Page 6 of My Athlete Neighbor

"Just one game. As a thank you for letting us film tomorrow. I'll even throw in hot chocolate."

She should say no. She had every reason to say no.

But he wasn't Jesse. And this was twice that Kane had helped her out when he didn’t have to.

"One game," she found herself saying. "And I'm holding you to that hot chocolate."

His answering smile was more dazzling than all the glitter crafts combined.

Later, after Oliver and Kane had left, she sat in her storytelling chair and tried to convince her racing heart that she hadn't just made a huge mistake. One hockey game didn't mean anything. She wasn't going to let herself get pulled back into that world.

But maybe, just maybe, not all hockey players were the same.

She was probably going to regret finding out.

Chapter Three

Allison stood before her closet, staring at clothes she suddenly hated. She wasn’t about to wear Jesse’s jersey. Why hadn’t she burned that already? She tossed it on the bed to get rid of later. She certainly wasn’t going to wear her grandfather’s jersey. The game started in two hours, and she was still in her bra and panties. She couldn’t go like that either.

She’d be chilly.

She finally settled on dark jeans, boots, and a cream sweater that somehow made her look both casual and like she'd made an effort. Her phone buzzed as she was debating scarves.

Guest services will have your pass. Section 114. See you after?

Her stomach flipped. After. When he'd be sweaty and triumphant or needed consoling and—

Stop it, she told herself firmly. It's one hockey game. Not a date. Not a relationship. Just supporting a neighbor.

Why was she so nervous then?

She opened the small display box on her dresser. Inside, nestled in faded blue velvet, lay her grandfather's puck. His most famous one—the one that he sank into the net during the 1960 Olympic games.

"For luck, princess," he'd said, pressing it into her hands when she was old enough to take care of it. "Sometimes we all need a little magic."

She'd brought it to every important moment since: graduation, job interviews, first day of work. Not because shebelieved in luck—she didn't, couldn't after Jesse—but because having a piece of her grandfather close made her braver.

Before she could overthink it, she slipped the puck into her coat pocket. Just for comfort. Not luck.

The arena parking lot was already packed when she arrived. She followed clusters of fans wearing Chill jerseys, trying to ignore how familiar it all felt. The sounds, the excitement, the smell of ice and anticipation—it was like stepping into her past.

Guest services had her pass waiting. "You’re Kane’s new squeeze?" the attendant asked, and Allison nearly choked.

"No! We’re neighbors."

The attendant smirked, but thankfully said nothing else as he handed over a VIP pass on a lanyard.

Section 114 turned out to be the family section. Of course it was. A dozen women in varying degrees of team gear occupied the prime seats, along with a few older couples she assumed were parents.

"You must be Allison." A petite brunette waved her over. "Kane said you were coming. I'm Pauline, Liam's sister. Come sit with us."

Allison found herself wedged between Pauline and a statuesque woman introduced as "Sofia, Dmitri's cousin" who was apparently visiting from New York. Others turned to study her with friendly, but assessing looks.

The puck felt heavy in her pocket as the teams took the ice for warmups. She spotted Kane immediately, powerful and graceful as he moved through drills. He glanced toward their section, and her heart definitely didn't skip when he raised his stick slightly in greeting.

"First hockey game?" someone asked kindly.

"No, I..." Allison bit her lip. "I grew up with it."

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