Page 65

My heart beats faster when I think about it, and my smile broadens even more.

25 LEIGH

Isurvived practice, and I didn’t play too terribly. I know it wasn’t to Keanu’s normal standards, but I don’t think I got him in trouble—well, too much trouble, that is. Coach Edwards wasn’t happy that I didn’t return to the bench when he told me to. But at least I put Jack in his place. He kept trying to make me look bad, and I had enough of his attitude.

“Wow, I think you downplayed your talents,” Simon tells me when no one is around to eavesdrop.

We hang back and let everyone veer for the dressing room ahead of us. I don’t plan to take a shower in front of Keanu’s teammates. That’d be weird as hell.

“So, do you think I can survive the game tonight?”

“Yeah, I think you’ll be all right. Coach Edwards might not use you as much, though.”

“Why?”

“He holds a grudge, and you pissed him off.” Simon laughs.

I frown. “I didn’t know that.”

“Don’t look so glum. It’s in your best interest to play as little as possible. We don’t want you getting hurt out there.”

“True.” I bite my lower lip. “But I don’t want to mess up Keanu’s career either.”

“You won’t.” Keanu appears out of nowhere, scaring the crap out of me.

I press my hand against my chest. “Where did you come from?”

He sticks his hands into his pockets and shrugs. “I snuck into the practice.”

“Holy shit!” Simon blurts out. “Key, is that really you in there?”

Keanu’s pupils dilate a fraction before he turns to me and smirks. “You couldn’t keep our secret from my best friend either, could you? How ironic.”

“I guess not.” I cross my arms.

“Don’t blame her. There were extenuating circumstances. I’m glad she told me.”

I expect Keanu to ask what kind of extenuating circumstances, but he doesn’t.

“You’re not freaked out?” he asks Simon instead.

“I was for the first fifteen minutes or so, but I had to get over it quickly and focus on practice. Leigh did amazingly, by the way.”

Keanu looks at me, and his eyes turn smoldering. “I know. I saw her.”

My face becomes hot, so I stare at the floor. Is he thinking about what we did last night? “Thanks. I did my best.”

“I specifically enjoyed when you cross-checked Jack. It was priceless.”

I smile. “Yeah, that was fun.”

“Soooo… should we hit the shower?” Simon asks me.

“She’s not taking a shower here,” Keanu grits out.

I was going to say the same thing, but I’m surprised Keanu was quick to answer for me. Is he jealous?

Simon’s brows arch. “Right. Sorry, I forgot. Man, this situation is trippy.”