Page 16 of Pucking Secret

“Yeah, I’m good,” I say, doing my best to keep my voice calm and even. “Just tired today. I’ll take care of the newbie.”

“All right,” Janet says, apparently satisfied with my response. “I’ll leave you to it, then. You can take off when you’re done with him and leave the rest of the notes for tomorrow.”

“Great. Thanks, Janet.”

“Welcome to the Night Hawks,” Janet tells Owen before disappearing back into her office.

When we’re alone again, I look back at Owen. His lips curl into a warm, familiar smile. Fuck, he’s still so handsome… it’s not fair. Why couldn’t he have gotten out of shape and lost all his hair?

“Hey,” he says, “I can’t believe?—”

“So, Mr. Scott,” I cut him off. If I just pretend I don’t know him, maybe he’ll do the same. Crazy plan? Absolutely, but my brain is short-circuiting. I just have to get out of here as quickly as possible.“I have some paperwork for you to fill out.” I hold up an ipad and wave it in the air without meeting his gaze.

“Okay?”

“Once you do, leave it on the desk and I’ll schedule your PT physical and review for later this week. Unfortunately, I just remembered I have an appointment of my own that I really need to get to. If you have any questions, just leave the section blank, and we’ll go over it during your review.”

Still not meeting his eyes, I grab my jacket and hurry around the desk and hand him the papers as I rush past him.

“Welcome to the team!” I call as I rush out the door.

“Stacey, wait,” he calls after me, but I don’t stop and I don’t look back.

Shit, shit, shit! This can’t be happening right now. What the hell am I going to do? Of all the teams in the league, he just had to show up here.

I make my way toward the bathrooms and spot Millie as she’s coming out of the girls’ door. She smiles. My stomach clenches. I have to keep Millie away from him. What if she meets him, loves him, and he leaves her like he left me? I can’t let her go through something that devastating.

“Mommy! I just saw?—”

“Sorry, sweetheart, something’s come up,” I say, reaching down and grabbing her hand. “We need to get going.”

Millie frowns. “But you promised I could skate!”

“I’m sorry, baby, not today. Next time.” My voice sounds tense and breathless in my ears, and I’m struggling not to alarm her.

She pouts. “But you said?—”

“Honey, I know. I’ll make it up to you, I promise, but we just can’t today.”

Millie huffs. I do my best to keep my cool until we get to the car, and it’s less than a minute before I’ve gotten her in her booster seat. Only when I’m behind the wheel do I notice the sweat running down my back. I quickly dial Grace’s number as I fight to catch my breath.

She answers after the first ring.

“Stace!”

“Grace!” I exclaim. “Owen…”

“I saw him,” she says. “ I’m with Jensen right now. I’ll cancel the plans with the others tonight and come over.”

I glance up at the rearview mirror and watch Millie. She’s still pouting, but she’s not making a fuss. My heart feels like it’s going to burst. She’s my whole world. If I lose her, I’ll be devastated. We have such a good life here—I’ve worked so hard for both of us, and I can’t let Owen come in and crush everything I’ve done.

Realizing I don’t want to upset her with any of this, I tell Grace, “How about you come later? Around bedtime?”

There’s a beat of silence, and then Grace replies, “Yes, of course! Right. I’ll swing by later.”

“Thanks. Talk soon.” I sigh, hang up the call, and look back in the rearview mirror at Millie. “Hey, kiddo. How about some ice cream on the way home?”

Her eyes immediately light up, and all trace of her bad mood vanishes. “Okay!”

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