Page 71 of The Pucking Player

I brush my thumb across her bottom lip. “Maybe that would be a good thing.”

Her breath catches. “Liam...”

“We need to tell him, Sophie. I don’t want to keep sneaking around like this. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”

“Everyone thinks that already.”

“Includingyour father.”

She sets down her coffee, her eyes serious. “He’s going to lose his mind.”

“Probably.” I pull her into my lap. “But you’re worth it.”

She snuggles closer, and for a moment I allow myself to forget about everything else. The upcoming road trip. Coach’s murder plots. The fact that I need to be at the airport by two for our flight to LA.

“What time do you head out?” she asks, like she’s reading my mind.

“Team bus leaves at one.” I check my watch. “Three games in California. Kings, Sharks, Ducks.”

“That’s a lot of travel.”

“That’s hockey.” I press a kiss to her temple. “But I’ll have my good luck charm, won’t I?”

She pulls back, eyebrows raised. “Your good luck charm?”

I tug on the T-shirt she’s pulled on. “This. Though it would look way better on the floor.”

“Good try, O’Connor.” She peels off her shirt, and to my utter disappointment, quickly snatches another one from her drawer.

I sprawl across her bed, watching her gather her books, already missing her. The discarded T-shirt still warm in my hands. “You sure you don’t want to skip class and come to California?”

“Right. Because that wouldn’t make my dad suspicious.” She shoulders her backpack. “Me suddenly showing up at away games. In the middle of my finals?” She leans down to kiss me, quick and soft. “Win your games, superstar. I’ll be watching.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Grabbing the coffee and smoothie from the nightstand, she flashes me that smile that makes me forget how to breathe. “Thanks for breakfast.”

She pauses at the door. “Take your time leaving. Jenna’s at the lab with me until eleven.” Another grin. “And Liam?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t let the Kings’ defense push you around. Your girlfriend’s got money on this game.”

I bring the shirt to my face after she leaves, breathing in her lingering scent.

Girlfriend.

Three days in California suddenly feels like an eternity.

26

MOBSTERS AND MEDITATION CUSHIONS

LIAM

The California road trip was exactly what I needed—three games in four nights to keep my mind off Sophie. Or at least try to. Kind of hard when every coffee shop seems to have oat milk cappuccinos on their menu. Even managed to score twice against the Kings, breaking out my new “heart” celly that had the guys chirping me for days. What can I say? Sometimes you just gotta give the fans what they want.

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