Page 24 of Icy Pucking Play

My phone buzzes with a text from him.

Evan:Ryland's first development camp practice is Wednesday. 6 AM. Don't be late.

And another.

Evan:And Sophie? No golf attire necessary.

I'm still staring at my phone, grinning like an idiot, when Brad's head appears over the divider again.

"Good news?"

"He said yes!" I jump up, doing a little dance that is anything but professional but I'm too excited to care. "He actually said yes!"

"The feature? Or did he finally ask you out?"

This time I do throw my stapler at him.

Ten minutes later, I practically bounce into Lexi's office, armed with my notebook and approximately seven different feature outline ideas.

"Someone's in a good mood," she observes, raising an eyebrow.

"Evan Daniels approved the feature." I can't keep the excitement out of my voice. "I can start shadowing Ryland at development camp this week!"

"I know."

That stops me. "You...know?"

"He called me this morning." She leans back in her chair, studying me. "Wanted to make sure we understood his conditions. He was very...specific about certain boundaries."

I sink into the chair across from her desk. “Right."

"He also said something interesting." The corner of her mouth twitches. "Something about you having a unique approach to golf?"

Oh God.

"I can explain…"

"No need." She holds up a hand impatiently. "Whatever you did, it worked. We've been trying to get access to the Daniels family for years. Somehow, you managed it in less than a week."

"I just...treated them like people. Not stories."

Lexi's expression softens. "Keep doing that. Based on what Evan said, that's exactly why he trusts you with this."

He trusts me?

The warmth that spreads through my chest at those words definitely isn't professional.

"Right," I say, trying to focus. "So, about the outline…"

My phone buzzes again. Another text.

Evan:Natalia asks if you're coming to her game Saturday. Says she needs help with her butterfly technique.

I bite my lip to keep from smiling too obviously.

"Something important?" Lexi asks.

"No," I lie, tucking my phone away. "Just...confirming details."

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