Page 121 of Runaway Bride and Prejudice

“He does have that look,” Felix says, and I don’t like the way our goaltender watches me.

“I don’t have a look.”

“He does,” Logan says, then shrugs when I glare. “You do.”

“It’s the look of a man who’s in love.”

That’s Nathan, and I’d like to knock the smug, knowing expression off his face. Even if the defender is the last guy in this room I’d want to tangle with.

He’s also usually the last guy to speak up. But he just got together with Summer and probably has love on the brain.

He also isn’t wrong, and I’m doing my best not to squirm. Not to reveal just how close they all are.

Because I’m close to breaking.

“Please,” Alec says, tugging at his hair like he’s about to tear it all out from the roots. “Please tell us it’s not Amelia.”

“It has to be,” Eli says.

“It really, really shouldn’t be,” Felix says.

Alec steps forward. “Say it. Say it to our faces. Tell us you don’t have a thing for the coach’s daughter.”

Do not react. Do not react.

I roll my eyes and chuckle darkly. “You think I’m stupid enough to mess around with her?”

My wording is careful. I’m proud of myself. See? I didn’t reveal a thing. Not my face. Not my words.

But … the guys smell blood in the water.

“We’re not talking about messing around,” Logan says. “This is different. You’re different.”

“You know how much trouble you could be in?” Alec asks with a frown. All of his teasing is gone. “How much trouble we wouldallbe in?”

“Dude, everyone knows not to go there,” Tucker says.

Dumbo adds, “Even if Coach hadn’t warned us all a thousand times. It’s just hockey logic.”

“Never ever everdate the coach’s daughter,” Eli says. “Like … ever.” He’s serious for the first part, and then channels Taylor Swift.

“Relax.” I’m speaking to myself as much as the guys. “I’m not dating Mills. I mean, Amelia,” I quickly amend, but my correction doesn’t help.

Nathan drops his head into his hands with a groan.

Alec just stares.

Logan looks mildly impressed and also horrified at the same time. “You’re at the nickname stage?”

And Dominik? He catches my eye and smiles.

Panic sets in. I stand up. “Look—it wasn’t like that.”

These words are an admission. I realize this belatedly. I thought the guys were shocked before, but Tucker actually falls over with a gasp. Eli helps pick him up.

“Van,” Alec says, shaking his head, my name sounding like a curse.

“Did you actually, like, make a move?” Eli blinks at me, like he’s in shock. “Like, you kissed her but that’s it. Or there was some flirtation or an attraction, but you didn’t act on it?”

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