Page 5 of Puck and Run

PAISLEY: Do NOT get rid of that mask!!

TUESDAY: Do you know how much that thing cost? That mask was handmade.

SIMON: How do you know that? You better not have been wearing that mask.

TUESDAY: Simon, you moron, we were together at the party.

RYAN: Yeah, you fucked in my guest room.

PAISLEY: There was no reason to share that with the group, HG.

RYAN: They know what they did.

SIMON: So, how do you know so much about the mask? I’ve been bitching about Duke and his shit playing all week because of that mask and this woman. If you know who she is, tell the man so he can start playing like an actual professional again.

DUKE: As much as I enjoy your wives calling you out, if someone knows who was wearing this mask that night, please tell me.

PAISLEY: We can’t.

RYAN: What?

TUESDAY: We promised.

I take a deep breath. I cannot yell at the wives of two of my closest friends. Can I?

DUKE: Can you let her know that I want to know who she is? You can tell her who I am. I want her to know.

RYAN: Do you honestly think that she doesn’t know?

PAISLEY: We’ll talk to her and let you know what she says. Goodnight.

Could she have possibly known who I am? I knew who all of the guys were, but we spent all of our time together. If she was a fan or someone in the hockey world she may have been able to figure it out easily. That leads me down another rabbit hole of who she could be.

Chapter Four

Tilly

I’m in my tiny kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee and trying to shake off the remnants of sleep when my phone rings. The screen lights up with Paisley’s sweet face. I answer with a sleepy smile.

“Tilly! You’ll never guess what happened last night,” she says, her excitement palpable through the phone.

“What?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

“Remember that talk, dark, and handsome man you left after banging senseless the other night? Leaving the very expensive mask I ordered for you behind?”

My heart starts pounding. “Yeah…Why?”

“Well, Duke’s been asking about you. He’s been moping around like a love-sick puppy according to Ryan. His focus is shot and he keeps saying there was something special between the two of you.”

“Special? We made a promise there wouldn’t be anything more.” My mind races, trying to process this unexpected development. I hadn’t thought he’d be thinking about me at all.

“What do you want to do?” Paisley asks, her tone shifting gently to something more serious.

“I…I don’t know. I didn’t expect this,” I admit.

“Honestly? I think you should see him. I could see the fireworks going off between you two from across the room.”

“You think so? What if he sees me and doesn’t recognize me? What if he does and loses all interest?” My heart races at the thought.

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