Donovan (Face-Off 3)

“Oh, shit,” Tyler says, stealing the show with his dominance as he moves through the crowd to get to Regan. “Are you gonna tell your dad we’re up to no good again?”

Regan blushes, looking away from him and to me. She holds my gaze for a few seconds before rolling her eyes at Tyler. “Will you ever let me live that down, Kane? I was a kid back then.”

“You’re not a kid anymore,” he jokes, and that earns him an elbow to the biceps from Regan.

“Shut it, Kane, before I shut it for you.”

After Carter and Sydney exchange their pleasantries with Regan, I start to feel left out of this conversation. Everyone seems to know Regan except for me. And she never had the chance to answer my question.

“So, you’re with Coach,” Regan says to me. “I had no idea.”

“Why? Would you have treated me differently if I you had known?”

She nods. “Yes, actually, I would have.”

“Meaning?” I ask, hoping she will elaborate.

“I was about to say yes…but now…” Her voice trails off, leaving me even more confused by the conversation. What has changed since Charlie and the gang had to show up and ruin everything?

“I don’t mix business with pleasure. Sorry.” She gives my arm a pity stroke that sets my skin on fire. Why is she sorry?

Regan flashes a tiny small before saying her goodbye’s to everyone in our group, including me. “It was nice meeting you, Jameson.”

“Wait.” I grab her forearm as she walks away. “You never answered my question.”

A sullen expression crosses her face. “Under different circumstances, I would’ve said yes to you in a heartbeat.”

“What circumstances?” I ask, bewildered.

“I can’t get mixed up in my father’s business. Sorry. It’s just not a good idea. But I’m glad we met. Come by and see me sometime. I'll make sure you have nachos for the next game.”

Without giving me time to interject, she waves over her shoulder at me, falling in line with the rest of the crowd, as she strolls down the hall.

Charlie leans close and whispers into my ear. “Did you ask Regan out?”

I frown. “Yeah, but she shot me down.”

“She doesn’t date athletes.”

“But I’m not an athlete,” I counter.

Charlie shrugs. “Yeah, but I bet she thinks you are one just by association with me.”

“Why would she think I’m one of your players?” I stare down at my clothes. I’m built, but nowhere near the kind of conditioning that screams professional athlete.

“You’re in much better shape that you realize, Jamie.” She acts nonchalant. “It’s probably for the best. If things didn’t work out for you, it would mess up my relationship with her father, and I can’t have that.”

“Who is her father?” The question of the hour.

“Mike Turner.”

It takes me a minute to recognize the name. “Her dad is the Mike Turner?”

“The one and only,” Charlotte says.

I scratch the stubble on my chin, trying to process the news. Mike Turner is the general manager for the Flyers, a hall of famer, and one of the most legendary hockey players to step onto the ice. “I guess that makes her like hockey royalty.”

Charlie nods. “Yup, which also makes her off-limits to you.”