Page 54 of Pucking my Enemy Boss

Lauren’s eyes go wide as I choke on my own spit. “Mom.Pleasetell me you’re talking about yoga.”

“Oh no, sweetheart, nothing like that. You should’ve seen your father and I attempting the?—”

“Mom!” My voice shoots up an octave as I throw a hand over my face, trying to block out whatever horrifying image she’s painting. “Oversharing! So much oversharing.”

She laughs, completely oblivious. “Oh, you’re such a prude. Anyway, how’s life in Chicago? How’s thathandsomehousemate of yours? Is something going on there?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks as Lauren gives me a look that says,oh, now I’m listening. “Mom, seriously, I’m not talking about this right now. I’m meeting friends.”

“Fine, fine,” she sighs dramatically. “Call me back later, and we’ll talk about your ...situation.”

Sighing, I end the call, letting my forehead drop to the table in defeat. Lauren bursts into laughter. “Your mom is something else.”

“You have no idea,” I mutter, looking up with a dramatic sigh.

Lauren leans back, grinning. “So, let me guess—yoursituationis about a certain brooding hockey player?”

“Oh, come on. Like you don’t already know,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“Well, I haven’t seen much of you lately,” Lauren teases. “Guess you’ve been busy.”

I grin, shaking my head. “Yeah, well, you’ve got it easier. You have Mia.”

Lauren’s eyes dart to the counter where Mia, her sister, is currently fending off Liam Callahan, who’s leaning over with a grin that’s about as smooth as melted butter. “Oh yeah, super easy. You think Mia’s been easy since she turned fifteen and started getting hit on by every guy in Chicago?”

I laugh as Mia shoots a glare at her sister and stalks over to our table. “Are you two laughing at me?”

Lauren smirks. “Of course.”

Mia rolls her eyes but doesn’t look surprised. “Well, if you’re done gossiping about my tragic love life, can we talk about the fact thatyouhave something going on with Ryan Connors?”

Lauren nearly chokes on her coffee. “Absolutely not. Ryan is a child in a man’s body.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” Mia leans in, eyes narrowing with a knowing smile. “Deny it all you want, but I see the way he looks at you.”

Lauren groans, muttering something about needing a new sister while Mia laughs, enjoying every second of it. I watch them go back and forth, amusement tugging at the corners of my mouth, but my mind keeps wandering back to Ethan. The way he looked at me this morning. The way he kissed me, like he couldn’t get enough.

“So, Holly,” Mia says, pulling me out of my thoughts. “What about you? Anything happening with Mr. Ice King?”

Both sisters turn to me, eyes sharp with curiosity.

I bite my lip, feeling the blush creeping up my cheeks. “Maybe something’s happening.”

Lauren’s eyes light up. “Oh, spill. How serious are we talking?”

“Serious enough that I ... don’t really know what’s happening,” I admit with a sheepish grin.

Mia looks skeptical, her arms crossed. “Just be careful, okay? Ethan doesn’t exactly have a reputation for opening up to people.”

Lauren nods in agreement, though there’s more softness in her gaze. “Yeah. He’s not an easy one, Holly. But I get the sense that he’s trying. Just take it slow.”

“Slow,” I echo, though internally, things feel like they’re moving at lightning speed. Ethan’s been breaking down his walls, and every time he does, I fall a little harder. But can we keep this up? Can we really figure out how to make it work?

I’m not sure. But I’m willing to try.

17

ETHAN

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