Page 5 of Perfect Score

I almost forgot about the late passenger between all the disturbing information that my grandmother filled me in on about retirement community living.

Finally, I see someone enter the plane, and the flight attendant welcomes them onto the aircraft with a smile. If I were her, I’d tell the passenger to kick rocks, but that’s probably why I’m not in the hospitality industry. Instead, I spend my career tripping up opposing players or checking them against the plexiglass of a hockey rink.

They can hospitably kiss my ass.

I keep my eyes on the newly emerged passenger as she turns and heads down the aisle. The moment I see her face, I know I’m fucked.

A knot tightens in my stomach, and a low grumble escapes my lips.

Not her.

Jesus, not her.

Zoey Kloss.

A woman I went to high school with back in San Diego. She’s also the bride’s sister and a woman who hates my guts for… well, something I deserve.

I ditched her on the night of our senior prom.

But I had a good reason. I just couldn’t tell her what it was, so naturally, she’s hated me ever since.

We have the same group of friends, which means that the last ten-plus years of Friendsgivings, weddings for classmates and our ten-year reunion all amount to the same thing between us; she avoids me at all costs.

I don’t think she’s said more than a few words to me since cursing me out over the phone when I told her I wouldn’t be picking her up that night for prom and instead planned to go to the ice rink and practice my slap shot.

At the time, I thought I had done the right thing.

But the past is behind us, and at the time, I had more responsibilities on my plate than most eighteen-year-olds.

Between trying to win over the courts to become Tessa’s guardian, to making sure Gran was taken care of, and making sure I played at the top of my ability to secure a NHL contract, Zoey was the distraction I always wanted but couldn’t afford.

No sense in re-living any of it now.

What’s done is done.

It won’t change anything.

No matter how many years have passed, she hates me just as much as before.

I gave up trying years ago to break through her icy stare. Her heated honey-brown-eyed glare, reserved only for me. I’ve since accepted my fate, which means this flight is about to get all kinds of awkward in this row. Unless I’m the luckiest asshole in the world, and I’m wrong about this being the only seat left on the aircraft.

Her chestnut hair is pulled up in a messy bun, and she’s dressed like we’re headed for a snowstorm, even though we’re headed to San Diego.

Last time I checked, the highs for today should be a comfortable sixty-eight degrees and sunny.

When she steps out of the San Diego International Airport wearing that parka, which looks more like a sleeping bag designed for Antarctic exploration, the weather will melt her from the inside out.

I’ve lived in Seattle long enough now that cold Christmases don't throw me off anymore. I like the cool nip in the air during this time of the year and the occasional snow. Besides, Christmases in San Diego only bring back painful memories of my parents and the number of Christmases they’ve missed since the accident.

I want to be here for my best friend David, and his fiancée Phoebe, on the biggest day of their lives, and I’m honored to get to be a part of it.

This trip will be quick, and then I’ll take the red eye on Christmas Eve in order to be back to spend Christmas morning with Tessa and Lake, who are planning to come over to my house to have breakfast and open gifts. Then it's back to training our asses off for our game against the Blue Devils.

Zoey moves down the aircraft aisle toward me, and suddenly, the seats feel more claustrophobic than usual. I’ve faced hundreds of opponents on the ice over my long career, but this... seeing her walk towards me, I have a feeling this flight will redefine the meaning of a face-off.

Her eyes finally connect with mine, and I see the moment that familiarity and horror flash in her pupils as her posture stiffens.

Shit… this is going to be a long-ass flight.

---