Page 55 of Play the Game

I turn and head for the stairs to get away from her. I thought I enjoyed irritating her the most, but there’s something highly addicting about her obeying me with those pretty, doe-like eyes.

Here goes nothing.

Blood flies to my fingertips and the icy rink air cools my already sweaty skin. In reality, the crowd is loud and rowdy, but when I’m standing in front of the goal, I hear nothing but my own heartbeat.

I’m laser-focused.

As always.

Until I happen to look up at the jumbo screen in the middle of the arena and see Scottie’s face in the center. At that exact moment, the sounds of the arena come swooping in, and I grip my stick tighter.

The announcer’s voice echoes throughout my helmet, and my pulse races. It’s absurd how my life is such a concern in the hockey world. Fans quiet down to hear, because apparently my love life is more exciting than the game we’re about to play.

My agent says that being the talk of the hockey community is a good thing, and my recent marriage and exposure to my private life will make me more desirable to other teams because it’ll bring in more revenue, but it’s still irritating.

Never mind my stats.

Let’s chat about the ring on my finger and my pretty wife in the stands, wearing my number on her back. I won’t tell her, but she wears my jersey well.

The only good thing that’s coming out of this is that the media is talking about the photo of Scottie and me almostkissing on social media instead of the recent allegations placed against me that can’t possibly be true because I’mmarried.

I shake my head and give the okay to my teammates, who start flinging pucks at me from left and right. With each block, I start to focus a little more and stop thinking about what Scottie is talking about while she sits with the other wives.

I’m not worried about her fitting in or playing the part.

I’ve seen her turn it on and off before. She’s climbed on top of a stage in sky-high heels and a red wig. It only took spending a few minutes with her to know that the Cherry personawas just a ploy.

Just like her Mrs. Olson persona.

When the game is about to start and the warm-up music dies down, I allow myself one quick glance at her in the box off to the left of the rink. Our eyes catch, and the smile she throws me is so believable I almost find myself falling for it too.

I send her a quick wink, just in case other people are watching us, and then get in the zone.

My new wife is watching.

I might as well play a damn good game.

Twenty-Five

SCOTTIE

“So,tell us! How did you and Emory meet? We had no idea he was even in a relationship until that photo popped up.”

Angela, the one with bright-red hair and cute freckles leans into the conversation. “The group chat was blowing up.”

Hattie nods, and her freshly blown-out hair moves with her. “It’s true. When there’s a new girl on the block, we have to converse.” She laughs, and I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing that they had an entire group chat about me.

“Well…” I tuck my hair behind my ear nervously.

Her hand falls to my arm. “Don’t worry! It was nothing bad! We just wanted to invite you to hang out with us. We tend to stick together. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but it’s kind of hard to be one of the wives, especially when kids are involved.”

We both look over to the squawking baby refusing to sleep in the back corner of the box. There’s a couple of the wives over there, trying to help the mom who looks beyond tired yet still as pretty as ever.

They all seem nice so far. Welcoming, even.

Which is a change from any other time I’ve ever found myself in the middle of a group of women. I didn’t fit in with the popular girls in high school. No one wanted to be friends with the poorgirl who was more into the school’s hockey game versus the way the boys stretched on the ice.

I glance out the glass to see if the game has started, because the one thing I don’t have to fake tonight is my love for the sport. “When Emory and I reconnected, we decided to keep our relationship private. But after the media continued to run with any rumor that popped up, we decided it was time to settle the score and put an end to it.” I smile softly. “We weren’t together when he was in college, but we got back in touch shortly after he graduated.”

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