“Ha. No thanks, I’d rather take a skate to the leg than get on a stage and perform.”
“It’s not much different than what you do on the ice. You perform for an audience the same way I do,” I tell him. His eyes widen a bit before his arms fall to his sides.
“You think playing hockey and acting on stage are the same? Last time I checked, you don’t have to watch for pucks coming at you at one hundred miles per hour.”
Standing from my seat, I slap my hands on the desk.
“I never said they were the same. I said they weren’t that different. Listening comprehension is important, Jamie.” I know I’m poking the bear, but I don’t care. For some reason, getting a rise out of him is satisfying.
Jamie’s palms land on the desk as we mirror each other. His narrowed green eyes stare into mine as if this is some sort of stand-off. As if we were wolves just waiting for the other to attack. The tension between us is palpable, and I can’t tell if it’s the kind that says we want to kill one another, or if it’s the kind that says we want to kiss one another. I’d like to think it’s not the latter, but there’s a part of me feels like it is.
“Keep looking at my lips Sweetheart, and I’m gonna think you want to kiss me,” Jamie grins cockily.
I can feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment as I look up from his lips and back to his eyes. I hadn’t even realized I’d been staring at his lips, and I hate that he caught me. I don’t need to inflate his ego even more.
“Let’s just get to work,” I tell him, sitting back down and gesturing for him to take the chair across from me. He sits slowly, never taking his eyes off of me. I feel his gaze as I sort through the paperwork and notes on my desk.
“Right, yeah. Let’s do that.”
Rolling my eyes, I read through some notes I’d taken with my ideas for the event. I decide I’ll start with the easiest thing, a name for the fundraiser. I didn’t exactly know what name would fit this sort of thing, but I think this one stood out the most to me, and I think Jamie will like it.
“Let’s start with a name. I came up with a few, and this is the one I liked the best,” I tell him, flipping the paper so he can read what I’m pointing to.
He stares at the page for far too long before his eyes narrow andhe scoffs.
“You’re kidding.”
My head snaps up. “Excuse me?”
“Pucks and Props?” Jamie says, pointing at the paper like it personally offended him. “That’s what you landed on? Really?”
My brow furrows and my fists clench. “It’s catchy,” I say defensively. “And brings together both groups.”
Jamie shakes his head. “Sure, we’ll go with that.”
Leaning back in my chair, I cross my arms. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you have a suggestion?”
“Yeah,” he says easily. “Literally anything that doesn’t make me sound like an ass when announcing it.”
I chuckle. “Well that eliminates, hmm, everything.
Jamie’s eyes narrow, and he smirks sarcastically.
“That was a good one. I’m offended. Ouch,” he mocks.
I knew this was going to be challenging, us working together. However, I didn’t expect it to be like this. There’s just so many unresolved feelings between us, and we’ve both got our own shit going on. That’s why we need to put our feelings for each other aside and focus on work. Easier said than done, I guess.
“Fine,” Jamie says finally. “Pucks and Props it is.”
A slow grin crosses my face and my brow arches. “That sounded painful.”
“It was,” he says. “I’m going to complain every time I say it.”
My smile is victorious. “I’ll take that as an agreement.”
Jamie leans back in his chair, shaking his head.
“You always did have a way of getting what you want.”
