Page 73 of Playing to Win

“Po?” Hailey asked.

Jayna stood up. “Sure, I’ll come along.”

I heard them go, but Faith’s comment was still reverberating in my head. My parents were happy, and I did know what a good relationship was like.

I’d just never tried for one. Succeeding in hockey had been my focus. It was my dream, but also I wanted to repay Mom and Dad for the sacrifices they’d made. To do that I needed money, the kind I would earn in the NHL. For them, and for the project I had dreamed up to make sure other kids didn’t have to struggle as hard.

For years I hadn’t allowed other distractions. But now…I was playing on an NHL team. Maybe it was time to open myself up to the possibility of a relationship. I’d made plans with my parents for wherever my hockey future took me, but I hadn’t considered what happened to my personal life when I made it. I was close enough now that maybe it was time I did.

Jayna and Faith returned to the living room. Jayna’s eyes met mine, and something warm curled in my chest. I wanted this. Someone to be close to. Sharing more than just a bed. Someone who was willing to love a hockey player.

The warmth fled because Jayna was not that someone.

Chapter22

RIP, Tempo

Jayna

Braydon was too damnedgood at boyfriending. This evening with Faith had been perfect. I’d been able to forget, for a while, that my future was a black hole.

We left together. In the elevator down, he asked if I wanted a ride. I frowned at him. “Taking me home will make your trip, what, almost an hour longer?”

“Traffic isn’t bad this time of day.” He looked at the panel, listing the floors as we passed them. Not meeting my gaze.

There were so many reasons why suggesting this was a mistake, but I still had a few days before I could share with the team that I was retiring. Braydon had been a buffer at dinner tonight. I’d managed to mostly avoid Megan, but she knew me too well. Spending time away from my apartment might be a good idea. “I could go to your place.”

His gaze snapped to mine. “Is that what you want?”

“Yeah.”

He studied me. “We don’t have to?—”

“I want to.” I wanted to forget my problems, and this man could do it. Was it bad to use him when he knew what I was doing? He was getting orgasms out of it, after all.

“You said once. Then twice.”

“Braydon, if you don’t want to, it’s fine.”

“I do.” He huffed a breath. “I’m just a little confused.”

He had a point. I’d set limits, and now I was ignoring them. It was time to be clear. “Why don’t we make this fake dating with benefits?”

He chewed on his lip, then nodded. The elevator doors dinged and opened. “This way.”

* * *

Braydon’s roommateLuke was playing a video game on the TV when we arrived.

“Mitch. And Jayna.” Luke narrowed his gaze.

I pasted on a smile. “Yep, it’s me.”

Braydon missed the tension between us. “Do you want a drink, Jayna?”

“No, thanks.”

“We’re going up. You need anything?” he asked Luke.

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