Page 77 of Pucked and Pregnant

“I should have known she’d tell you about that.” He sighs and shakes his head. “I guess I should just be grateful she kept it to our group and didn’t use it as a fun fact in an interview.”

The word Vegas immediately slingshots a hard lump of guilt into my throat. That was the point when I started lying to him, and I haven’t stopped since.

Even so, I laugh along with them. The last thing I need is him asking if I’m okay, emotion taking over, and the whole story spilling out.

Before they make it all the way out the door, Max turns back to look at me. “You need anything at all, just let me know, and I’ll be right there.”

The guilt lump has become a boulder and all I can do is give him a quick nod.

As soon as I lose sight of them, I whip out my phone and text Liv.

I’d say the day’s gone to hell, but I started there this morning. I don’t want to be by myself. Can I stay at your place tonight?

21

LIV

Ilove doing the TV shows. There’s a strict time limit, everyone I work with is extremely professional, and there isn’t a horde of reporters screaming at me.

I’ve always liked having the guest spot on the local sports channels but doing it in the pros is a whole other level.

Everyone I’ve worked with has been not only charismatic but also smart enough to make me feel challenged. It also makes me feel motivated to push myself in ways I never have before.

The very best part is that I usually finish the TV spot before my men are done with their interviews or meet and greets. That gives me time to get home and scrub the stadium grit off before they come over.

So, when my phone chirps with the custom notification for our message thread, I’m so surprised that I stop dead in my tracks.

I know standing in the middle of a news station parking lot is the absolute worst place to read a private text, but I’m too worried to care.

They were all fine at the end of the game, was there some kind of accident after? My hands are shaking as I unlock my phone.

I’d say the day’s gone to hell, but I started there this morning. I don’t want to be by myself. Can I stay at your place tonight?

Ever since we were kids, Connor has been Mr. Grin and Bear it. The fact that he’s being this vulnerable only deepens my concern.

Absolutely. I’m on my way home right now. I’ll meet you there.

Do you need me to stop and get anything for you?

No,Connor replies.You’re more than enough :)

I wonder if he’ll still feel that way once he finds out what I’m hiding from him.

Of course he won’t. The fallout from this is going to be catastrophic no matter what I do. That’s precisely why I have to take what I can get as long as I can get it.

You know, I’m starting to see why some of the men back in Minnesota called you a cold-hearted bitch, the nasty voice in my head says.

I shove that thought back into the dark corners of my mind with the rest of my morals. Right now I need to focus on Connor.

I don’t know if it’s luck, a miracle, or my penchant for speeding, but somehow, I manage to get to my apartment before him.

Made it home. Feeling pretty grimy so I’m going to hop in the shower really quick. Feel free to let yourself in.I pause, then type,Oh, and there were a couple of paparazzi when I got here so use the building’s back entrance.

He doesn’t respond but I don’t expect him to. He’s probably stuck in some stadium traffic, yet another reason I love the TV guest spots. I never run into traffic there.

I grab some comfortable pjs and pop them on the ledge of the sink for when I’m done. Then I hop into a shower so hot it could steam a lobster.

By the time I come out, my skin is slightly pink and I’m feeling a little dizzy.

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