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"Yeah, you are. Why?"
Because I have leukemia. Because you have an entire future ahead of you, you big idiot. You can have anything you want…a family, babies. I'll never be able to give you that.
All I have for you is fear. It's not good enough. You deserve more.
I spin away from him to hide the tears welling in my eyes. But I don't say any of that. The words stick in my throat, refusing tocome. "I'm not lying, Kris," I say instead. "Just accept it already. This won't ever happen again."For your sake, it can't.
I slip from the conference room before he can respond, fleeing like a coward. Tears blur my vision as I scurry down the hallway, trying like hell to forget the feel of his hands on my body.
For my sake, I have to forget. And for his, I have to let him go.
Chapter Two
Kris
Now
"Theo has been completely cleared by medical to play."
"Fuck yeah!" Jonas Michaud slaps Theo James on the back, nearly knocking him off the bench in the process. He's the biggest hockey player I've ever met. He's one of the fastest too.
Theo has been out for a while with an injury thanks to an on-ice fight that got nasty. We've been managing without him thanks to Kellan Alexander, but our first Playoffs game is coming up. We need all hands on deck to bring home the Cup.
"Great. Now I won't be the prettiest motherfucker on the ice," Wes Davies complains, earning a middle finger from Theo and laughs from the rest of the team.
"You aren't even in the top ten, Wes." Gray Larsen ducks when Wes launches a half-empty bottle of Gatorade at his dark head. It sails past him, slamming into a locker hard enough to leave a small dent.
"Settle down!" Coach MacAthie barks, calling everyone to order.
I shake my head at my unruly teammates, turning my attention back to the curvy blonde standing beside Coach. Kelsey Lane has been trying like hell to ignore my existence…just like she has every other day since we fucked in the conference room a few weeks ago. If I walk into a room, she finds a reason to leave it. If she can't leave, she simply refuses to acknowledge my presence.
I'm persona non grata to our publicist, and it's driving me fucking crazy.
I'm ready to snap.
I've been chasing her since the day she started with the team over two years ago. But as soon as I get too close, she runs like her little feet are fire, and her gorgeous ass is catching.
A few weeks ago, I thought I had finally caught her. She let me make love to her. But she's been running full speed ahead ever since, trying to outpace me. Anyone else would have given up by now and let her get away. Not me. I knew the day I met her that she was my future. That hasn't changed. My heart beats for her and her alone. It always will.
One of these days, she'll stop running long enough to realize hers is safe with me too. I may be the captain of one of the best teams in the NHL, but hockey is just a game. She's my life.
At least she would be if she weren't so afraid to trust me.
She has a secret, something she's clinging to with both hands. Whatever it is, she's hellbent on keeping it from me. So much so that she avoids me every chance she gets and always has.As soon as she thinks I've gotten too close, she takes off like a rocket.
In all the time she's been here, I don't think anyone else has even realized she's hiding something. Coach, maybe. But the other guys? She's got them fooled. She's good at deflecting. But I've watched her every move for the last two years. I know her like I know the back of my hand.
She hides behind that ballsy attitude and her threats to keep people from getting too close or seeing who she really is underneath. I think it scares the shit out of her to let anyone in. I'd very much like to know why.
One day soon, she's going to spill all her secrets to me. I'm just counting down the days until my time on the ice is done, and then I intend to wage war if that's what it takes to win her heart.
"Kris, Wes, and Theo, you're on press duty," Kelsey says, looking at Wes and Theo. She doesn't even look in my direction.
I grind my teeth together.
"No."
That gets her attention. It gets everyone's attention.
