Playing to Win

She was right, of course. “But that wouldn’t have been as funny.”

Her lips flattened into a thin line.

I put up my hands between us, signaling my surrender. “Fine. I’m sorry. It was just a joke. I do want to talk to you, though.”

She started walking again. “Too bad. I don’t want to talk to you.”

Before she could go too far, I caught hold of her wrist. She stopped with a gasp, her eyes wide and mouth open.

Maybe I’d been the one to go too far.

I dropped her wrist. “Sorry.” I ran my fingers through my hair, irritated with this whole situation. “Listen, I don’t know what the big deal is about your parking spot, but I won’t park there again. I just wanted to talk to you and was trying to be funny.” I made a face. “Epic fail. Message received. But come on, we’re on the same team. I don’t want to fight with you.”

She didn’t say anything, just stared at me long enough, I felt my ears get hot. Finally, she lifted her chin and took a step toward me, the top her her head barely reaching my chin.

“Teammate or not, hockey is my life,” she said, poking my chest with her finger. “Don’t mess with me or my game. Got it? We are not friends.”

Good hell, she was gorgeous.

Heart in my throat, it was all I could do to nod.

“Good.” She jabbed me again for good measure before spinning on her heel and walking away.

Convinced she was wrong, I waited until she disappeared to start down the hall in the opposite direction to put away my guitar. We were teammates and if I had anything to do about it, we wouldn’t just be friends, we’d be more.

CHAPTER FOUR

Jordan

I’d only met Asher Sloane twenty-four hours ago and already he drove me crazy! Just who did he think he was, anyway? Parking in my spot. Trying to take my place on the team. Well, he could just go right back where he came from!

“Wow. Two mornings in a row?” Natalie asked, eyes wary.

“Ugh! It’s that Asher guy. He’s determined to ruin my senior year.”

Natalie frowned. “What, did he park in your spot again?”

“Yes, but you were right. It’s a stupid parking spot. It’s the fact he did it just to make me mad.” He said he did it to be funny, but I didn’t believe him. The guy was out to get me.

“Why would he want to do that?”

I shrugged. “Because he’s a jerk? And I hate him?”

Natalie made a face. “You don’t even know him. How can you hate him?”

“Stop being so reasonable!”

“Who’s being reasonable?” Kelly asked, joining us with wet hair and a fresh face.

Natalie rolled her eyes. “I think the real question is who’s being unreasonable.”

“You’re supposed to be on my team, Nat.”

Natalie threw up her arms. “I am. I’m just saying, give the guy a chance. He’s only been here one day.”

“Really? This again? What did he do this time?” Kelly shook her head, clearly exasperated.

“He parked in her spot again.” Natalie pumped her eyebrows at Kelly.

Kelly’s lips split into a grin. “Did he, now?”

“What’s that supposed to mean,” I asked.

Kelly flipped her hair over her shoulder. “It means he’s a delicious piece of eye candy and he’s flirting with you.”

My jaw dropped. “No, he isn’t! How could you say that?”

Kelly glanced at Natalie. “She’s in denial.”

Natalie nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.

“I am not! And it doesn’t matter anyway. He’s my teammate.” I took a second to relish the satisfaction of shutting them both up. “And you know the rule, no falling for a teammate.”

“But you’ve thought about it.” Natalie said. “You’ve thought about it or you wouldn’t have brought up the rule. Admit it. You think he’s GOR-geous.”

I inhaled a deep breath filled with long-suffering and reminded myself I’d been friends with these two for a decade, too long to turn my back on them for being such complete ninnies!

“It doesn’t matter if I think he’s good looking.” And heaven only knew, I did! “He’s my teammate, and a parking spot thief.”