Page 60 of Spite Crush

“So let them.” He grabbed my hands and held my gaze. “I’m not going to fuck you on center ice. You’re going to sit in the stands and watch me win. It’s not a public declaration of anything other than friendship.”

“I just don’t understand why you’re so adamant about it.”

“Because maybe I’m thinking it’s time.” He released me as he blew out a heavy sigh. “We can’t hide it forever. I don’t want to hide it forever. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life. We’re on our way to a real championship and I want to share that with you.”

“Okay. I’ll go.” For the smile he gave me at my answer,Imight have fucked him on center ice. “I can’t go to your away games, though.”

“Right, you’re meeting with your label,” he said, leading me out to his car and opening the passenger doorfor me. “Are you any closer to a decision about what you’re going to do?”

“Nope,” I admitted, sliding into the seat and waiting for him to get behind the wheel before continuing. “The vibe hasn’t hit me yet.”

“Well, if you do quit, just keep in mind that I make plenty of money. So if you want to be a kept man…I can make that happen for you.”

The silence that fell between us was more like an entire pyramid than a brick. I stared straight out the windshield as he drove, tryingdesperately not to look at him. Thinking if I just ignored it, he might either take it back or pretend that I’d zoned out on him and hadn’t heard it at all.

“Too soon?” he asked, finally breaking the tension.

“I don’t know how to answer that,” I admitted. But I decided to just go for honesty and see what happened. It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about a future with him, so maybe it was a good sign that he’d brought it up. “Except to say that my net worth is considerably higher thanyours, so if either of us are going to be kept…it’s going to be you.”

He visibly relaxed, his fingers unclenching from the wheel as he shifted in his seat then glanced over at me and smiled.

“I didn’t mean to freak you out,” he said. “But I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it.”

“Me, too,” I said. “Maybe not about you supporting me. But, I love you. Of course I’ve thought about our future.”

“I love you, too,” he promised me, reaching over and grabbing myhand. “I’m going to win this game tonight and then maybe we can talk more about this?”

“We can talk about whatever you’d like,” I assured him.

“What does HSF stand for?”

“Except that.” I laughed as I squeezed his hand.

We rode the rest of the way to the stadium in silence, but it was a much more comfortable one.

****

By the third period it was clear that Zak really was going to win thisgame. He’d scored both of the points for the Inferno and racked up nine penalties for himself as well. The Panthers seemed to have no answer for him and were minutes from being shut out of the first game of the series.

I was so proud of myself for understanding what was happening, and so focused on the game, that it took me a few minutes to notice that someone had sat in the vacant seat next to me. But when I finally turned and saw her, I couldn’t say I was surprised.

“Naomi,” I said. “How lovely to see you again.”

“Why does that sound like a lie?” she teased.

“Not at all,” I assured her, turning back to the game. “This is exciting, isn’t it?”

“It certainly is,” she agreed. “Our guys are going to win a championship.”

“That sounds like bias,” I said.

“Well, they just won this one,” she said as the buzzer sounded andthe game ended. “Can I walk you back to the locker room?”

We joined the crowd of people filing up the stairs toward the causeway, then broke apart to head toward the players area of the arena, not talking again until we were alone in a quiet corridor.

“You have to make a statement,” Naomi insisted.

“Why?” I asked her. “Are rumors starting?”

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