Page 122 of Well Played

“Dude, you were always such a prick. And don’t talk about my best friend or my brother’s girlfriend like that again, or I’ll show you just how heavy all that damn tape makes my stick when it connects with your pretty face.”

I leaned over and added, “Shaw, I guess this is about as good a time as any to tell you to clean out your locker and call your agent. You’ve been waived. Have a great day.”

Zoe’s eyes widened, and as I scooped her up into my arms, she whispered in my ear, “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. And,” she licked my ear, “I’ve always wanted to make out in the coach’s office. Maybe over his desk. Wearing only my Triumph hoodie…”

“Time of your life, honey. Who am I to deny you a single moment?”

EPILOGUE

Eden

Three weekslater

USER1212: You looked so pretty tonight. I love watching you.

USER1212: I like your hair down. You should wear it like that all the time.

USER1212: You shouldn’t walk home alone.

USER1212: The world doesn’t deserve to see so much of you. Don’t wear that dress again.

USER1212: You’re too beautiful for the world. I know it. They’ll destroy you. But I’ll keep you safe.

My hand trembled,and I swallowed down the bile rising in my throat. Was he here? Watching me?

It started out innocently enough, or so I thought. My job required me to interact and post on social media. The firstmessage seemed innocent enough. A compliment on my content and the featured local hot new restaurants for the Traverse Group. But then things…became not so innocent.

When I realized the 1212 from his username matchedmybirthdate, I ignored them. But they didn’t stop. And now I spent every second worrying if I was being watched. If he waited for me. And what he wanted. Which was even scarier, so I pretended none of it was real.

It was getting harder and harder as the days passed.

“Halloween should be a national holiday,” Noah, the Goalie for the Montreal Triumph, and one of my best friends said with a grin as he came up beside me.

Zoe rounded the corner in front of the haunted house set up, grinning as she glanced back at her boyfriend, Triumph coach Brett LeCavalier. Who happened to also be Noah’s big brother.

The team’s foundation partnered with local businesses, including Traverse. I snapped a few pictures for posts and tried to smile. ‘Haunted with Hockey Players’ drew in thousands of dollars for the various foundations the Triumph supported, and the city loved it. There were fun and only slightly spooky things for the kiddos.

But the adults only haunted house, which the team’s roster ‘haunted’, drew the most attendance and raised more money than any other event of the year.

“Hey,” Zoe said, looping her arm through mine. “Everything ok? You look a little pale.”

I swallowed down my fear. There was no way I’d let anyone spoil my favorite event or my favorite time of year.

When Zoe and I interned for the Triumph’s PR department two years ago, I had been so excited to work with the team and help organize the haunted Hockey Players event, and even though I no longer worked for the team, it still topped my Halloween favorite must-do list.

“I didn’t get lunch, so I’m a little hungry,” I lied. I kept the messages to myself, convincing myself they were harmless.

But were they?

“I’ll grab you something,” Noah said, concern etched on his face.

I put my hand on his arm. “There’s no way I’m missing going through there because of a little growling in my belly.” I forced a smile. “Dinner after, scary spookiness first.”

They both grinned as I pulled Zoe towards the entrance, completely oblivious to the masked figure lurking from the shadows.

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