Page 162 of Can't Always Get What You Want

Aka: me.

Sigh.

I am a cautionary tale. A girl in an oversized Luca Babineaux jersey with zero regrets and zero fucks given.

“What’s your name?” the woman says, the glitter on her lashes is bright blue and gold—clearly a Baddies fan.

“Nova.”

She nods. “I’m Hailey. What did you do to get thrown in here?”

“It’s a long story, Hailey.” A really long story… “What about you?”

“I threw a cup of beer at the Pirates mascot when it walked by. But I wasn’t planning on it, I swear! And now it’s going to cost me five-hundred bucks to get out of here. My boyfriend is so pissed.” Hailey crosses her arms. “He said I overreacted. We’re in a bit of a rough patch.”

“Well Hailey—you’re in good company.” I smile. “You deserve someone who’ll bail you out of hockey jail without judgment.”

She lights up. “Right?!”

I sink in the uncomfortable metal chair, hands clasped in my lap, wishing they hadn’t taken my phone. I want to scream and laugh and shout it from the rooftop—I told a man Ilovehim!

Stormed the penalty box like a lunatic. Declared my feelings in front of an entire arena. Got escorted out by security. All in under five minutes.

How is this for a grand gesture?!

Hailey is still mumbling about her boyfriend’s lack of mascot loyalty when a shadow passes by the door.

The heavy thud of boots. The unmistakable jingle of keys. Then the squeak of the door hinges as it creaks open.

I glance up.

It’s the same security guard who walked me in here. Still looks unimpressed.

She peeps her nose into our holding cell, studying my face a bit too long.

“Why do you look so familiar?” She squints. “Wait a second. Aren’t you Gio Montagalo’s sister?”

I blink, giving her a sheepish little wave. “Unfortunately, yes.”

She raises both brows. “Then why the hell are you wearing a Babineaux jersey?”

WHY IS EVERYTHING ABOUT HOCKEY WITH THESE PEOPLE?!

I plaster on a smile that feels more like a grimace. “I’m wearing his jersey because sometimes your brother’s teammate has a thick head of hair and a stupidly strong jawline and suddenly you find yourself falling in love with him.”

Hailey gasps.“You’re sleeping with Luca Babineaux?”

“That is not what I said!” But yes, I’m sleeping with Luca Babineaux and the proof is spelled across my back like a glowing, neon sign.Not that it’s any of their business.

“You have plenty of time to tell me the story from the beginning.” The security guard laughs. “There are still nine minutes in the game.”

Crap.

Nine minutes is an eternity!

“Okay. So.” I sit up straighter in chair, fully aware that everyone in the holding cell is blatantly eavesdropping—including Hailey, some guy who tried to fight the mascot—and the previously unconscious man in the corner, who is blinking himself awake. “I matched with Luca on a dating app and we’ve been dating insecretfor the past month.”

The guard gets closer to the bars at the word ‘secret.’

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