Page 27 of In My Hockey Era
I hesitate before clicking, but curiosity wins out.The clip is from the Q&A portion of the evening, when Bennett had been leaning back in his chair, smirking as he said,So what I’m hearing you say is, you liked the book.
And me, rolling my eyes, fighting a smile.Don’t push your luck, Wilder.
Oh good Lord.
I click away, shaking my head, only to make the mistake of checking my DMs.
The very first one is fromhim.
Bennett:So we’re a thing now?Fans say so, and the internet is never wrong.
I close my eyes, exhaling.Then type back.
Lucy:Guess I should’ve warned you.People love a good slow-burn romance.
Bennett:Is that what this is?
My fingers hover over the keyboard, my heart doing an entirely too complicated flip in my chest.There’s a lot I want to say, but instead I chicken out and decide to keep him in suspense.
Lucy:Goodnight, Wilder.
I turn off my phone before I can analyze the situation to death.
Two days later, I’m digging through my closet, yanking out options and tossing them onto my bed, when my best friend Mia walks into my apartment like she owns the place.
“Tell me why you’re stress-dressing over a hockey game?”she asks, dropping her oversized tote onto my couch.“It’s not a date, right?Make it make sense.”
I glare at her over my shoulder.“No, it’s not a date.It’s just a game.”
Vivian had emailed me this week with two free tickets to tonight’s game, courtesy of Bennett.It was nice, for sure.
She flops down onto the couch, watching me with barely concealed amusement.“Uh-huh.And remind me again who you’re going with?”
I exhale, trying not to read into her tone.“Ethan.”
Mia lifts an eyebrow.“Your work husband?”
“He’s just my coworker,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Your coworker who you’re taking to a game where a certain tall, annoyingly handsome hockey player will be watching from the ice?”
I grab a sweater from the bed and chuck it at her.“Shut up.”
She laughs, but I can tell she’s enjoying this way too much.“I’m just saying, Lucy.You’re not that oblivious.Right?”
I ignore that and keep rummaging for something to wear, but my mind is already spiraling.So we had drinks once?He’s just a guy from the team, and this is just a game.
Still, something about it feels...charged.
Mia and I have been best friends since college, we bonded over late-night study sessions, cheap takeout, and a shared love of yelling at hockey games on TV.She’s the one who convinced me to start my podcast, the first person I call when life throws me a curveball, and the only person who can bully me into having a social life when I’d rather stay in with Max.
She’s also brutally honest—sometimes annoyingly so—but I love her for it.
Mia checks her phone and sighs.“Ugh, I hate that I can’t come tonight.You know I live for watching you squirm.”
“You’re the worst,” I mutter, shaking my head.
“Love you too, babe.”She smirks, standing up and grabbing her bag.“Text me when you get there.I want updates on the tension so thick you could cut it with a skate blade.”
