Page 12 of Never You

It’s thrilling, and exactly the kind of distraction I needed, but it’s also a huge responsibility.

“I’m ready!” She claps like a seal on crack, and I shoot her a dull look, my eyebrows high.

I wonder if she’s still this excited in six months when she realizes this isn’t just posting on social media while watching the game.

Hockey players may be rough and tough on the ice, but they are damn drama queens when it comes to their personal lives. Either they are screwing around when they shouldn’t be, pissing off their wives, or getting into bar fights.

And yes, I’m being completely biased and judgmental because of my lying and cheating ex-boyfriend.

Really, they aren’t all as vile as Sean Kent.

With a deep sigh, I pull out the big folder that has all the information she needs, landing it with a big thud on my desk.

Her desk, soon to be.

I tell her who to watch out for, offer her tips to keep each member of the team in line as much as she can, and give her the files I made for all of them.

When we are finally done, she wishes me luck, and I assure her she can call me if she needs anything before she walks out and my uncle saunters in.

“Hey, kid, you ready?” Johnny closes the door behind him as he enters.

Wearing dark jeans and a polo, I quirk up one brow in suspicion at his sudden declaration of Casual Monday.

“What are you up to?” I twist my body to face him, resting my back against the window.

“What are you talking about?” A coy smile forms when he takes the seat in front of the desk and loosens his tie. He carelessly places his right leg over the left and leans back like he’s ready for the weekend, even though it’s only noon on the first day of the week.

“In the five years I’ve worked here, you’ve never been dressed in jeans.” My eyes rake up and down his body before they darken to a glare. “You better not be planning to fucking hop on my road trip.”

“Five days in a car?” he scoffs. “As much as I love you, I’m not ever spending five days in a car. I didn’t become a millionaire to enjoy less comfort.”

“Then, what?”

“Nothing,” he blurts, too quickly for me to believe him, his neck flashing a slight red.

“Oh my God. Do you have a date?”

“No.”

Again, the look on his face lacks credibility, like a toddler being caught red-handed with his little paws in the cookie jar. I hold his gaze, pursing my lips as I wait for a better answer than that.

“Maybe,” he replies, drawing a long breath. “It’s just a lunch date.”

“With who?” I titter in excitement.

Johnny never has serious relationships, and even though part of me believes he’ll be the forever bachelor of the NHL, I wish him a partner in life. A love that matches the one my Nana had with my grandfather.

“I already said too much.”

“Johnny!” I screech, adamant. “It’s me! Share!”

He steadfastly shakes his head. “I’ll tell you on Friday if it’s worth talking about.”

I hold still, narrowing my gaze, before I crack a grin and roll my eyes. “Fine,” I mutter.

If someone would have told me five years ago that this was going to be my life, I would’ve laughed my ass off. My LA job was always drama and stress, but I liked the responsibility that came with it. Always ready to make sure everyone and everything involved with the LA Knights was always exposed and represented in the right way. Pulling it off every single time was both addictive and thrilling, like balancing on a skyscraper, never knowing when you’d crash, and part of me will miss the job.

“It would still make me feel better if you would take Frank with you,” Johnny says, referring to his private chauffeur.

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