Page 41 of Puck Princess

“Yeah, I know.”

“He was giving some interview for the Scythes socials, talking about hockey being his life and some shit like that, and he was wearing Scythes gear. I looked him up and—Wait!”

There it is. I count to five while Kennedy processes.

“What do you mean you know? What do you know?”

“I know everything.”

There’s another five seconds of processing before?—

“And you didn’t tell me? This guy hurt you and ran you out of your last job, and you didn’t think it was important to mention that you now have to feel him up on the regular?”

“I’ve barely seen him the last few days,” I point out, failing to mention that the last time I saw him, he did make me feel him up. That fact won’t earn me any points here. “I didn’t keep it from you on purpose. I actually didn’t know he’d be here, either. I knew he was following me, but I thought he was just parading around the arena because he’s a big face in hockey and his dad’s money got him through the door. I had no idea your dad hired him to replace Miles.”

“And now that we know, we’ll tell my dad to fire him! In fact, I’ll do it right now. Hold, please.”

“Kennedy, no!” I shoot up from the toilet, realize I’m now the one yelling . Luckily, no one else is in here. I’m the only person who needs to occupy the bathroom six to eight times a day.

“Just… leave it alone.”

“Owen knows, right? Please tell me Owen knows who Spencer is.”

I flush the toilet and unlock the stall door, walking over to the sink to wash my hands.

“Of course Owen knows who Spencer is. Even if he’s a giant dill weed and his face makes me want to throw up, he’s a big name in sports, as far as rookies go. Plus, he’s got his daddy’s money behind him.”

“But does he know who Spenceris?”

There’s a beat of hesitation before I answer. “He doesn’t know what happened between us, no.”

“Callie!”

“I know!” I lower my voice. I really don’t want to be talking about this here. The acoustics are great, and I have no idea how far my voice might carry down the hall. “He knows my ex has been following me around and watching me. He knows a little about what happened in the past. He just doesn’t know that Spencer is that person.”

“He needs to know,” she drills into me.

“Kennedy, he can’t. He’d kill him. And then imagine what would happen.”

“I am imagining it. It looks like swift, bloody justice. I like it.” When I don’t say anything, she groans. “What’s your plan, Cal? Just peacefully co-exist with both of them every day? I don’t see how that could possibly work. Also, this is giving me déjà vu, if you know what I mean.”

I know exactly what she means. It’s like a repeat of Miles except worse. I cut off the head of the sexually-deviant hydra and an even nastier one grew back.

“I don’t expect him to last here, to be honest. The team needs a winger, so he’s filling that role for now, but he’s a shitty team player and a puck hog. Your dad won’t stand for that long. Not only that, I don’t think the guys like him much. It’s not going to work, and he’ll have to leave.”

“Unless his wallet is fat enough.”

I stop, looking at myself in the mirror. There are black circles like bruises under my eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, my dad isn’t shallow, but with all the negative press lately, Spencer’s TV-ready face and the money behind that face are probably looking pretty good to the higher ups. I wouldn’t be too sure Spencer is going anywhere anytime soon.”

I’m worried she’s right, but before I can say anything, I hear people in the hallway. I wait until the voices are gone before I lower mine. “I can’t talk about this at work. I can’t risk anyone knowing who Spencer is to me. Besides, we kind of came to an agreement.”

“What kind of agreement?” Kennedy is skeptical.

“He said we should be civil. … Friends.”

Honestly, even as I say it, I know it sounds stupid. Spencer doesn’t want to be friends with me. But I also know that whatever game he’s playing, I have to play along if I want to keep the peace. And Ireallywant to keep the peace.

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