Page 72 of Hat Trick Holidate

“How long you been here?”

“A couple of hours.”

“What should I do?” he asks.

I look to Mario, who says, “Hold the pole while I pour in the concrete. Make sure the bubble on the level stays in the middle.”

Roman raises his brows and makes a funny face reminding me of his sister. He’ll be fine. He’ll be happy. I’ll manifest it.

“Level?” Mario asks.

“Sure is,” Roman says, filled with pride.

The three of us work around the perimeter of the yard until the poles are set, and the concrete hardens around them.

“Wanna ride to practice? Then we can come back after and put the finishing touches on the house,” I ask Roman.

“No, my date from the dating app is tonight. I hope it pairs me better than it did Emmaline. Because I’m in dire need of some fucking sparks.” He shakes his head, laughing.

There were plenty was an inferno.

During practice, I explain to Lykins, “When Cross makes this move, he wants you to lag behind. He’ll usually do a nolook pass when the defense collapses.” Lykins nods in agreement as he sucks down water. He’s not as fast of a skater as Cross and Rustavelli, and it’s taking its toll. We stay. The four of us stay for an extra hour so I can direct him, and they can get the feel of working together on the ice.

As they come in, and we head into the locker room, Lykins goes in first. Rustavelli slaps my back. “Thanks for helping. Maybe you’re not so bad after all.”

“It’s my team,” I say, trying to be an asshole, but it comes out soft.

My teammate wanders off to his corner of the locker room. Reed says, “Are you pregnant? You’re absolutely glowing.”

“Shut the fuck up, Cross.”

He gives me a knowing smile, and I’m hesitant to confide in him, not because I don’t trust him. I just don’t want to jinx it. She plans on telling her brother and parents tomorrow about our relationship.

I push him against the lockers, playing around, and whisper, “Rusti’s mine… shh.”

Reed pulls us into the small room of towels. “Brooke and I knew it. Dane and Lettie knew it. You honestly don’t think Rustavelli suspects you’re sleeping with his sister? Especially since you’re transforming her house.”

“He has a date tonight, so I think his attention is elsewhere. But she promises she’ll tell on Thanksgiving.”

“Are you going to be there when she tells him?” he asks.

I lift my shoulders. “I don’t know. I’ll ask her tonight.”

chapter 31

EMMALINE

“Where are we going?”I ask as he pulls the new Atlanta Jets knit cap down over my eyes.

“Don’t peek. Jolie, that means you too,” he commands.

The fabric envelops my face, blocking out any hint of where we are, but the cold, crisp air and the familiar scent of pine trees gives our destination away. When our steps carry us closer, he says, “Okay, open your eyes.”

My eyes widen in amazement. “Whoa,” comes from Jolie’s lips. A sign reads:

Jimbo’s Christmas Tree Palace

Rows upon rows of beautiful fir and pine trees stretch out before me. The bright green tops of the trees contrast against the fake white snow covering the ground, making it look like a Hallmark movie.

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