Page 141 of The Girlfriend Zone

Sabrina glides onto the ice with an effortless grace, her skating style both fun and athletic. She tosses T-shirts into the crowd, her spins and axels breathtaking, her energy infectious. It’s hard to look away from her, and I’m pretty sure no one does.

When the game ends, I meet Everly near the locker room to snap a shot of Sabrina with some of the guys on the team.

Including Miles’s brother, who seems determined to get in the shot. Or at least on saying hello. Maybe he noticed her at the end of intermission, skating off the ice? I bet he did.

“Wow,” Tyler says, stepping into the corridor as Sabrina approaches. His tone is casual, but there’s a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. Maybe intrigue. “You were amazing.”

Whoa. Did Tyler just single out her figure-skating moves?

Sabrina smiles at him. “Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”

“I do my best,” he says dryly.

Everly must notice their interaction since her eyes light up. “Why don’t we take a picture of you two on the ice?”

Tyler fights off a smile, offering a stoic, “Sure.”

She guides them back down the tunnel, and I follow. Once there, I snap their photo, and the way he wraps an arm around Sabrina tells me everything I need to know. The dude has a serious crush.

But the glint of a ring on her finger reminds me that Tyler’s crush might be real, but it’s going nowhere.

Later, at Miles’s house, I show him the photo of the two. “I think your brother has it bad for the taken figure skater.”

Miles studies it, a smirk shifting his lips. “Yeah, that’s definitely a crush. Better luck next time, little brother,” he says with a chuckle.

Then he pulls me in for a kiss—one that’s interrupted by my phone buzzing.

I grab it and check the screen. My dad. He’s sent a picture of Riley and me—from his digital frame. In it, we’re holding mugs at a diner. It’s from a couple years ago.BeforeI started lying to him, only he has no idea that’s how I’m marking time. My stomach drops as I read his note.

This was fun! We should grab breakfast again soon. I’ve been slammed with college stuff. What are you up to tonight?

My face burns with guilt as I type back a lie.Just editing photos.

The truth presses at the edges of my thoughts, demanding its release. I wish I didn’t have to lie—but I’m not ready for the conversation that comes with the truth.

Not yet. But maybe with a little more time.

42

MORNING TEA

Leighton

“It would be silly to think it would never come up,” I say, for what feels like the tenth time the next morning as I rush around Miles’s place, grabbing my things so I can get to the arena. Am I supposed to get there before him today? Or after?

“Right, but still, I wish you didn’t feel this way,” he says, watching me as I yank open my camera bag on the coffee table, checking to make sure I have everything. Do I?

“Me too, but what can you do?” I mumble, my thoughts racing too fast to focus on anything but the job. Today means more calendar shots, which means more Miles and my dad in the same vicinity. My gut churns. I glance at Miles as he sips his coffee, leaning against his kitchen counter. “Am I going first, or are you?” My voice sounds like it’s stitched together from pure dread.

He sets the mug down and steps toward me, his handscoming to rest on my shoulders. “You are. But I can take you if you want.”

I shake my head quickly, side to side. “No, I’ll catch the bus. It’s fine. It’s totally fine. We can only really arrive together every now and then. Too much and…”

No point finishing that sentence—someone will find out.

The silence spreads for several seconds, and everything feels heavy. “Leighton, we could do something about the way you feel,” he offers gently, but his gaze holds mine with clear intent, those deep brown eyes soft but serious.

I could ask,What do you mean?but I know exactly what he means—he means come clean. He means admit we’re together. But even though I felt ready last night at the game as I pictured all the things I truly want in my heart, admitting them out loud could spiral my life out of control right when so many good things are happening—the collab, the calendars for the players’ wives and girlfriends, my boudoir work. Riley’s college visits, the team’s strong record, Miles’s season, my dad’s season—everything. Just everything. It could lead to my dad being disappointed in me. To him shunning Miles. To damaging Miles’s reputation. Letting the world know the coach’s daughter fell for a player—against her father’s wishes.

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