out for me. Then I glanced over at Lorelai who sat there eating her fries while looking around the restaurant. She hadn’t seen my mom in a while, and I knew she’d be thrilled to see her.

“What are you doing Saturday night?”

She shrugged. “Probably working on my paper as should you be.”

I nodded. “Feel like going to a wedding celebration party instead?” I questioned.

“I’ll have to think about it.” She shrugged. “I’m behind on my paper.”

I shook my head. “Look, I’ll do the interview, and I’ll help you with your paper if you do this for me,” I muttered.

Lorelai looked over at me, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Where is the party?”

Chapter 7

Dylan

I stepped through the front door and glanced at a group of unfamiliar faces. I probably should have brought Knox as my wingman for tonight, I thought to myself. These types of parties just weren’t my style. In fact, no party was. I preferred being with my boys over being in a room full of people I didn’t know.

I made my way to the kitchen and out onto the back deck, where I saw my father and Penelope talking with another couple. I lifted my hand and waved, letting them know I’d arrived. Then I made my way back inside.

I was still reeling from today’s meeting with the coach about the entire team’s performance at the last few games. He’d told us we had better get our shit together if we planned to make it to the playoffs this year. If we didn’t, it would be the first year in five that we didn’t make it. The entire tone of the meeting had put me in a mood that I’d been trying to shake off all day.

I made my way through the crowd of people, amazed that no one had stopped me yet. Usually, once they saw me, I was trapped. Tonight, I was on a mission, and even though I knew most of my father’s friends would be eager to talk to me, that would have to wait.

---