Page 98 of Playmaker

I let that thought settle in my brain. That meant naming this feeling, and getting involved with Callie, who could rip up my world if I let her in. But it also meant that I’d have someone, someone like Faith was for Hunter. Onlymysomeone. Someone to be with when I wasn’t on for fans or the media. Someone who would ignore my bullshit and see the real me. And who might just like it enough to stay.

But Callie was spooked. She’d already decided not to risk anything when she realized she had picked up these feelings.

To be fair, I hadn’t let her know that I had skin in the game. I’d been spooked as well. Would that be enough to convince her to risk it? I didn’t know the odds on that. But hell, seeing her again would—just the thought of it was warming me up inside, where I’d been feeling cold. And empty.

So far, I’d succeeded in almost every goal I’d set. I’d made it in the NHL. I’d accumulated a lot of money. I’d been a success my family couldn’t ignore, winning any competition they thought we were in.

I could do this. I just had to figure out a plan.

I turned to the guy beside me. He owed me when it came to romance and hearts and feelings; he and Faith had struggled back in school, and I’d played a part in getting them to at least speak to each other.

“Okay, Hunter. How am I going to get my girl?”

* * *

Callie

“Do you need to rent clubs?”Leonie asked as I passed her desk. “And you’re staying for the meal, correct?”

Right, the tournament.I would need clubs, since I didn’t have the ones Cooper had brought to Briarwood for me. I’d done my best to shove anything related to Cooper and golf to the back of my mind. The stupid golf tournament was this weekend though, so I wasn’t exactly successful.

“Yes, I will need clubs, and I am staying for the meal.” Otherwise, the time with Cooper would be just a useless heartache.

Leonie nodded and beckoned me closer. I frowned, but leaned over her desk.

“I asked around and I think I know what the problem with Benson is.”

I’d almost forgotten Benson, having bigger things to worry about. “Okay, what is it?”

“Apparently, there’s been talk among the partners lately that they need to be more diverse. If you look at the photos on the website, they’re almost all white men. They need women and POC.”

They should also diversify based on sexual preferences and abilities, but those wouldn’t immediately show up on the partner page. “Benson thinks I’ll get partner because I’m a woman?”

“Unless he can show that you’re not very good.”

“But there are other women associates.”

Leonie smiled, a smug expression on her face. “None doing as good work as you. Tax is a difficult specialty.”

“Thank you for letting me know.” And when I got back to myself, I could deal with Benson. Once I wasn’t hung up on Cooper.

I worked longer hours, trying to maintain my usual volume of work and because time without work was time where memories haunted me. But when I slept I had no control over the dreams I had. Dreams that made facing reality every morning that much harder. It had to stop.

It was a relief when tournament day arrived. Maybe this would finally give me a chance to end the stupid thoughts. Benson was waiting with a checklist by the doors of the bus the firm had hired to take us to Briarwood. He narrowed his eyes when I showed up. I was wearing the same skort and shirt I’d worn the first time I’d been to Briarwood. They looked newish, but not brand-new, like I had them in my closet ready for an event like this. They were perfect for Briarwood. I had the same dress to change into for dinner.

“Did you manage to get some golf lessons in?” he asked.

“Yes.” I wasn’t going to engage with him any more than necessary.

“I hope you don’t hold us up on the greens.”

I smiled, showing teeth. “I hope so too.”

He would have liked to keep needling me, but more people appeared and I was free to board.

The vehicle was nothing like the city transit buses I was familiar with. This one had tinted windows and individual seats. There weren’t twenty people wedged in the aisles, and no one in the back was playing music through their headphones loud enough to be heard by the driver. People looked at each other and spoke.

I sat down beside Eva, a woman from family law who I knew slightly. “Do you mind if I join you?”

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