Page 50 of Taking Sides

My face heats. “I told you. I’m good.”

“You’ve been distracted all week.”

“Fuck you. I’ve been playing well.” My stats are the best they’ve been in my career. I have the highest points of any defender in the league. I’m getting more scoring opportunities, which has led to more goals, and somehow, I’m also making more assists.

“I don’t mean on the ice.”

Now I’m confused.

Penn’s steps slow as we get closer to the locker room. Travis and Nick are standing in the hallway with our backup goalie, Luke, but I get the feeling Penn doesn’t want them to overhear.

“Does this have something to do with Whitney?” he asks, voice quiet.

I stop walking and then so does he.

“I’m sorry I pushed you to ask her out. Twice.” He winces. “I really thought there was something there.”

It takes me a few seconds to figure out that Penn is worried I’m distracted because he thinks Whitney turned me down.

He mutters to himself, “This is why I don’t get involved like Trav.” He shakes his head, then he smiles at me a little wider than normal. “I shouldn’t have pressured you. I thought you two were a great match, but I was wrong. I’m sorry she turned you down. But if Whitney can’t see how awesome you are under that big, quiet exterior, then it’s her loss. She isn’t that hot. You’ll meet someone when and if you decide it’s the right thing. And if not, then that’s okay. Not everyone has to be in a relationship.”

“Stop.” I hold up a hand before he can say anything else. I’m sorry, did he just say Whitney isn’t that hot? The man needs to have his eyes checked.

He snaps his mouth closed and nods in agreement. I haven’t said anything to my teammates about Whitney because I was enjoying this time where no one else had an opinion on any of it—but especially the part where she’s Victor’s sister.

“She didn’t turn me down.”

His lips part, and his brow wrinkles. “You mean . . . Sorry. What do you mean?”

“Whitney and I had a great time. Twice, actually, and we’ve been talking pretty much nonstop.”

He’s gawking at me like he can’t comprehend the words coming out of my mouth.

“Thank you for pushing me to go to the game. If you hadn’t, then I may not have tried again.” No, I definitely wouldn’t have.

He nods slowly. Confusion is still splashed across his features. “It went well?”

“Yeah. It went great. We went back to her place. And then I saw her last weekend after our home game.”

“And it didn’t end terribly?” he asks again, like he’s apologetic for needing clarification but shocked nonetheless.

One corner of my mouth lifts into a lopsided grin. “No one is more surprised than me.”

He lifts a hand to the top of his head and runs his fingers through his hair as he blows out a breath. “That’s great. I’m . . . wow. Good for you. How come you haven’t said anything?”

“It’s . . .” I let my head fall side to side. “Complicated.”

We reach the other guys.

“Hey,” Trav says.

“Hey,” I reply, and then tip my head at Nick in greeting.

“What’s up with you?” Trav asks, looking at Penn.

Penn blinks the stupor away, but there’s a crease between his brows as he greets Travis and Nick. “Nothing.”

I appreciate that he doesn’t want to tell my secrets, but he’s acting so strange, there’s no way they’re going to let it go.