Page 23 of Icy Pucking Play

Oh God. Here it comes. The “let's keep things professional” speech. The “you're not right for this assignment” letdown. The…

"I've been thinking about our conversation about the feature."

I brace myself. "Look, I understand if you don't want me to…"

"I'm saying yes."

"…do it, and I completely respect your...wait, what?"

"I'm saying yes," he repeats, and is that amusement in his voice? "With conditions."

I scramble for one of my twenty-two pens, nearly knocking over my coffee in the process. "Of course! Whatever you want! I mean...what conditions?"

"First, anything involving Natalia has to go through me. No exceptions."

"Absolutely." I'm nodding even though he can't see me. "Family first, always."

"Second, the divorce is off limits. Completely."

"Of course."

"Third..." He pauses. "No more pretending to know sports you don't actually know."

I feel my face heat up. "That was...I was just trying to…"

"I know what you were trying to do." His voice softens slightly. "Just be yourself, Sophie. That's...that's enough."

Oh.

Oh-kay…

I'm definitely not getting emotional over that. Nope. Not at all.

"One more thing," he adds, voice turning serious again. "If you exploit this, if you turn this into some tabloid story about my family..."

"I won't." The words come out fierce, certain. "I promise, Evan. This is about Ryland. About showing kids that with the right support system, they can chase their dreams. That's all."

Another pause. Then, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay." I hear voices in the background, then what sounds like a locker room door closing. "Practice is starting. I'll have my lawyer send over the paperwork."

"Right. Yes. Paperwork. Good."

"And Sophie?"

"Yeah?"

"Try not to walk into any more men's rooms anytime soon."

He hangs up before I can sputter out a response, leaving me staring at my phone in disbelief.

Did he just...make a joke?

Did Evan "Ice Man" Daniels actually tease me?

And did he really say yes to the feature?

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