Page 102 of His Jersey

“Did you say monster in law?”

We both laugh again.

Jack’s phone beeps and his expression quickly falls and gets serious. Mine beeps, too, but it’s across the room. I get up and see that it’s a message from Leah.

Leah: Did you see the video yet?

Me: Yeah. You showed me, remember? I saw it on repeat, along with the rest of the world.

The video of Jack at the club didn’t go viral, but it was picked up by a hockey news site and my name was mentioned. Charity texted me, asking me what was going on. Tiana followed up with numerous links—all the ones I’ve avoided that crowned me “Puck Princess.”

Leah said to embrace it. I don’t know what I want other than an explanation and to be told that what I saw was from last year or something. My phone beeps again while Jack types on his.

Leah: No, the other one is from my brother.

Me: Just answer this question. Have heart-eyes made me blind to some major red flags or is this Jack’s redemption moment?

Leah: HEA all the way!

Leah introduced me to Gracie, who owns the Once Upon a Romance bookstore. In addition to hockey lingo, I was also cordially invited to join them and received a glossary of terms, including HEA, or happily ever after. Along with TBR, OTP, and others.

Plus, we have a puppy, er, dog. No one is really sure how old Bark Wahlburger is. Sometimes, he has the energy of a puppy. Others, he sleeps like a senior. Then again, I’m a fan of naps, too.

Jack says, “I didn’t really want to revisit this because I was telling the truth when I said nothing happened, but if you’re on the fence, maybe you should see this.”

“Is it from Carlos?”

He nods and passes me his phone.

I watch a grainy video much like the other one but from a different angle that shows Jack in the club, looking slightly bewildered. Two women approach him. In the other one, it loops back to leave what happened next to the viewer’s imagination. Jack’s reputation doesn’t do him any favors in that department because one would conclude that he hooked up with the gorgeous blonde or the brunette.

But in the video I’m watching now, his expression pinches, he feints to one side like he’s trying to fake out an oncoming hockey player, and then dodges to the other side before rushing away.

The audio is a cacophony of club music and chatter. However, amidst the din, I hear a female say, “Follow him.” Then, the frame goes dark.

“I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“I’m sorry that I didn’t stay home with you. I wanted to show the Knights that I’m a team player and attend theirevents. Should’ve known the second I walked into the club. That’s not Knights’s style. Aston set me up.”

“Leah is already thinking of a revenge plot.”

Jack laughs. “While I appreciate that. I think Aston will be her own demise.”

“I won’t try to stop her.”

“Carlos could have a second career as a private investigator. He’s a good man. A good friend.”

“Leah, too.”

“I hope she stops chasing hockey players and finds a decent guy to settle down with.”

I poke Jack in the ribs. “There are some decent ones.”

“Only one, I hope.”

I laugh. “She showed me around town earlier. I met some locals. She was a big help when we went house hunting.”

“Which one did you pick?”

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