Page 69 of Playoff
Me: I heard what you did after the Vancouver game.
K: Did it work?
Me: Yes. I’d like to show you my appreciation
K: Another ride to Hamilton?
My cheeks heated, though there was no one but me to read the text. And we’d agreed it was over.
Me: Meet me in the storage locker
I picked up the rain gear I hadn’t replaced after my trip to BC, so I had an excuse for leaving if Justin asked. He didn’t, having gone to his room to unpack. This secrecy was stressful. Good thing it would be over after this.
I was first to our locker and shoved my rain gear away. I’d soon need to pull it out again. March was coming up fast, and it would get warmer and wet as the snow melted. I picked up the bag with the loaves of bread from where it was tucked behind my summer clothes. I heard the elevator door open on this floor and stepped into the hallway, checking to see who was there.
Something jolted inside when I saw Alek. Just like the night at the bar. He was wearing jeans again, and a long-sleeved T-shirt. The hair was a little longer, the jaw scruffy. I sighed. I was ridiculous.
He scanned the lockers before he noticed me. I thought I saw the barest hint of a smile and then he was moving this way, stopping just a little too close in front of me. “Hello.”
I felt breathless, which was not good. I took the bag of bread in my hand and shoved it at him. “For you.”
He glanced down. “What is that?”
“Bread. One whole wheat, and one coconut loaf.”
“Bread?”
I huffed. “You know what bread is. I made it, to thank you for helping Justin.”
He stared into the bag with a puzzled frown. “You made it. Bread.”
“Yes, bread. I assume you’re not gluten-free since I’ve seen you eating bread before.”
He met my gaze. “Thank you. No one has ever made me food before.”
More weird feelings warmed up my insides. “You talked to my parents, and Justin said their dinner was a lot less stressful after you did that. I appreciate it. It wasn’t what I meant when I messaged you.”
He shrugged. “It wasn’t much.” He didn’t understand our family dynamics. “But thank you.” He finally took the bag from me.
“You’re welcome.”
I wanted to ask if he thought he’d be traded, but his gaze moved down my body before coming up again. I felt it, like a heated touch. “I’d been hoping for a different display of gratitude. The kind with lace.”
I wanted to scoff, but my breath was shallow and goose bumps were rising on my skin. I wasn’t wearing anything sexy—just jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, with my plain but comfortable underwear underneath—but I shivered. “No lace. And this is the storage locker, not a place to hook up.” That reeked of tackiness and desperation, and damn, images were flashing through my brain that I shouldn’t allow.
His brows lifted. “Is that a challenge?”
No, it was not. I had no intention of having sex in a storage locker, where someone could come and see through the mesh cages. I just had to say no.
Instead, I licked my lips. Bad girl, Jess.
Alek used his free hand to tug me close to him. “I’m good at challenges.”
The smart thing was to say I didn’t mean it as a challenge and step back. Unfortunately, that message didn’t get through to my body. Instead, I leaned up and kissed him.
Big mistake. Huge. Alek slid his hand around my waist and pulled me against him. The kiss heated up and before I realized, my hands were pulling on his short hair, keeping his mouth on mine.
He finally broke away. “This your locker, right?”
