Page 12 of Faking the Shot

“Dude, did you learn nothing from that video we did a few years back?” Chris scowled at Logan. “Talk like that one more time and I’m reporting you.”

“Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

Chris stood, the lack of goaltender gear doing nothing to stop the fierce bigness of the man. “Watch your mouth. Don’t speak like that again.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

Logan gave a two-finger salute and sauntered away, and immediately the tension in the locker room dropped a hundred notches, even as his teammates’ mutterings continued.

This was so stupid. This tension was no good for team harmony, and so foolish anyway, especially when it all stemmed from an impossibility.

Zac nodded and exited—he had an appointment with his trainer in thirty minutes—and ignored the women screaming his name as he walked with Chris to their cars. “Look, I really don’t want this to escalate. Logan’s clearly got a problem with me, but it’s starting to affect things in there.”

“Which is why you need to say something to the coach.”

“I don’t like to tell tales.”

“If you don’t, I will. Logan’s trying to undermine you.”

“Like he can.”

From Chris’s pinched brow, that comment had come across as more arrogant than he intended. “I don’t mean to sound like a tool. I just mean that people don’t respect Logan now, so why would they pay attention to anything he has to say?”

“You just need to be careful, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

Chris relaxed. “Now, are we still on for dinner tonight?”

Dinner at the Thomas residence followed by an online Bible study chat. “Sure.”

“Good. See you at my place at six.”

Zac nodded, pivoting as his name was called.

“Dude, you forgot your phone,” Drew called, hurrying to give it to him.

“Huh?”

“It was on the bench.”

“That’s weird. I thought I had it with me.”

“You got it now then.”

“Thanks.”

“Gotta go.” Drew winked and rushed away.

Okay, well that was weird too. Drew normally liked to shoot the breeze, but maybe he also had an appointment to get to or something.

Just like Zac did tonight. When he’d meet with the other guys who were part of the Northwest Ice online Bible study group, and maybe get some clues and figure out just what he could do about this stubborn attraction to a woman he’d met last night.

CHAPTER4

Her phone pinged with a notification. Who—? Oh, Instagram.

She opened the app, saw she had a message from Lincoln Cash’s wife, Jackie, complimenting her on her outfit last night. God bless her. Lincoln had been on the first season ofAs The Heart Draws, and he’d kept in touch over the years. His marriage to an aged-care nurse a few years ago had almost melted the internet, but it was proof that God could work in mysterious ways. And God had worked wonders in Lincoln, transforming a man with diva-esque tendencies into someone who now ran an online Bible study for actors in Hollywood. Ainsley had encouraged Harrison to connect with Lincoln, and last she’d heard he was enjoying the time with fellow believers in the acting world.

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