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He’s right. I need to get out there tonight. My hands shake. “I’m going to fall. I’m going to space out again and fall on my ass.”
He grips my head impatiently. “Pepper, if you space out again, you’ll hit your head on the ice.” He steps closer as if it’s even possible. “You came to me with your eyes closed. How did you do that?”
I lift my gaze. “I followed a line that I drew to you.”
After a beat, the corner of his lips perks. “I promise you won’t fall.”
“I bet you I will,” I counter stubbornly.
His eyes drop to my mouth and he chuckles. “You don’t want to make a bet with me.”
“Why? You have high stakes or something? Name it.”
Chase puts his hands on my hips and presses his forehead to mine. “Loser gets on their knees.”
My chest hikes with a sharp breath. “Chase Reeves doesn’t get on his knees.”
His lip twitches. “I’ll never get down on one knee for you, Pepper. But if I did, it’ll likely be both of them.”
“You’re on.”
Another chuckle. “Pepper—”
“Afraid you’ll lose?”
He pulls back and sweeps his eyes over me. “You’re not going to fall. So start licking those lips, sweetheart.”
With that, he walks out of Lonnie’s office.
16
It’s electric. The crowd. The cheers. The air. And I’m in the middle of it all. The energy is so contagious, I’m glowing with it.
The cheering turns rabid when the Denver Kings hit the ice. I’m surrounded by poster signs with hand drawn hearts and big letters that read;
Chase “The King” Reeves
Make Me Your Queen, King.
and All Hail, the Kings of the Ice—at least that one goes out to them all.
The teams skate around briefly before taking their position on their respective blue lines. Even when the arena falls into a unified anthem, there’s an intense energy I’m honored to be part of.
“This is so cool.”
“What? You’re cold?” Tracy shouts.
“I said this is so cool.”
“Ooh.” She frowns. “It’s been a while since you’ve skated at a game, huh?”
Oh. Right. “It just never ceases to amaze me.”
“How’s the practice and physical therapy going?”
I blink and nod. I was not prepared for more lies this evening. I stretch out my arms and settle for the truth. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
She smiles and winks. “We got you covered if you need to take a break. What was it again, your left leg or the right one?”
