Page 31 of Love in Overtime

Thanks?Really, Blair?Ugh. I want to run and hide in the corn maze.

“You’re welcome.”

We continue walking until we’re in a quieter area away from the chaos.

“I wanted you to know I really appreciate you sticking with me,” he says. “I know I’m not an easy person to deal with.”

“You’re not as bad as you think.”

He exhales sharply. “Blair?—”

The sound of my phone interrupts him.

“I’m sorry.” I glance at the screen and see my dad’s number. Talk about bad timing.

“You should answer it,” he says.

“It’s my dad again. I already know he doesn’t want to talk to me.”

Cooper holds out his hand. “I’ll talk to him.” My eyes grow wide as the phone continues to buzz. I hand it to him and suck in a breath.

“Hello. Blair Radcliffe’s phone,” Cooper answers smoothly.

I watch intently as he listens.

“This is Cooper Montgomery.”

I nervously chew on my bottom lip while Cooper talks to my father.How is this my life?

“Yes. Hi, Mr. Radcliffe. I apologize it’s taken us so long to chat. It’s been busy here in Pine Falls.”

“MapleFalls,” I whisper.

Cooper waves his hand nonchalantly. “Well, I appreciate that. It was a challenging season.”

If I weren’t falling for Cooper before, I am now. First seeing him with the kids at the signing table and now watching him chat about hockey with my dad on the phone.

“I’ll definitely send some stuff with Blair,” he continues. “Sure. Okay. Did you want to speak to Blair? Alright, have a good night.”

He ends the call and hands me the phone. “Your father says he’ll talk to you later.”

I scowl. “Sure. Why would he want to talk to his own flesh and blood when he can talk to a famous hockey player?”

He shrugs. “I have no idea.”

“Thanks for doing that. I’m sure you made his year,” I say. “And now he won’t be harassing me for these last few weeks.”

Cooper’s expression changes. “Wow. I can’t believe we only have a few weeks left here.”

“I know. All this time and you still can’t remember the name of the town,” I tease.

He shakes his head. “I still think Pine Falls is a better name.”

“Well, hey there,” a familiar voice calls. Cooper and I look over and see Ms. Hale from the lodge. She’s proudly wearing an Ice Breakers shirt with signatures all over it, and her earrings are mini hockey pucks. I’m beginning to wonder if she’s really a Puck Bunny. She’d probably wear that badge proudly.

“Hi, Ms. Hale,” I say cheerfully. “Are you having fun?”

“You bet I am. It’s the Maple Fest and I got my shirt signed by the whole team.” She does a little spin to show off her autographs.

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