Page 74 of The Pucking Fake Marriage

Still, there’s a niggling on the back of my neck. Like I can feel Charlie’s eyes digging into my back. I hate myself for it, but I’m still sort of wondering what she thought of that. Takes me back to high school, all our high school games that I always asked Charlie to attend, how much better I played knowing she was watching.

I just performed wonderfully now too. Only it was because I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing how horrible the past few weeks have been for me.

Still works, anyway.

The huddle passes by quickly. For once, Tanner and the other coaches seem more predisposed toward compliments than criticism. In no time at all, we’re cruising back to the ice and facing off against the defeated-looking Blades.

“You might as well quit now,” Nelson screams over the ice at them. Trash-talking opponents is a routine aspect of hockey.

“Not a chance in hell,” their left winger spits back.

“You alright, man?” Blake mutters. “Just saw her.”

My jaw tightens. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Against my better judgment, I look over at where Alex was sitting. Charlie’s still in her seat, staring at me. Like before, she appears to be terrified, but the look in her eyes also seems to say, “I'm not leaving here until I get to talk to you.”

I’m almost certain I’m not interpreting that correctly. Charlie has spent the last few months leading me on a wild goose chase. She’s not about to start pursuing me now. Unless, of course, she’s waiting for me to get stuck on her hook again, so she can reel me in once more.

Don’t know if I’m cut out for that. The memory of confronting my family at Christmas is still too fresh. Plus, the fact that Charlie actually believed that I would do something that awful to her. Deliberate or not.

“You don’t have to speak to her after the game, you know.” Blake is still darting cautious looks at the trio. “Don’t know what Alex and my sister were thinking. I’m going to have a talk with him when this is done.”

“Forget it.” Even if I’m pissed at Alex right now, I know that he’s doing what he thinks is best. There have been low moments, including a night where I told Faye and Blake the truth about Charlie’s broken ankle. Faye suggested therapy, which I turned down. Britney was the first to suggest reaching out to Charlie. I’d told her she could do that, but onlybecause I suspected Charlie wouldn’t be willing to have a conversation anyway.

And now, bringing her here. Don’t know how this is supposed to help me heal, but I’m not going to stick around and find out.

The next twenty minutes pass by in a haze. I score one more goal and assist Luke and Blake for a goal apiece. The Blades pull back by one goal at the dying minute, but it makes next to no difference. The buzzer sounds with the scoreboard showing 5-2, in favor of the Titans. My teammates crash into me in jubilation as the crowd goes wild.

“Fucking did it!” Tanner’s distinctive scream seems to echo around the stadium. “I knew it. I knew you hadn’t lost your mojo, Edwards!”

I plaster a smile on my face, hugging and jumping along with everyone else. The commentators are now rattling off our stats, comparing them to the other teams in the playoffs. We still have a chance. That, more than anything, fills me with genuine happiness.

“An interview, Mr. Edwards?” The reporters are now fighting their way through the horde of Titans and fans alike. About twelve cameras are flashing in my direction, twice as many questions being shouted at me by people shoving mics in my face. Beside me, Luke and Nelson are being treated similarly.

I open my mouth to say something scathing, only I think better of it. IfCharlie’s really trying to get my attention, nothing will dissuade her better than a pointedly long, drawn-out interview with these goons.

“Yeah, whatever.”

The questions are all over the place, from our chances in the playoffs to speculations about my surprising turnaround. I pick the least offensive query and startto rattle off some facts. The moment I’m done, more cameras flash and even more questions are asked. It goes on like that for a while.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Blake extricating himself from his own group with difficulty. I’m starting to consider doing just that when I hear Blake’s slightly raised voice. “No, not now.”

I turn around. He’s holding out his arm, and from the looks of it, he’s trying to stop someone from getting across to me.

Charlie.

Well, fuck it all to hell and back.

My core erupts in fiery madness. I knew Charlie was a daring woman. Only a certifiable lunatic would do everything she’s done so far, including traveling to Las Vegas and marrying me. But this,trying to talk to me in front of three dozen cameras, has broken my already-high expectations. Hell, even Alex and Britney, who are flanking her, look a little surprised by this turn of events.

Charlie doesn’t seem to notice the fact that Blake just spoke. She keeps her brown eyes glued to me.

“I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks now. I’m not going to let you keep avoiding me.”

The cameras all spin in her direction, heads turning her way. In seconds, about a hundred people—reporters and fans alike—are staring at her. But she doesn’t budge.

I’m almost impressed.

Almost.

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