Page 37 of Press Your Luck

While I drank my coffee, I purposefully stayed off my phone. I didn’t want to know what bizarre and inaccurate story the media was posting about me today. If it was big enough, Todd would call.

I thought about Pierce and how he’d pushed me on the way I was going with the flow on Todd’s idea. It told me that I wasn’t as strong as I thought I was. Oh, sure, I pushed back, but in the end, because I wanted to keep my job, I’d acquiesced.

Not that I would have fallen into a relationship with Pierce if I didn’t have all the media attention going on. The sex was great, and there were times when he was sweet and kind, but I wasn’t going to risk my job or my heart just to have an affair with a rival coach.

By mid-morning I was dressed and cleaning up my place. I was about to make another cup of coffee when my phone rang with my mother’s ringtone. I realized it had been awhile since I’d talked to her.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Naomi, you’re alright. I was getting worried.”

“I’m sorry.” I hated that I'd caused her stress about my well-being. “Everything is good.”

“It sounds like it. Georgie looked up the hockey news, and you’ve been on a winning streak. And apparently, you have a new beau. Do you think it’s wise to date one of your players, though?”

Ugh. I put the phone on speaker so I could make my coffee. “The media has it all wrong, Mom. Max and I are friends. That’s it. How is Georgie?” I asked about my brother. I had three of them. Triplets, no less.

“A handful, just like Hank and Wally. They’re waiting to hear from colleges they’ve applied to. Next year, they’ll be gone.” She let out a long sigh. I knew it would be difficult for her when they left. She’d be alone.

“Are they looking at colleges that are close?” I put a coffee pod in the machine, set my mug under the spout, and pushed theBrewbutton.

“Some. Others are far away.”

“Maybe you should think about selling the house and coming out here with me.”

“That’s very nice of you, but I could never leave this place. This is where your father and I built a life.”

It made me all the sadder that she’d lost my father. She'd never dated or looked at another man, as far as I knew. On the one hand, it was wildly romantic to think about a love that strong, but also such a tragedy that they were apart.

“Are you coming home for Christmas?” she asked.

I took the coffee and went out on my little balcony to sit. “I have only a few days. Three. But yes, I’d like to come home.” I could use the respite.

We chatted a little bit longer. When we hung up, I used my phone to book a flight home for the holidays, then I finished my coffee and continued to have a lazy afternoon.

I was thinking about going for a run when my phone buzzed with a new text message. I glanced at the screen and saw that it was from Analyn.

Hey. Congrats on the win. We're celebrating your win tonight. Meet us at 8 p.m. Dress fun and fabulous.

My heart skipped a beat as I read the message. Had she really set up a night of celebration for me? It seemed odd that she would, considering her husband’s team was the one I beat. But then I remembered how she and Ruby were able to support me as a woman striving in a man’s world. They must have great husbands if they were okay with their wives celebrating with the rival team.

I hesitated in answering as I’d planned to stay home all day and night, but finally, I decided to take her up on the offer.

Sounds great. See you at 8. Thank you.

As I rifled through my closet, trying to find an outfit that would be fitting for whatever surprise Analyn had planned, my thoughts drifted back to Pierce. It was annoying because there was no reason that looking for a fun and fabulous dress should conjure him up, but it did.

I couldn't help but replay our encounter from several days earlier. The way he'd looked at me in the locker room, his intense blue eyes burning into mine. It made my heart race even now.

"Naomi, I want to be with you." His voice had been husky, full of desire.

Was I an idiot to tell him no when a part of me wanted to say yes? I hated telling him it wouldn't work. But I had to think about my career, my team, and the media scrutiny that would come with dating a coach from the rival team. When he called me a coward, it stung like hell, even though part of me knew he was right.

Ugh. I shook my head to dispel the memories and instead focused on a dress. I settled on a flirty red dress, slipping it on and adding a denim jacket and some strappy sandals to complete the look. I quickly did my hair, deciding to wear it down, and then completed the look with light makeup, except for the red lipstick.

At just about eight, my phone rang. "Are you ready, Naomi?" Analyn's excited voice rang through the phone.

"All set. Can't wait to see what you have planned.” This was what I needed, carefree fun with gal pals.

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