Page 89 of Puck Prince

She bites the corner of her mouth to keep from smiling. “Maybe…”

“You totally did.”

She ignores me. “For real, Cal. It fits like a dream. I wonder how much it cost.”

“I don’t think that matters.” I run my hands through my hair and grimace.

“You should curl it,” she suggests, watching me. “I’ll grab my flat iron. Also, I have some earrings that would be totally gorg’ with this.” She jumps up with a squeal. “It’s like prom!”

Prom.Right. At least this time, Uncle Randy won’t be threatening the guy with a hockey skate blade. Although, on second thought?—

“What are you going to wear?” I yell back to her. Since her dad is the coach, Kennedy always goes to these events. I don’t know how much she cares about charity, but it’s an excuse for her to get dolled up and flirt with hockey players. She’d never turn that down.

“I bought this last week.” She pops back in with a blue dress on a hanger, a flat iron, and the earrings she mentioned.

I squint down at the tiny, princess-cut diamonds. “You’re right: they are gorgeous. You don’t want to wear them?”

“Oh, hell no. Solitaire diamond earrings say ‘serious relationship’ and ‘off the market.’ And unlike you, I am very much on the market. So it’s gold hoops for me.”

I don’t really understand the language of jewelry, but I’m too tired to do anything other than go with it. “As you wish, Your Highness.”

“Y’know, I could get used to that. Now, sit it and shut it. I’m about to work wonders on your hair, and I need perfect silence while I work my magic.”

We finish getting ready just in time for the knock at the door. “Does Owen know you’re bringing me along with you?” Kennedy asks as we slip into our heels.

“I mean, you’re the coach’s daughter. I think it’s implied.”

“Alright, good enough for me. You get the door; I gotta grab my purse.”

I open the door, and both Owen and I take a step back like repelling magnets.

I made out with him when he was fresh off a plane and in a pair of sweatpants, so I’m only realizing at this exact moment that formal wear is a very dangerous game. Owen seems to agree. He looks like someone punched him in the stomach as his eyes drag over me not once but twice.

“Damn, Callie, you look great!” I take another step back because Owen’s mouth didn’t move. It takes me a second to tear my eyes away from him to notice Lance standing just to his right. Apparently, he’s tagging along, too.

“Thanks.”

Owen shoots him an irritated look, but Lance just shrugs. “What? Am I wrong?”

“No, but you’re supposed to be the silent third wheel,” he mutters out of the corner of his mouth.

“You and I always go to these things together. If anyone is the third wheel, it’s Callie.” Lance tosses me an apologetic smile. “Though I’ll take the back seat because y’all look bangin’ together.”

“Shut your face, man.”

At the same time, Kennedy appears behind me, smiling cryptically the way she does. Uncle Randy calls it her “fox in the henhouse” grin, and he isn’t wrong. “Ain’t no tricycle here, boys. I’m?—”

But her face drops when she sees Lance.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they have history.

And not the good kind.

But Lance’s mouth just quirks in an amused smile. “Guess not. Looks like a double date.”

“Drop dead, Craven.” She gives him a sneer that could kill and pushes her way out the door. “Let’s go. I already need a drink.”

I look at the guys, not really sure what happened. Then I hustle past them and catch up to Kennedy. “What was that about?” I whisper to her as she clacks toward the elevator.

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