Page 38 of Fool Me Once

“All right,” he whispers gruffly. “Regardless, I’d still like you to go to the game tonight. I promise that you’ll be safe. I’ll have one of the Sharks security guards sit close, and you’ll be with Kolt’s wife, Paige.”

I frown, rearing my head back. “I don’t even know Paige. I talked to her for, like, point-five seconds at Friendsgiving. Why would I go with her?”

“Because she’s nice and I trust her with you,” he says evenly. “If you are really uncomfortable with going to a game, I’ll drop it, and I won’t ask again. But I’d love to look up in the stands and see you there …” He pauses. “As my friend, of course.”

I’m not sure why he cares if I go to his game or not. Maybe he’s worried about me being home alone late at night. Perhaps he just feels bad and wants me to be included.

Maybe he cares more than I’m giving him credit for.

Whatever it is, something inside of me tells me to just give him this. To go, put a hat on to make myself more comfortable, sit in the stands with a chick I don’t know, and watch some hockey.

Tossing my head upward, I sigh dramatically before looking back at him. “Fine, I’ll go,” I grumble before raising my eyebrows. “But I’m not wearing your jersey. That’s pushing it.”

He grins, seeming more than impressed with my answer, and throws his arms around me. Even though I want to melt into him, my body stiffens like a board as a defense mechanism, and he chuckles.

“Just a friendly hug, Gem. Don’t lose your shit on me.”

After a few seconds, my body involuntarily relaxes, and I can’t fight my nose from breathing him in. A calmness washes over me that I haven’t felt in quite some time, and when he releases me, I try not to show that I’m disappointed.

Smith has the ability to make me lose myself, but I can’t do that. Not this time.

“I have to be at the arena early, but Kolt texted me and said that Paige would be riding in with him, so we figured you two could hang out a bit before the game.” He sounds nervous at the end of his words. “I promise, she’s really nice. I mean, shit, she puts up with Kolt’s ass.”

“Your sister said they separated or something?” I say, raising a curious brow.

“They did for a while, but they’re good now,” he answers nonchalantly, like it’s no big deal. “If anyone didn’t need to take a break from Kolburne, I’d be suspicious of them.”

“I kind of assumed you two were the closest, seeing as how you’re both covered in tattoos and all.” I plop myself on the edge of my bed, and Storm instantly leaps up beside me.

“I’m close with almost all the guys, but Ryder is my best friend.” He grins. “That dude is like a brother to me.”

“Nice.” I bob my head, fighting back a smirk.

It feels good to know something that Smith doesn’t know, and if I didn’t love my best friend more than any other human being in the world, I’d probably throw her under the bus for having a secret history with Ryder. History that, somehow, Smith has no idea about. Then again, after she dated one of Smith’s past teammates and it ended ugly, she told me Smith banned any other teammates from going near her, moving forward. I can’t really blame him because what that douchebag did to her was disgusting and caused her so much pain.

“Well, I guess I’ll leave you and my traitorous dog alone,” Smith says. “Let me know when you want lunch.”

“You cook now?” I’m surprised; it’s been five days since I moved in here, but we’ve DoorDashed almost every meal, and I’ve cooked a few.

“Yeah. It’s called grilled cheese.” He laughs before his expression grows more serious. “Hey, on the drive home, I was thinking … if you ever want meto take you down to that beach so that you can hunt for sea glass, I will anytime. I know the weather’s been kind of shitty, but it wouldn’t be too bad on a warm day.”

At the mention of sea glass, I freeze up. When I was a kid, sea glass was something my mom and I collected together. It was calming for me after a long school day. But now, I just think of all those pieces that were thrown at me, pelting my body and my face like pieces of hail. It’s just another memory that Richie ruined for me. Another joy … ruined.

“Thanks,” I say quietly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As if sensing it’s a tough subject, he presses his palms together and nods. “All right, let me know if you want my world-class grilled cheese.” He smiles before walking out of the room.

I don’t owe him every single detail of what’s happened in my life. Then again, sometimes, I feel like it would be so nice to just let it all out.

Flopping back on the bed, I sigh. Because on another note …

I guess I’m going to a hockey game tonight.

I’ll hand it to Smith; Paige is really nice. I guess I already knew that from Friendsgiving because Saylor told me she was, but now, I know even more that she’s someone I want to be friends with. She’s not only sweet, but she’s real.

Her friend and another player’s wife, Poppy, is also sitting with us. She and her pregnant belly are adorable, but what I love most is that she has the mouth of a pirate. I understand why Saylor has told me in the past that she likes her.

My mouth is bad, but Saylor’s is way worse. And Poppy’s? A whole other level.

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