Page 50 of Double Puck

"But your parents are divorcing. You've just discovered your father had an affair and your brother lied to you." She pauses. "But you know what I saw? You walked in here smiling."

Well.

Fuck.

I shift deeper into the chair. "Maybe I'm naturally resilient."

"Maybe."

"Excellent. Therapy complete."

I go to escape again, but this tiny woman has a goddamn stranglehold on me.

"Or maybe something else has your attention."

I collapse back in the chair.

Something else.

Do I tell my brand-new therapist I kissed the team analyst last night?

Do I tell her I've spent every night since Darcy Madden threatened to trade my ass halfway across the country with my hand wrapped around my dick because apparently nothing gets Beck Morrison going like professional rejection and a woman who looks at him like he's a particularly irritating roster error?

Probably not.

There are some things that should remain between a man, his shower, and whatever higher power is currently having a fucking field day with his life.

But Poppy's watching me again.

Waiting.

God, I hate the waiting.

"There might be a woman."

Her expression doesn't change. "Might be?"

"Okay… there's definitely a woman." I shift in the chair, rubbing a hand over my face. "And before you ask, yes, she's the same woman currently assessing whether I deserve to keep playing for the Bears."

"The team analyst."

I narrow my eyes. "You really did get a file."

"I work for the team, Beck."

"Right." I point at her. "Still. Feels invasive."

Poppy's mouth twitches before she glances down at her notes. "And has something happened with Darcy?"

The memory of kissing Darcy against the kitchen counter hits instantly.

My entire body warms.

"Yeah." I clear my throat. "We kissed."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"Like I'd quite enthusiastically like to do it again."