“I’m scared of not being so chummy with her.”
“Well, okay.” Yet Marlie didn’t feel like he was telling her everything. “You know I’ll get the truth out of you eventually.”
“Yes, yes. But enough about me. Give me some details of last night. Is he good with his tongue?”
Marlie just smiled.
“Damn. I knew it. Hockey players really are the best.”
And the most obnoxious. Damon had been yelling at his team, the opposing team, the refs, and the opposing coach for the first two periods of the game, and the crowded stadium was eating it up.
He hadn’t looked for her, and she hadn’t wanted to distract him, so they had found a seat that blocked their view from the opposite side of the stadium seating—where her family and Jeff’s sat together.
She and Jeff had pretended they didn’t see their parents looking for them. Marlie knew she’d hear about her rudeness later, but she needed space from her mom. Especially since everyone seemed to know she had a thing for Damon.
A glance around at the smiling and laughing fans showed a really large crowd. Not that Marlie had been to all of her brothers’ games, but she’d been to a few last season. The ones with the Flashman brothers in attendance, though decently crowded, hadn’t been this full.
To make the games more fun and worthwhile this year, they charged an attendance fee, which went into a holiday fund to help the less fortunate in town. Her brothers had been pleased to announce that at the beginning of the season.
Marlie felt eyes on her. She glanced over to see her mother glaring at her from across the stands. She hunched in her jacket and tried to hide behind her friend. “You and Steve are still on my hit list for telling my mom about Damon,” she grumbled.
“I dare you to avoid your mother’s all-knowing stare when she’s got you pinned in her crosshairs.” Jeff crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me I’m weak while you try to hide from the sheriff. Go on.”
“She’s going to try to interrogate him after the game. I know it.”
“What do you care? He’s just a friend with bennies.” He lowered his voice. “Although he seems like the creative type. Love how he’s been dealing with the refs.”
Damon cajoled while making fun of the refs, instilling both laughter and several warnings to shut the hell up. Fortunately, there weren’t too many young children in the audience.
The second period came to a close, and the players skated to their respective benches.
Will happened to glance up and saw her and Jeff. He waved and removed his helmet. The warmth in his smile pleased her. About time he realized he shouldn’t take her support for granted.
“He looks good in those pads.” Jeff wiggled his brows up and down.
She laughed. “Don’t tell him that.”
“Right? The ego on that guy.”
“Who? Will, Ed, or Steve?” They were all flexing and grinning up at Marlie, the idiots.
“Focus, Reynolds,” Damon groused, his loud voice audible even from their seat.
“Me?” Will pointed at himself.
“Does it matter? You’re all sucking out there. Straighten up!” Then Damon turned around and glared at her, shaking his head.
“Um, is that a new way of expressing his love? With a death glare?” Jeff murmured.
Her phone pinged. She glanced down to see Damon’s text.
Quit distracting my players!!!! Oh, and you look super cute.
She fought a blush, especially when Jeff read it over her shoulder and oohed and aahhed.
“Shut up.”
And tell Jeff to stop distracting your idiot brothers too.
