Page 4 of Light It Up Red
“Because red is going to look so much better on you, and it’ll help us win.” He smirks.
“Wearing red is going to help you win? How, exactly?” I lift a questioning brow even as my arm reaches out to accept the jersey.
“It’s good luck,” Travis says.
I glance at Harper and she just stares right back at me with wide eyes. I can see it on her face, though. Exactly what she’s thinking.
Don’t argue. Just put on the damn jersey.
Travis takes hold of my hand. “Follow me,” he says without actually giving me a choice.
It’s not until we turn a corner that I realize my friend isn’t behind us. She’s let this hulk of a man drag me off to God only knows where, to do God only knows what. Alone.
“You can change here,” Travis tells me, nodding at a small cubicle space. “No one will see you.”
I stare at him. I don’t know why I’m playing along. But I am. I undo the button of my coat. “I’m wearing clothes under this, just so you know. It’s not like anyone would see anything anyway,” I say while shrugging out of the sleeves and handing him my coat.
Travis doesn’t hide the way his gaze runs up and down my body. “Yeah, that’s not an outfit I want all my teammates seeing you in.”
I roll my eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with what I’m wearing,” I tell him as I tug the jersey over my head and flatten it in place. Then I hold out my hand to take my coat back.
Travis keeps it in his firm grip. “I’ll return it after the game. Better yet, I’ll buy you a red one.”
“I’m going to freeze my ass off out there in this,” I whine.
“I know a way you can stay warm.” He smirks.
“How?”
He leans in to whisper in my ear. “Just think of all the ways I’m going to fuck you after this game.”
“You seem really sure of yourself,” I tell him.
“I am. Now, come on. It’s time to get back out there.” He takes my hand and leads me around the corner, stopping before he turns to me. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“I’ll tell you my name after you win tonight. If you lose, then… well… guess you’ll be left wondering.”
“I don’t plan on losing.”
“Nobody ever plans on losing.” I shrug before pivoting on my heel and heading out of the locker room with Harper in tow.
She leads us back to our seats in front of the ice. “I can’t believe you just got O’Neil’s jersey,” she shouts at me.
“Why?”
“You have no idea what just happened in there,” she says.
“I met a superstitious hockey player who had a fit because I wasn’t wearing red,” I tell her.
“Oh, girl, no. You were just claimed by Travis freaking O’Neil.”
“I didn’t get claimed by anyone. Besides, he doesn’t even know who I am. When he finds out, he’ll want this jersey back and then he’ll want to forget he ever met me.” It’s the way it always is. Guys find out my last name and they run. Or they hang around long enough to accidentally “run into” one of my family members. And then I never hear from them again.
“Yeah, I think Travis is gonna be different. I’ve got a feeling.” Harper sighs.
Everyone stands when the players start coming out onto the ice again. And Number Nine looks right at me and waves. Travis waves. At me. At least I think he’s waving at me.
Chapter Two
