Page 35 of Passing the Red Line
“Nah, that would just make me hate you even more,” she says with a shrug. “So what do you have to confess?”
I take a bite from my eggs before answering. “I know who you are.”
“And who am I?” she asks, going a little stiff and keeping her eyes on her food.
“Shawn Anderson’s daughter. Or should I also say the Dark Knight’s new team photographer,” I answer, getting straight to the point.
The point causes Eliana to put her fork down and looks up at me. I try to read her expression, but I can’t get a clear read on her.
“Have you known this whole time?” she asks, wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
I shake my head. “I found out last night. Your name sounded familiar, and I couldn’t pinpoint where I heard it from. So I asked someone.”
She gives me a nod as she reaches for her own coffee mug. “Let me guess. Liam? Because if you would have asked my dad, he would have called me right away.”
Now I’m the one nodding. “Yeah, he told me to not get on your bad side. You know since you now control all the pictures that the public sees of me in my uniform.”
“And are you going to listen to him?” she raises an eyebrow at me, challenging me.
I give her a shrug. “I think I will continue to take my chances.”
“Ha!” she lets out before going back to her food.
I follow suit but only for a minute or two before I’m back to asking questions. “Why didn’t you mention anything?” I ask around a mouth full of eggs.
“Why would I?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I could have been nicer to you? You’re my coach’s daughter for Christ sake.” God, if he finds out the shit I have done to his little, some of the shit that I have said, he will have my ass. I can say bye to first line.
“What if I didn’t want that? What if I didn’t want you to be nicer to me? People have been treating me differently because of my dad all of my life. You shouldn’t treat me differently just because of who my dad is.”
The way she’s being defensive about it tells me that people do a lot more than treat her differently because of who her dad is. I want to ask, but I don’t know if we are there yet. Hell, up until twenty-four hours ago, I thought I hated this woman. Now, that hate has turned into something completely different.
“Is your dad why you hate hockey players?” I ask, not letting the real question that is floating in my mind out.
Eliana lets out a sigh. “Maybe like ten percent of it.”
“And the other ninety percent?” The question slips out without me even thinking about it.
Light brown eyes meet my gray ones. “Not something that I am willing to talk about over pancakes. Maybe with a whole bottle of wine in my system, but not right now.”
Someone hurt her.
She doesn’t have to say the words, I can see it in her eyes and in the way her shoulders tense up. Someone hurt her badly and because of that she decided to lump all hockey players together, so that she doesn’t have the possibility of getting hurt again.
I wouldn’t do that.
Jeez. One night with this woman, and I’m already thinking past this morning.
I give her a nod and don’t push her. “Well since we are going to be working together come September, so if you ever find yourself with a whole bottle of wine during your time with the Knights, then my ears are open.”
That shouldn’t be something that I offer. We’re not friends. I have no idea what we are, but whatever it is, I want to be there for her if she ever needs it.
“What would be in it for you?” She asks, a small bite to her tone.
“Nothing. Me listening to whatever made you hate hockey players isn’t a ploy to get something from you or from your dad. I’m already on his team, what else would I ask for?”
She gives me a shrug. “A brand spanking new contract with a whole lot more money.”
