She nods like she’s in a daze—the kind of movement an actor would make when they’re directed to pretend they’re hypnotized. Fitting, I suppose. Then again, I’m a skeptic on both accounts. At this rate, the guys would probably call me a cynic.
“A forever kind of love?” Lucian asks.
“The kind that chooses to stay.”
Not the kind that bolts the second things get complicated, like—I shut that thought down before it can take root.
“You’ve already met your true love, haven’t you?”
My stomach rolls.
“That’s right,” Nina answers.
Even though the audience isn’t under any kind of spell, I look around, noticing they’re all rapt, desperate to know where this is going.
Nowhere. That’s where—along with the unbidden and unwanted attraction I’m feeling. My life is a mess and there’s absolutely no reason for me to be interested in Nina. Shutting that down, too.
The hypnotist continues, “I need one more volunteer. Someone willing to join Nina on this journey into, well, we’ll call it forever.”
Before I can process what’s happening, Grady’s hand lands on my back with enough force to send me shooting from my chair, across the ice, and into the boards. No wonder he’s one of the most dangerous defenders in the league.
“Our boy Lane volunteers!” Pierre shouts.
The rest of the team immediately picks up the chant. “Lane! Lane! Lane!”
“What the—?” I start, but Liam and Jack have already grabbed my arms and are propelling me toward the stage. To their credit, they are formidable on the ice and off. There’s no way I’m getting out of their clutchesunless I make a scene.
“This is what you get for sulking and brooding all night,” Pierre says with a grin.
Liam winks. “Consider it team bonding.”
“I’m going to—” Words promising revenge are on my lips, but it’s too late. The hypnotist is already beckoning me forward, and the crowd is applauding like they’re all too pleased to see me.
Yeah, see me ruin my career. Get farmed out. Make a fool of myself.
Just before the blazing stage lights glare so I can’t see the individuals on my so-called team who did not mind their own business, I notice they all wear smirks that practically shoutThis is what you get for being in “a mood.”Good to know they’re all a bunch of jokesters.
Coach Badaszek is somewhere out there and told me he doesn’t tolerate drama. That the Knights are a family.
Some family.
Then again, I never had much of one, so what do I know?
I’ve also heard that the man is a secret matchmaker. Some kind of hockey love connection Cupid, who has a “no puck bunny” policy while playing dating coach and coaching arguably one of the top three teams in the NHL.
Are the rumors true? Far be it from me to find out.
I take a few tentative steps forward, ready to bolt if necessary. Okay, I’m calculating how many strides I can take toward the exit before breaking into a run, then possibly getting tackled. We don’t play football, but my teammates are rough when they want to be. I’ve played against them to know that all too well.
Lucian holds his hand out for me to shake. “As you know, I’m tonight’s entertainment. Though that’s but one way to think about it. Some people call me a miracle worker, but I don’t take credit for that. Others, a change agent.” He shrugs asif humble. “I prefer to think of myself as a psychological professional.”
Probably a quack. After all, this is anentertainmentshowcase. There was an illusionist and contortionists earlier. What’s next, an improv group?
The spotlight finds us. When in a packed arena, I don’t so much as flinch at the thousands of eyes watching my every move. But here, this quickly becomes unnerving.
Unlucky me, I’m on stage with a so-called hypnotist. Lucky me, I’m also with the beautiful blond woman I noticed earlier across the room. I suppose it could be worse. I still have a pulse—one that repeatedly trips in her presence.
Lucian says, “And whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?”
