Page 42 of Double Pucked

Damn she is good. “Fine. I buy them and donate most of them to the library. They make sure the books go to kids in need. Kids at homeless shelters, in the hospital, and so on.”

“And why was that hard to say?”

With a groan, I slump back into the couch cushions. “Because the team wants me towork on my image online. And I know they’d be all over that, but if I shared it with them it’d just feel…gross. Like I was patting myself on the back.”

“Because nobody knows you actually do laundry and make pancakes and donate books?”

“And nobody should. I don’t even know why it matters to the public.”

“Because you’re a public figure,” she says, shrugging, likeit is what it is.

“I just want to play hockey. And support my family. I don’t want to have to tell everyone what I’m doing off the ice too.”

“But people look up to hockey players. They look up to athletes. That’s just reality. You can’t change that,” she says evenly, and she makes good points. So I open up a little more.

“That’s why I was doing the VIP event with Chase last night. To play nice with my rival and show the fans what a nice guy I am.” I adopt a saccharine grin.

“If they only knew how very, very nice to fans you are,” she jokes.

“Yeah, let’s keep that between us,” I deadpan, then return to Josh’s email. He said last night’s photo op was great and the team wants me to please do morepositive press.“Anyway, it’s just annoying that I’m supposed to broadcast this stuff. What the fuck am I supposed to say?Had dinner with Mom last night. I’m such a good son.Orwent down to the library to give them some books. I’m so nice,” I say, imitating a self-congratulatory post.

She seems to think for a minute. “Well, I could help you. I’m posting things for the store all the time. You could do it in such a way that isn’t patting yourself on the back. And honestly, you might not even have to say that much. With the books, just take a picture and tag the org, or I could do it for you,” she says with such genuine enthusiasm it’s hard for even a guy like me to grumble.

“Yeah?”

“I like social media. Do you want me to help you?”

I hate taking help. But the way she asks, so sweet, so real, there’s no way I can turn her down.

Especially since I need the assistance. “Yes,” I say roughly, then I clear my throat and give her the answer she deserves. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” she says, then her eyes twinkle. “In fact, we can start right away. I have some ideas.”

Trina never seems to stop thinking. Her brain is always in motion. She tells me some of her ideas, and they’re easy enough. A stop at the bookstore. A pic at the library. Something family centric.

“Sure. I’m in.”

“Can you do Tuesday? To bring the books to the library?”

“Consider it done,” I say.

“Good,” she says, then pats my thigh, and I’m about to take her hand in mine, but then I catch myself.

Nope.

If I take her hand, I will drag her close for a hot kiss, and then I will want to tear off her clothes.

Where the fuck is my friend? I can’t wait a second longer. I jump up. “Be right back.”

I stalk down the hall and bang on his door, which swings open at my touch. “You done with your call? If not, I’m gonna eat,” I say.

He’s staring out the window, like he’s lost in thought.

“Where is my buddy and why has his evil emo twin replaced him?”

Chase turns around. His jaw is tight. His eyes are cold. What’s worse is when he says, “Shut the door. We need to talk.”

15

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