Page 38 of Power Pucking Play

As I watch him walk away, whistling some off-key tune, I can't help but wonder what the hell I've gotten myself into. I've got more material on Giovanni De Luca than I know what to do with now.

And for once in my life, I have absolutely no idea what to write.

Chapter 13

Gio

Iwake up with a grin that could rival the Cheshire Cat's and a spring in my step that'd make Tigger jealous. It's game day in Seattle, but that's not why I'm floating on cloud nine.

Nope, I'm riding high because I managed to render Lexi Brookes speechless last night. Speechless. For a woman like Lexi who never seems to shut up, that's not an easy feat.

Take that, Pulitzer.

As I head down to the hotel restaurant for the team breakfast, I'm half-expecting to see Lexi there, notebook in hand, ready to grill me about last night. But the only familiar faces I see are my teammates, looking various shades of grumpy.

I notice Jacob first, his sandy-brown hair sticking up in all directions and a scowl etched on his face. I plop down next to him with a grin.

"Someone looks like they had a good night," he grumbles, stabbing at his eggs.

"I did indeed," I reply smugly.

"Did you finally figure out how to tie your own skates?"

"Hilarious." I reach for the coffee pot sitting on the table. "You write your own material, or does Gabi help you with the big words?"

"Whew. I take it back. It's too early for these kinds of jabs. My brain is far too slow to come up with witty retorts."

From across the table, Evan Daniels, our perpetually grumpy goalie, grunts something that might be agreement. Or indigestion. With Evan, it's hard to tell.

"What's the matter, Daniels?" I grab a plate, piling scrambled eggs onto it in a heap. "Did they run out of prune juice at the retirement home?"

Evan fixes me with a glare that could curdle milk. "You're awful chipper for a guy who's about to get his ass handed to him on the ice tonight."

I grin, undeterred. "Aw, come on, Gramps. Where's your team spirit?"

"I left it in my bathroom next to my dentures," Evan deadpans, returning to his oatmeal.

Jacob leans in, lowering his voice. "Seriously, though. What's got you so...bouncy? You hook up with a fan or something?"

I nearly choke on my coffee. "What? No! Jesus, Jake. I'm just...in a good mood. Is that a goddamned crime now?"

He shows his palms to the air. "All right, all right. Just checking. You've been a little...off ever since Lexi started following you around."

At the mention of Lexi, my stomach does a little flip. Real smooth, De Luca. Way to play it cool.

"Speaking of," Jacob continues, glancing around the restaurant. "Where is your shadow this morning? I half-expected her to be camped outside your door."

"No idea." I shrug, aiming for nonchalance and probably missing by a continent or two. "Maybe she finally realized how boring my life is and gave up."

Evan snorts. "Yeah, right. And I'm secretly a unicorn."

"You know, that explains a lot about you, Daniels." I point my fork at him. "The horn makes perfect sense."

The comment earns me another death glare from our resident grouch.

As we finish breakfast and head to the rink for morning skate, I can't help but scan the lobby for a familiar blonde head. But Lexi's nowhere to be seen.

It's fine, I tell myself. She's probably just sleeping in. Or working on her article. Or realizing what a colossal mistake last night was and booking the first flight back to Chicago.

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