Page 57 of Faking it with the Billionaire
“I didn’t actually see the back until we got to the arena,” Lia admits. “And I suggested that we buy you something else, but someone distracted us with snacks.” She stares pointedly at Bristol.
“Guilty!” Bristol says with a grin. The girl is cheeky.
“Kyler asked that you take Bristol home before the next intermission and get her tucked into bed.”
“Of course. You should stay, see the full game and enjoy a little quiet time without us,” Lia says.
I’m not sure I’d describe a hockey game as quiet, but I appreciate that she’s offering to take Bristol back on her own, although I’m sure Mitchell will be chauffeuring them home. I text Mitchell and wait for his reply when he arrives.
The game goes by rather quickly, especially with Kyler on the ice for most of the period. He gets tossed into the penalty box again. I’m not sure who started the fight, but it’s clear he’s got an issue with a player on the opposing team.
The Ice Dragons manage to score three goals and are in the lead, but it’s a relatively close game.
Mitchell texts a few minutes before the period ends, and I escort Lia and Bristol to the car. I don’t want to risk anything happening to his daughter. I’m sure she’s fine, but I prefer handing her off to Mitchell, who is capable of protecting Bristol.
Lia is sweet and great with Bristol, but I don’t think she could fend off anyone dangerous. She’s not trained in self-defense or combat. Perhaps I should suggest to Kyler that he send Lia to a course or two. Even I could teach her a few maneuvers.
I hurry back to my seat just as the second period ends. The team hustles back to the locker room, but one of the players heads toward me with a wink. “Greyson wanted me to tell you to come around to the bench and have a seat.”
“That’s allowed?” I ask with a nervous laugh.
He shrugs and smirks, not really giving much of an answer. Turning around, I glance at his jersey.Jamesonretreats to the locker room.
I stand from my seat, and I have to walk up the stairs and back around by the locker room to join the guys on the bench. It seems weird, but this time I have no trouble at all getting through security.
The guard recognizes me and nods for me to head on back through the hallway.
There’s hustle and bustle behind the locker room doors. I can hear the noise and camaraderie among the players.
No one stops me as I pass the locker room doors and head down to the bench by the ice. There are no guards on watch, and the players haven’t emerged yet.
I hope this isn’t some elaborate joke from Kyler’s buddy trying to get me in trouble or embarrass Greyson.
A few minutes pass before the guys start to reemerge from the locker room. They took a shorter break since there’s still eleven minutes left until the game starts.
“Hey, M&M,” Greyson says with a grin when he sees me sitting on the bench. I straighten up, and my eyes widen, worried that maybe I shouldn’t have listened to his buddyJameson.
“We don’t usually allow girlfriends on the bench,” Coach Malone says and clears his throat. “But your man here had something he wanted to say during intermission.”
I glance from the coach to Greyson, shaking my head, confused.
What is he talking about?
Greyson’s wearing his skates and swings open the door to step onto the ice, giving me a look. “Are you coming, M&M?”
“Not if you keep calling me that.” I laugh nervously. “And I don’t think I’m supposed to just walk onto the ice.”
He gives a half-hearted shrug. “They still have to Zamboni the ice.”
“Did you just use Zamboni as a verb?”
The grin on his face widens. “You know more about hockey than you let on, M&M.”
“Seriously, Greyson, that nickname has to go.” I scowl at him, but I’m not the least bit mad. He takes my hand and guides me carefully onto the ice.
“I never asked, but do you know how to skate?”
“Now you ask? And not in tennis shoes.” I feel my feet slipping, but he’s keeping me steady, his arms around my waist. We’re only a few feet from the door to the bench, which has now been shut by another teammate.
