Page 3 of My Athlete Neighbor

“Vicky?” Allison had a glimmer of hope. “Is that his wife?”

“No, it’s their coach. Give me a minute and I can make arrangements.”

“No, don’t.”

But he had already hung up.

Allison poked her head out of the kitchen to see a woman do a double take at her phone and pick it up. “Mikey?”

Vicky, she assumed, looked up and stared at Allison with wide eyes. “Yeah, there’s nothing to worry about,” she said into the phone.

Allison tugged on Kane’s shirt.

"Thank you," she said. "I appreciate the offer to stay here."

His smile warmed his whole face, and Allison had the sinking feeling she'd just stepped onto very thin ice.

Chapter Two

The gleeful sounds of kids enjoying the library on a snow day filled the children's section as Allison arranged books on the display table. Early morning light filtered through the library's tall windows, casting warm rectangles on the worn carpet where twenty preschoolers would sit this afternoon for story time.

She adjusted the position ofThe Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats, centering it perfectly among other winter-themed picture books. The reading circle still needed more pillows, and she had to finish packing the goodie bags and the craft supplies for tomorrow’s Winter Reading Kickoff, but everything was coming together. One week into her new job, and she was finally finding her rhythm.

Well, at work anyway. At home was complicated.

Her cheeks warmed as she remembered waking up in Kane's guest room the morning after the power outage. He'd already left for practice, but there'd been coffee waiting and a post-it note with his phone number "in case of future weather emergencies." She'd been dodging him in the hallways ever since.

She pulled out her planning notebook, settling in at the child-sized table that made her feel like a giant. The Winter Reading Challenge needed a theme. Something about woodland creatures maybe? She could do paper bag puppet crafts, use stuffed animals as reading buddies...

Her phone buzzed. Probably her assistant confirming today's schedule.

Instead, Instagram notifications filled her screen. She'd been tagged in multiple posts.

Congratulations to hockey's favorite cheater! #JesseAndVanessa #SheSaidYes

The phone slipped from suddenly numb fingers.

She was suddenly back in Boston, eight months ago.

"You're being paranoid." Jesse's laugh had that edge to it, the one that made her feel small and silly. "Vanessa's just a fan. She runs my social media accounts."

"A fan who's posting couple photos with you?" Allison had stared at the images flooding her feed. Jesse at restaurants with a stunning blonde. Jesse at charity events with the same woman. Always tagged as "work meetings" but looking awfully cozy.

"It's about engagement numbers. You know how it is." He had reached for her hand across the restaurant table. "Come on, baby. Would I really risk what we have? Your grandfather's been amazing, getting me those connections with the Bruins' management. And you're... you're everything to me."

She'd believed him. Right up until Vanessa posted the truth three weeks later.

Since so many of you have been asking... Yes, Jesse and I are together! Have been for months! Sorry not sorry! #TheHeartWants #CantFightLove

The comments had been brutal.

Isn't he dating Michael Warrant's granddaughter?

Always thought she seemed stuck up. Team Vanessa!

Guess we know how he really got his contract.

"Allison? Are you okay?"

---