Page 21 of Icy Pucking Play

Because Sophie Bennett doesn't just want to tell Ryland's story.

She's starting to make me want to tell her mine.

Chapter 7

Sophie

There are exactly twenty-two pens in the cup holder on my desk. Ten are black and twelve are blue.

I know this because I've counted them approximately eighteen times since arriving at work this morning, trying to convince myself that the lack of communication from Evan Daniels over the weekend doesn't mean what I think it means.

"You're doing it again," Brad calls over the divider.

"Doing what?"

"That thing where you exhale dramatically every thirty seconds. Some of us are trying to work here."

"I do not sigh dramatically," I say, dramatically sighing.

"Right." His head pops up over the wall, grinning. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain grumpy goalie, would it?"

I throw a paper clip at him. "Don't you have scores to tabulate or something?"

"Already done. Which means I have plenty of time to analyze your love life."

"It's not…" I lower my voice, glancing around the office. "It's not my love life. It's work. Professional. Completely professional."

"Sure." He drawls. "That's why you've been stress-eating those awful protein bars he always eats."

I quickly shove said protein bar into my drawer. "They're good for you."

"They taste like sweetened cardboard."

"The chocolate ones aren't bad."

"The chocolate ones are his favorite." Brad's grin widens. "Just like that hoodie you're wearing is from your Blades internship days, and that coffee mug is the one he bought for all the office staff last Christmas, and…"

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

"Nope. This is much more entertaining than fact-checking baseball statistics."

I consider throwing my stapler at him but am saved by my phone buzzing. For one heart-stopping moment, I think it might be Evan.

It's not. It's Cynthia.

Cyn:Still nothing?

Me:Nothing. Zero. Nada. Pretty sure Saturday ruined everything.

Cyn:Drama queen. Call him.

Me:What? No! I can't call him!

Cyn:Why not?

Me:Because...reasons.

Her response is immediate.

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