“Hey, coach. Good game so far. What’s up?” Easton rubs the back of his neck.
“Don’t you guys bug Eve enough when she’s watching you practice? Beat it,” Cole says.
“Give ‘em hell,” Easton says before returning to his friends.
“Hey, Kincaid. Can I get your autograph? Will you sign a puck for me?” I joke.
Cole cocks his head, mouth twisting wryly. “Funny.”
“Sign your stick for her.” Jess snorts at the gaping look we both throw her. “What? I didn’t say sign her boobs.”
“Jess,” I hiss.
“Kidding, jeez. You started it.”
She pokes me and the blanket falls from my lap. I suppress a shiver.
“You know, the coach’s daughter should know better than to show up to a hockey game without dressing warm enough,” he says with a handsome smirk.
His teasing makes me blush. “I forgot my coat and didn’t want to miss out on getting good seats. I’m taking one for the team.”
Chuckling, he holds up the coat he brought over. “I figured. I saw you between my line’s shifts sharing the blanket with Jess. We can’t have you catching another cold, right? Here, wear mine.”
He drapes his coaching jacket around my shoulders. His mesmerizing green eyes smolder as he zips it for me, stirring a flutter. This time I’m suppressing a shiver for an entirely different reason. My pulse speeds up, heart drumming wildly.
“Looks good on you,” he murmurs.
Mentally, I’m kicking my feet and screaming. It means something to a hockey player when you wear his number. I can’t help but wonder if this has the same meaning for him.
The Heston U players make a ruckus, cupping their hands around their mouths and elbowing each other.
“Ohh, coach got game!”
Cole flips them off without looking. “Can it.”
“Thank you,” I say.
“Better?” He rubs my arms to help me warm up.
“Much better.”
“Enjoy the game, girls.”
“Good luck out there.”
His eyes bounce between mine. “Can’t lose with you watching.”
Jess bumps her shoulder against mine when the players take the ice for second period. “Um. How long has this been going on?”
“What?” I blink rapidly. “There’s nothing going on.”
“This is totally a thing.”
I fold like a house of cards under the weight of her skeptical stare. “Don’t tell Benson. We’re not really—It’s complicated, okay? He doesn’t know I like Cole.”
She mimes locking her lips. “Girl, that’s your business and I support it. Benson won’t know a thing.”
“You’re the best sister.” I hook my arm with hers.
