Page 62 of Faking the Face Off

Jimmy stops, looking up to the heavens before he turns around like a petulant child. “What, Ben? What.”

When Ben goes to step up, I take my hand from Anna’s and hold up a finger to Ben. “I’ve got this.”

I take my time sauntering up to Jimmy, watching him cringe with each step.

“Now that the whole team knows you’ve been skimming off the top for the last year, we’ve also made a pact.” I bend down so I’m as close I can be to his face without actually touching him. Look, I like using my big old brute-iness on the ice, not so much off…but this? This is a good cause.

Sutton pulls out another document and hands it to me. “This paper has a breakdown on it of all the money you owe theplayers. We want every penny of it back. Each cent. And it’s to go to Danny Denault.”

A gasp of surprise behind me comes from Anna. I look back over my shoulder at her and grin. “It was an easy ask, trust me. The guys are more than happy to do it for your dad.”

When I look back at Jimmy, he’s not even attempting eye contact with us now, his eyes searching for Lara and the car.

“So?” I poke him in his chest. I can’t resist. I won’t hit him. I want to, but I won’t. Anna asked me not to when we got here. “Do you agree?”

Jimmy looks around at everything and anyone but us before he finally nods his head. “Fine. I agree.”

“The money will be in Danny’s account by Monday morning?” I press.

Jimmy’s eyes widen. “It’s a lot of money to move in a few days…” he starts to protest, but when I treat him to my best scowl, I love it when he nods quickly.

“Okay, it’ll be there by end of day Monday.”

“We have your word?”

Behind me, Anna waves the phone in the air.

“Yes,” he barks as his car pulls up and Lara calls his name. “You have my word.”

He tosses one final glare his sister’s way before he disappears into the back of his black town car and is gone.

“Well, that was exciting,” Molly says as Ben claps me on the back and Anna cheers. “I feel like we were stuck in an episode ofSuccessionfor a second.”

Sutton laughs. “I’m so sorry, y’all. It’s gonna be different from here on out.”

“I can’t believe the guys all agreed to do that for Dad,” Anna whispers beside me.

I turn to face her, thankful she’s here by my side. “Danny’s an unsung hero at the arena. He keeps the ice looking good.”

As I wrap an arm around Anna, ready to take my date inside and dance the night away, a beep escapes her purse, signaling a text. She grabs her phone and glances at the screen, her lips tight as she looks back up at me.

“I’m sorry, Ollie,” she groans. “I need to go.” She looks at me sadly.

“Is it your dad?”

“Kind of.” She stands on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “You go inside and have fun. We’ll talk later, okay?”

“Okay.” I search her eyes for something more, but she does a good job of avoiding me. I feel like there’s more here, but I’m going to do what I’ve always done with Anna and take her at her word. If she needs to tap out for any reason, I’m gonna respect her boundaries.

Using my forefinger, I tilt her chin to bring her lips to meet mine and lay the gentlest of kisses on her mouth. “I’ll call you later?”

After she nods, I walk to the valet and hand over my ticket, asking the driver to get her home. I watch as she pulls away, questioning the sudden change of heart, but also having to trust. It’s been an exercise in that for the past few weeks, so what’s another night?

“She’s the best, isn’t she?”

When I turn to look, Molly’s joined me at the valet.

“She is,” I say with a sigh. “It’s crazy to think I fell in love with one of my best friends.”

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