Page 26 of Pucking my Enemy Boss

I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. I’d better get my shit together. Lauren is sharp like a tack and she’ll pick up on me acting weird sooner or later if I don’t get my head in order.

We both watch the practice wind down, my eyes still on Ethan as I see him talking to Coach Andrew. They seem to be having a serious conversation. I wonder what they’re discussing.Maybe his performance? Maybe his focus?I wondered just how much our passionate tryst contributed to this awkward morning and how he’ll react to this.

Lauren nudges me. “We should go. You have a lot of work to do.”

I nod, tearing my eyes away from Ethan. “Yeah, let’s go.”

As we walk out of the rink, my mind is still on him. The kiss, the morning, the practice—everything is a jumble of emotions and thoughts. I need to sort through it all, but I don’t know where to start.

Ethan is a mystery, one that I’m drawn to unravel. But I have to be careful. I’ve been burned before, and I can’t afford to let my guard down. Not again.

Yet, despite my best efforts, I can’t stop thinking about him. His touch, his kiss, his presence—they’re all imprinted on my mind, and I don’t know how to let them go.

Maybe I don’t want to. Maybe, just maybe, I want to see where this leads, even if it’s a path filled with uncertainty and risk.

Walkinginto the locker room after practice, I feel a mix of excitement and nerves. Lauren flanks one side of me, Jonathan Reid—the team director— the other. The players are waiting, cooling down from their session. The atmosphere is relaxed, filled with the banter and camaraderie of a team that knows each other well.

As we approach, Reid shakes hands with a few players, exchanging jokes about the need for the team to win all through the festive season. There’s an ease to his manner that I admire. He’s got that effortless charm of a man who knows his place and is comfortable in it.

Ethan stands a little apart from the group, his eyes meeting mine. I can almost hear his thoughts:What’s she doing here?His gaze is intense, and I feel a flicker of anxiety.

Reid steps forward, his voice carrying across the rink. “Alright, everyone, gather around. I’d like to introduce you to our new event planner, Holly Bennett. She’s here to help us connect with our fans during the festive season.”

I step forward, feeling the weight of their eyes on me. “Hi, everyone. I’m Holly Bennett, and as Jonathan mentioned, I’m the new event planner. We’re launching a Festive Season Outreach event designed to bring players together with fans from different walks of life.”

There’s a bit of grumbling, some players exchanging skeptical looks. I hurry to assure them. “Don’t worry, this won’t eat into too much of your personal time. Most of you won’t need to appear more than once. Only the top five players as voted by fans will be regulars.”

I glance at my notes, reading out the names. “Ryan Connors, Liam Callahan, Tyler Jenkins, Alex Mason, and Ethan Carter.”

I look up from the list, and my heart sinks at the sight of the cold anger in Ethan’s eyes. He’s furious, and it’s all directed at me. I feel a wave of discomfort, but I push through it, determined to stay professional.

Reid steps back in, clapping his hands. “Alright, folks, you heard Holly. Let’s make this a great festive season for our fans. Ryan, Liam, Tyler, Alex, Ethan—you’re our stars. Make us proud.”

The players disperse, and I feel a hand on my arm. It’s Lauren, giving me a supportive squeeze. “You did great,” she whispers.

“Thanks,” I mumble, my eyes drifting back to Ethan. He’s talking to Ryan, but his gaze flickers to me, and I can see the tension in his posture.

Lauren and I head towards the exit, but I can’t shake the feeling that I need to explain myself to Ethan. “I’ll catch up with you later, Lauren,” I say, turning back towards the rink.

“Good luck,” she calls after me, a knowing smile on her face.

I walk over to where Ethan is standing, and I take a deep breath. “Ethan, can we talk?”

He looks at me, his expression unreadable. “What do you want, Holly?”

“I just wanted to explain?—”

“Explain what?” he cuts me off. “That you’ve decided to drag me into whatever it is you’re doing and make my life even more complicated?”

“It’s not like that,” I protest. “This is important for the team, for the fans.”

“And it has to be me?” he snaps. “There are plenty of other players.”

I take a step closer, lowering my voice. “You’re one of the top players, Ethan. The fans love you. This could be good for you, too.”

He laughs, a harsh sound. “Good for me? You think I care about what the fans want?”

I flinch at his words, feeling the sting of his anger. “I’m just trying to do my job.”

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