Page 101 of In My Hockey Era
I hesitate.He’s notbadlooking.He’s attractive, actually.And if I were anyone else—if I were the type of girl who wanted to get back at a guy by making out with someone else—I might lean into it.
But I’m not that girl.
And this guy?He’s nothim.
Still, I let myself dance, even when I feel him behind me, moving in time to the rhythm, for a little while.Just a song, maybe half of one.Just long enough to remind myself that Icando this.That Idon’tbelong to Bennett Wilder.That I am myownperson, with myownlife, and that I don’t have to spend every waking second missing him.
But damn, I miss him.
I’m barely moving at this point, going through the motions, heart not in it at all.
And then—Ifeelit before Iseeit.
A presence.A shift in the air.
I glance toward the bar, and my stomachplummets.
Bennett.
Standing at the edge of the dance floor, eyes locked on me like a damn missile.
His jaw is tight.His posture rigid.
And oh—heis not happy.
I freeze, heart hammering.
The guy behind me leans in, saying something I don’t hear, and I immediately step forward, putting distance between us.I don’t knowwhyI do it, but I do.
Bennett clockseverything.His gaze flicks between me and the guy, his lips pressing into a hard, unreadable line.
And then—he starts moving.
Straight.For.Me.
Mia materializes at my side, gripping my arm.“Holyshit.”
I swallow, pulse skyrocketing.
He closes the distance in a few long strides, his presence alone enough to send the guy behind me retreating.
He doesn’t look at the guy.Doesn’t acknowledge him at all.
His eyes are only onme.
And when he finally stops in front of me, voice low and firm and barely controlled, all he says is, “What the hell are you doing, Quinn?”
“Dancing,” I shout.“What areyoudoing here?”
Of all the clubs in Dallas, seriously what are the chances?
36
PENALTY ON ME
Bennett
The bass from the club thuds through my chest as I stare down at Lucy.
