I dropped my jaw. “Cordero makes your mom jokes?”
He tipped his head. “Jack of all trades, master of your mom.”
I laughed. “That one doesn’t count.”
I let Cordero take his turn blocking shots and skated to find Owen. “What were you talking about?”
Owen’s lip pouted, and it was the most pathetic accidental puppy dog face I’d ever seen. “Garner’s wife told Garner that she heard you were making out with Emma.”
Fuck. Heat flooded my face and neck and I prayed my goalie helmet concealed most of it. “Like Chef Emma?” I let out a hysterical little laugh. “Why would I be making out with Emma?”
More importantly, who told Garner’s wife that, and where did they see us? I wracked my brain for any time we would have been kissing in public. What about in private? Had Miguel caught on at some point? He seemed like the kind of guy who couldn’t care less. And why would he tell Garner’s wife?
A more chilling thought took hold.
Greer. I hadn’t heard from her since the night she was waiting outside my house. I thought I was rid of her, but I should have known better. She just went into hiding. Got sneakier, less obvious. Planning her next move.
“I mean, you guys are friends now. Sometimes friends turn into more,” Owen suggested. “You two were awfully chummy in that video. She did save your life. That brings people together, you know?”
I scoffed. “That’s nuts.”
Cap circled us, getting closer with each spiral. Owen brought out the puppy dog eyes again. “It’d be a real shame if something special was happening in your life and you didn’t tell your best friend.”
Jesus, who taught him these guilt tactics? But to be fair to Emma, I had to keep it covered up. “Yeah. Would be a shame.”
Cap butted in. “I’m good at secrets. I’m a captain. That basically means confidant.”
“That would only work if I had something to confide.” A thought occurred to me. “And actually, it’s really messed up that you’re spreading rumors about Chef when she’s been nothing but good to you. And why is Garner talking shit about me?”
Ha! Try seeing through that, Owen.
I’d tell him eventually. Whenever Emma gave me the go-ahead.
But, she hadn’t, so I continued the little white lie streak.
“Hey, Royce, come here.” Cordero flagged me off to the side while the team shot on an empty net. “I want to show you something with your glove.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
EMMA
MARCH
“I can’t believethe scout from State was there!”
Liam hadn’t stopped gushing since he got home. Whenever he had a game where he was staying with me, we’d stay up, snack, and debrief when he got home. These were precious hours I treasured, and something I’d miss deeply when Liam was gone.
If he ever left. While I’d have loved for Liam to get the chance to play for State, that most likely meant more time in juniors, and thus, another year of having a roommate.
“So, you don’t think they’re looking at anyone else on the team?” I asked.
“Not that I know of. Okay, replay everything the scout told you.”
I laughed and launched into it again, which I had already detailed for him the second I plopped the butter in the pan for his brioche grilled cheese. But after I finished, he completely shocked me.
“I wonder what Royce would think.”
I tried not to let my surprise show. “Yeah?”