Page 59 of Power Pucking Play

As the final buzzer sounds, signaling a narrow victory for the Blades, I'm on my feet before I even realize it. My heart's pounding, and not just from the excitement of the win.

I watch as Gio disappears down the tunnel toward the locker room, not even glancing in my direction. The distance between us feels like a chasm, growing wider with each passing moment.

Something's changed between us in the last fourteen hours or so, and I have no fucking idea what it is. And I'm not going to let another hour go by without finding out.

Chapter 19

Gio

The locker room is a blur of celebration and sweat, but I'm not feeling it. As the last game of the regular season before playoffs, this should be a moment of triumph for the Blades. And yet, all I can think about is her.

This win against Seattle should have been enough to make me forget about everything else. But it's not.

I can't shake the image of her sitting in the press box, watching me with those warm hazel eyes. Eyes that looked up at me last night as I made her come and come and...

"Hey, superstar!" Jacob's voice cuts through my haze. "Nice assist out there. And you didn't knock anyone's teeth out all game."

I give him a half-hearted smile and shrug. "Guess I'm losing my edge."

Jacob eyes me carefully. "You okay, man? You seem a little off tonight."

I know I should brush him off and focus on celebrating with the team. But part of me wants to spill everything to Jacob, my best friend since we were kids playing street hockey.

I force a grin, aiming for nonchalance and probably missing by a mile. "Just playoff jitters, man. You know how it is."

"Right." Jacob nods, not entirely convinced. But he lets it go and joins the rest of the team in spraying champagne and cheering.

For a game as intense as tonight's, I should enjoy the shower of alcohol and the laughter of my teammates.

But instead, I head straight for the non-alcoholic showers, feeling a different kind of heat spread through my veins at the thought that I fucked up by letting Lexi in.

Half an hour later, the drive back to my apartment is a blur of streetlights and brooding silence.

I keep replaying Altman's call in my head, the intimate details he knew about my life. Details I'd only shared with Lexi.

Lexi, who I thought I could trust. Lexi, who made me feel shit I've never felt before.

Lexi, who might have just been using me for a all along.

As I unlock my door and head toward my bedroom, I'm so lost in thought that I almost miss her. Almost.

But there she is.

Alexandra Brookes, perched on the edge of my bed like she belongs there. Like she didn't break my trust.

"Hey." Her voice is soft, hesitant. "Can we talk?"

I should tell her to leave. I should be furious, demand an explanation for her betrayal.

But when I look into those big hazel eyes, all I can think about is how much I want to forgive her and kiss away the pain she's caused me.

Damn it.

Without a word, I close the door behind me, heading for the closet to drop my bag. "You know, you're really getting good at this breaking and entering thing. The day you decide not to be a bloodsucking journalist, you might have a future as a cat burglar."

She flinches at my words, but I don't stop. "Or maybe you're just naturally drawn to invading my personal space. Is that it? Did you think sleeping with me would be another way for you to get closer to the story?"

I pop open a beer I had grabbed on the way in and take a long swig, trying to calm myself down.

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