My Hockey Crush Used Me for Stress Relief, He Hasn't Scored Since I LeftChapter 3

The team party is on the top floor of the hotel.

I don't want to go. But Maddie won't let me bail.

"Nina. Half that trophy is yours."

"You found the gap in Krieger's coverage. You called that switch on the power play. You built the whole damn model."

"They didn't put you on the podium. Are you seriously going to hide tonight, too?"

So in the end, I go.

* * *

Cole is in the center of the room when we arrive, surrounded by his teammates.

Anna stands beside him in a red dress, livestreaming to her followers.

She's even managed to get her feed projected onto the giant LED screen in the middle of the room.

"Okay, guys, I'm lending Cole to you for ten whole minutes tonight..."

Comments race up the screen.

"Power couple ALERT"

"KISS! KISS! KISS!"

Anna turns to him with a laugh. "Fans say a champion needs a reward."

She loops her arm around Cole's neck and kisses him.

The room explodes.

Instead of pulling away, Cole keeps his hand planted on Anna's waist.

I look down at my drink, pretending I'm not blinking back the sting in my eyes.

When I look up again, they're still kissing.

But Cole's eyes are on me.

He's looking at me like he's waiting for me to get mad, to shut down and walk out the way I always do, so he can come find me later and smooth it over with a joke.

I raise my glass at him.

"Congrats."

Like I'm toasting a stranger.

His eyes go cold.

I turn and walk out onto the terrace.

* * *

I've just opened the Toronto fellowship email when hands slide around my waist from behind.

"Why're you hiding out here?"

Cole's chin drops onto my shoulder. He smells like champagne.

I pry his arms off me. "Get off."

He laughs, low. "You weren't this shy last night."

I shove him back, hard. "Cole. I told you to keep your distance."

His face finally goes cold. "Because of Anna? Just one kiss?"

"Half the team was chanting."

"If I ducked her in front of everybody, you know how humiliating that would've been for her?"

I open my mouth to answer.

But the terrace door slides open.

"Cole?"

Anna. Silhouette in the doorway.

"There you are. I've been looking everywhere."

Cole moves fast. He grabs the heavy curtain and pulls it shut, tucking me completely behind it.

Like he's hiding something he can't afford to be seen with.

"Somebody out here with you?" Anna asks.

"Nope." No hesitation. "Just me."

They leave together.

I stay there in the dark, staring down at my phone.

[Confirmation is final. No withdrawals without cause.]

I press send.