13. Eva

Thirteen

Eva

The next morning, I wake up feeling like my body is made of static electricity. My lips tingle, my pulse feels too quick, and the memory of Eli’s kiss keeps replaying in my head like a summer hit song.

“Focus, Eva,” I mutter, dragging myself out of bed. Today, I’m going to be productive. No hot hockey player, no distractions, just words on the page.

Except the universe—and Emily—have other plans.

* * *

I barely make it to the lodge café when Emily materializes out of nowhere, dragging me to a of table where Liam and a few other players are sitting.

“Em, I was just—”

“No excuses,” she cuts me off, pushing me into an empty seat. “It’s brunch. You love brunch.”

I do love brunch, but not when Eli Jackson is sitting directly across from me, his dark eyes making my stomach flip.

“Morning,” he says in his usual deep voice but his tone is laced with something that feels far too intimate for a public setting.

“Morning,” I manage, sitting down and avoiding his gaze like it might burn me alive.

The conversation around the table is lively—everyone teasing each other and cracking jokes—but I can barely focus. Every time Eli shifts in his chair or brushes his fingers along the edge of his mug, my heart skips. I imagine his big, strong hands all over my skin. Lord.