“Save it.” He cuts me off. “I don’t know what your angle is, but I’m watching. And if you hurt her—if this is some publicity stunt and she gets caught in the crossfire—I will make your life miserable. On the ice and off it.”
The threat hangs in the cold air between us.
I fight the urge to push back, tell him to back off. But the words die in my throat.
He’s not wrong.
Thisisan arrangement. A mutually beneficial agreement with contracts and NDAs and payments.
And if he knew that, well, you saw the contract. My career would be over.
So I lie.
Sort of.
“I’m not playing games with her,” I say quietly. And that part, at least, feels true. “I care about her. I’m not going to hurt her.”
That one is true.
“You better not.” He steps past me, heading back toward the locker room.
I should let it go, but?—
“What’s your problem, Derek? Why are you so against this?” I keep my voice low, but it holds an edge. “Did I do something to you in a previous life?”
Derek stills, glancing over his shoulder, his eyes dark in the tunnel light. “The fact that you don’t know is exactly why.”
He keeps walking. Leaving me standing in the empty tunnel with my heart still racing and absolutely no idea what just happened.
What don’t I know?
What am I missing?
I stand there for another minute, trying to piece it together.
Nothing.
Finally, I give up, head out the tunnel. I’m almost to my car when the Blue Ox social media and PR coordinator, Felicity, calls from behind me. It’s never a good idea to stop and acknowledge her. Trust me on this. “Brody! Got a second?”
I don’t stop, just turn around and keep walking backward. “Yeah, what’s up?”
She’s running up to me. “I saw the photos from Saturday night. You two look great together.” She’s got her tablet out, scrolling. “Very natural. The bowling pictures especially—people are eating it up.”
I slow. “That’s good.”
“It is. And I’ve been thinking…” She looks up. “Chloe’s event planning business. I did some research. She’s got a great eye—those decorations Saturday were professional level. But she’s struggling to break through, right? Small client base, not a lot of visibility.”
I nod slowly.
“I’d like to help,” Felicity says. “I have a few friends in the wedding and events industry who could shine a light on her business. Maybe give her a boost.”
I study her, looking for the catch.
But her expression is genuine. Professional.
Kind.
“That would be great,” I say finally. “I’m sure she’d appreciate it.”
