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Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Jordy

Following dinner at the Grizzly Grill, because Lola wanted a big, fat, greasy burger with the works , I’m scrolling through Instagram, waiting for her to come back from the restroom.

“Holy shit,” I mutter to myself as I read the announcement Wade and Kali made this afternoon stating they are officially dating then smile. I knew he liked her, but I didn’t know they were actually fucking.

I drop Wade a congratulatory message.

Me:

Happy for you, buddy.

Wade:

Cheers, man.

Me:

Dropped your uniform bag off at your new house.

Wade:

But I wasn’t there.

Me:

Lola was ;)

Wade:

She’s engaged. Back off.

Me:

You sure about that?

Wade:

Why, what’s happened?

Me:

I’m sure she’ll explain when she sees you.

Me:

Your new place is cool. I approve.

Wade:

Thanks, see you tomorrow night at the game.

I’m happy for Wade, and at least someone is getting their dick wet.

Not me though. Nope.

Not since Sienna left for LA to pursue her acting career three months ago.

The girl I thought I would grow old with.

The girl who broke my heart so badly I thought it would never heal.

That is, until recently.

At the time, I blamed myself for letting her leave. I didn’t want her to accept her first big starring role in a new sitcom thousands of miles away from me. But it would have been wrong to hold her back.

I couldn’t clip her wings. LA was where she should have been all along. Maybe I should have gone with her. But I didn’t. Couldn’t because of my contract.

I love hockey; it flows through my veins like it’s part of my DNA.

And while playing hockey for the Eagles is a dream come true for me, I would have transferred if Sienna had asked, but her request never came.

Deep down, I thought if we were meant to be, she would find her way back to me. She never did.

After getting injured last season, I focused on healing my knee and coming back stronger, so I could sign the eight-year extension the Eagles offered me, and in the end, I didn’t fight for her. I had this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach that she didn’t want me to.

Maybe that’s what hurt the most.

After months, I finally feel like the old me again.

Maybe it’s because I’m with Lola tonight.

I can’t explain it, but when I’m around her, something fucking mental happens deep in my stomach and makes my dick stand to attention.

It’s becoming a huge fucking problem.

I can’t deny it’s a good sign though. It’s the first time my dick has liked anyone since Sienna, which means I am over her, and my heart has finally read the memo.

Lola returns from the restroom, and my stomach does that weird somersault thing again at the sound of her voice.

“I paid the bill,” she states.

I snap my head up from my phone then place it screen down on the table. “What? Hell, no. I asked you out for dinner because I wanted to cheer you up. It was supposed to be my treat.”

She slides into the leather seating booth opposite me, smirking. “Well, it’s paid, and anyway, it was my way of saying thanks for cheering me up.”

My plan is working.

Thank fuck. I was thinking on my feet when I suggested I take her out for the night.

I had no plan. None whatsoever. But she seems to have enjoyed the meal so far, and while she was in the restroom, I decided what we’re doing next.

Being this close to her feels unreal. I’ve always thought Lola was someone I’d love to get to know better—maybe even take out on a date. But I can’t. She’s completely off-limits. As an Eagles’ employee, she falls under the strict no-relationship policy. Getting involved with her isn’t just risky—it’s forbidden.

I clear my throat, ignoring how attracted I am to her, and look around the diner that’s much quieter than it was earlier. Sitting in one of their private booths with no one around us was only made possible by slipping the hostess a stack of dollar bills. The last thing I need is a fan recognizing me and pestering me for a selfie, especially if I am out looking like I’m on a date with Wade’s assistant. Which I’m not.

Tonight, all I want to do is spend time with Lola and make her smile again. Which I’ve managed to do a lot already.

When she talks about something she loves, it makes her all animated and excitable, and her eyes sparkle with genuine happiness, like a kid visiting a carnival for the first time. I’m fascinated by the way her lips curve. It’s impossible not to smile back.

She’s beautiful.

She’s off limits, Jordy.

Lola’s phone rings out for the millionth time tonight. Graham has been texting non-stop. He’s been full of remorse; feeding her bullshit lies and trying to cover up his infidelity.

“I’m blocking him.” She stares down at the ringing phone, hesitating.

“Let me do the honors.” I lift her phone off the table, hit decline and then search for his contact details before pressing the Block Caller button. “Done.”

Rubbing her hand across her forehead, she asks, “How can I go from loving him one minute to hating him the next?”

“It’s easy to hate someone when they hurt you.” I slide her phone back across the table, wanting to punch Graham in the face for the pain he’s inflicted on her.

She scowls, her lips forming a thin line before she adds, “I feel like he wasted my time. If he wasn’t serious about us, then he should have done the decent thing and not asked me to marry him or let me organize a big, stupid wedding.” Sighing, she looks away, as if deep in thought. “I thought he was one of the good guys. I hate being wrong.”

“It’s okay to feel all of those things, just don’t let them eat you up. Breakups make you feel like you’re on an emotional roller-coaster but you need to stop giving him access to your emotions.”

“Emotionally cut him off.”

“Exactly.”

“Then I’m going to cut off his balls.” She makes a chopping gesture with her hand against the tabletop.

I cup my junk. “Remind me never to fuck you over.”

She giggles, then rests her chin in the palm of her hand. “So, what’s next? Tequila?”

“Nope.” I shuffle out of the booth and point in the direction of the door. “There is no alcohol involved tonight. I told you that.”

“I’m never going out with you again,” she jokes, shaking her head with a smile before grabbing her jacket.

She takes the hand I offer to help her out of her seat, causing a thrilling rush, like a current of energy, to run through my veins.

“Are you regretting not having a cocktail with your meal?” I ask, dropping her hand as she puts her jacket on, then pulls on her woolen hat and grabs her fancy designer purse.

“No. Does that make me boring?” she asks, pushing the handles of her purse up over her shoulder, securing it in place.

“You are the most interesting person I know, Lola.”

“I’m going to take you with me everywhere I go. You’re like fuel for my ego.”

“Just stating facts.” It’s the truth.

I cast my eyes around the restaurant. Much quieter now, there are only a couple of tables left dining, but I slide the hood of my jacket over my head to hide my identity as a precaution as we head out.

You just never know.

Not one for public displays of affection, something makes me pull her hand into mine again as we leave the restaurant.

It’s for Lola’s sake, obviously. She needs my kindness and comfort tonight.

You’re lying to yourself, Jordan.

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing next?” she asks sweetly as I push the door open and usher Lola outside.

Dropping my hand, she zips her jacket up to her neck as we’re hit with a wall of icy air, making us both shiver. I copy Lola, zipping up my jacket too before lifting my shoulders to my ears to protect them from the cold as the wind blows into my hood.

We quickly walk in the direction of my truck, through the snow that’s become deeper since we arrived.

My truck makes a clunk sound when I hit the unlock button on my key fob and walk ahead of Lola. I pull open the passenger door and quickly lift her into the cab which makes her squeal with surprise then laugh.

Which is a great sound. How I imagine angels singing.

Fucking hell, what is wrong with me?

Once she’s safely inside, I round the front of the truck and pull myself into the cab to join her. Chunks of compacted snow fall from the roof when I slam the door.

“It wasn’t supposed to snow this heavy tonight.” I brush the white flecks off my jacket before starting the truck, sending a blast of heat into the cab.

“I love the snow,” Lola admits, pulling her seatbelt over her shoulder, then clicking it into the latch.

“Yeah?” I put the truck into drive, pausing for a moment, much preferring to watch her admire the falling snow.

“I would make a snowman with my dad every year. It was our mission to make it last all winter. Patching him up, replacing his carrot nose if a rabbit stole it. He stayed perfect until the snow thawed. It was fun.”

“Wade told me your dad died. I’m sorry.” I reach out and place my hand on her thigh. It’s possibly a little too forward of me, but for some reason, since we hugged at Wade’s earlier, I always want to be touching her.

“It’s fine. I’m fine,” she replies, brushing me off too quickly.

I shoot her a you can tell me the truth look.

Crossing her arms and looking away, she lets out a dramatic sigh. “Okay, I’m not fine. But I’ve got really good at pushing all the bad feelings away lately.”

“Expert level good?”

“Yeah.”

“I was there, once.”

Looking back at me, she cocks her head to the side, then asks, “When?”

I tap the steering wheel before I finally confess, “When Sienna left. It hurt like hell and I never told a soul what I was feeling at the time. To distract me, I threw myself into healing my knee.”

Nodding her head in understanding, she says, “It hurt because you have all that history together and you have to admit she was beautiful.”

“I guess.” You’re more beautiful , I want to tell Lola but stop myself.

“You were together for a long time.”

“Since high school.” I confirm.

Lola lays her hand over mine which is still resting on her thigh. “It can take years to get over a breakup. What did you say to me back at Wade’s?”

“I don’t remember.” I said a lot of things, trying to make her feel better.

“It won’t always feel so bad,” she repeats to remind me.

I feel great tonight, but I keep that to myself.

“You’re a big guy. Your heart is probably bigger than most people's.” She shoots me a heart-stopping smile. “Maybe that’s why it hurt more than you would have liked.”

“Maybe.”

She removes her hand, and instantly I miss her touch. I release the parking brake and effortlessly, the truck drives over the snow, the tires crunching loudly beneath us as we exit the parking lot and head in the direction of our next destination, which is only five minutes from the restaurant.

“So where are we off to next, Wingman?” she asks.

I throw my head back, laughing at her double meaning of my team position and the role I am playing tonight as her supportive friend. “I’m not helping you to hook up with anyone. I draw the line at being that kind of wingman. Rebound fucks are never a good idea.” And I’ll be damned if I watch her doing that with anyone other than me.

Fuck, what am I thinking?

Seemingly not happy with my radio station, Lola reaches out to change it and asks, “Rebound fucks? You sound like a man talking from experience.”

“I’m not.”

She scrolls through the digital radio menu. “Why do I not believe that for a second? You are the sexiest guy on the team.”

I check her cheeks and she’s not even blushing at that statement.

“I think Wade won that online poll last month, did he not?” I ask.

“Ugh,” she gags. “He’s not sexy. God. No way. That’s just wrong.”

I’m shocked by her reaction. “Is that because you’re his assistant?”

“Yeah, that, among many other reasons.” She pauses as if she’s said too much.

“And he’s dating Kali,” I state.

A small gasp is followed by a question. “How do you know that?”

“They announced it today on Instagram.”

“Did they? Thank God. I can finally talk about how cute they are together.” She lets out a long exhale as if she’s been carrying their secret around for far too long.

“You knew?”

“For a while, yeah. I caught them kissing.” She swoons. “It was so obvious though.”

It was.

I keep digging. “So, what are the other reasons for you not finding Wade sexy? Is he not good to work for?” I like Wade. He’s one of my closest friends, but if I find out he’s been unprofessional toward her, I will gut him.

She punches my shoulder, although it’s hardly a punch, more like a tap. “Jordy,” she exclaims. “How could you think that? Wade is a great boss.” Pausing for a minute, she then continues, “I’m his assistant, nothing more.”

Lola not finding him attractive is weird. All the puck bunnies love him now he’s turned his life back around. Lola’s piqued my interest. “So, you’re not interested in Wade, but you think I’m sexy?” I clarify.

“Very.” She looks over at me then bites her bottom lip seductively.

I struggle to focus my attention on the snow-covered roads after her admission.

“I’m guessing Wade told you that already though, Mr. Miller?”

“You told Wade you think I’m sexy?” My heart beats out of time, causing me to cough to correct it.

“I was engaged, not blind, Jordy.”

“You’re not engaged anymore.”

“Nope, and you’re still sexy.” Her mouth curves into a decadent smile before she says, “You have a great face.”

I shift in my seat feeling hot suddenly. She’s flirting with me, and fuck, I’m definitely flirting back. “I might like yours too.”

“Yeah?”

I take a right at the next junction. “You are very beautiful.”

Her small inhale makes me smile.

“I appreciate the compliment,” she says eventually.

“I’m guessing Graham hasn’t told you for a while?”

“Graham hasn’t said a lot of things for a very long time. He did welcome the investment I made in his new shop with open arms though. The bastard. I hate him, by the way. Did I tell you that?” She doesn’t wait for my response. “Let’s not talk about him anymore. I’m pushing these feelings down. You’re right, he doesn’t deserve to live rent-free in my head.”

I want to believe her, but I have a feeling she might break down again before the night is through.

Lola finally selects a radio channel and switches the mood. “Oh, I love this song.” Turning the volume up, the cab fills with Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Getting Back Together” and our conversation dries up as Lola sings her heart out.

She urges me to join in when she holds out an invisible microphone she makes with her clenched fist.

I can’t help myself from smiling. She’s fun and I like her.

More than I should.

Minutes later, I lower the volume, then push the blinker down and pull up outside our destination.

Turning off my truck, I give her some reassurance. “Karma is a bitch, you know. Graham will get what’s coming to him.”

“I believe that too.” She nibbles her bottom lip. “I’m so glad I didn’t buy the house we looked at last week. Or worse, marry him. God, what an idiot I've been. What was I thinking?”

“It was a lucky escape,” I tell her confidently.

“It was. Onwards and upwards.”

She’s doing a great job at masking her heartache. Something I was great at doing myself.

“We’re here.” I point my chin at the junkyard-looking entrance of the venue.

“This is your plan?” Lola asks curiously, looking out of the passenger window as she reads the sign. “Oh, I think I’ve heard of this place. Is it what I think it is?”

“It’s a rage room where you get to smash up anything and everything. It’s better than therapy.” This I can vouch for. I did it when my knee injury was taking forever to heal. I did it another time when we lost the Stanley Cup six years ago, and again the day Sienna left. It’s exhilarating.

Absentmindedly, she scratches her head through her hat. It has two huge fluffy pom-poms on top making her look cute.

I’ll openly admit, I’ve liked her since she started working for the Eagles. As Wade’s assistant, I see her in and around the offices, locker room, and in the arena. The way all five foot two of her has Wade, our biggest defenseman on the team, wrapped around her little finger is laughable. The other week she appeared unannounced in the locker room, apologizing profusely as she snaked her way through a sea of partially naked Eagles’ players. She was peeking through her fingers while holding Wade’s suit bag in the other hand as she scolded him, telling him it was the last time she would bring his clothes to the arena if he forgot them again, and she’d make him do his next interview naked. It had us all in fits.

She’s a fucking tornado.

Intelligent and effortlessly funny.

Usually full of laughter, tonight gutted me when I saw her crying.

Graham doesn’t deserve her.

Sometimes, when I see her car parked at the arena, I’ll find an excuse to visit the main administration offices. A sixty-second fix of Lola’s positivity is enough to power my entire day and always helps me perform better in the gym for some unfathomable reason. It's weird how this tiny girl packs more punch than the world’s strongest coffee.

I point to the sign above the door. “It’s time to let all of that rage out without going to prison.” I pull the door handle and leap out of my truck to find her hesitantly sitting in place. “I promise it will make you feel so much better. You can imagine it’s Graham’s balls you’re smashing.”

Quicker than a bullet train, she’s standing on the curbside.

I smile smugly, knowing that would convince her.

Looking up at the night sky, I say, “It’s snowing heavier now. We might not be able to stay for the full hour.”

“I don’t care, as long as I get to smash something that feels like Graham’s testicles… and let’s not forget Nicole’s face too.”

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