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Lettie’s eyes sparkle, no doubt thinking of driving Dane crazy. She’s flirtatious with him, and he lights up every time. But neither of them will make the first move.
I messaged Harper before ballet class, and she asked if I could come over. I’m not nervous, knowing that Reed will be at his hockey game. At least I hope he shows up. My dad is concerned, which makes me worry too. Reed wasn’t in the best state of mind when he left the café.
Instead of taking Caleb to daycare again, Lettie agrees to stay with him so I can go to Harper’s house. Reed’s house.
Logan opens the door. “Harper’s excited you wanted to help. Come in.”
“I love your painted door hanger.”
Logan furls his lips, and I hear girls laughing.
“See, we needed a door decoration,” Adalee says to Logan.
Wearing a shirt with the sides cut out, he gestures for me to come in, but his eyes narrow at Adalee. “Little A, it’s not even your house.”
“It’s a stallion because my two favorite Stallions live here.”
“Aww, I knew you loved me.” Logan grabs Adalee and swings her like she’s boneless.
“Having a baby hasn’t humbled you.”
Harper waves at me from the couch. “Thanks for coming. After being on my feet all day at med school, I need to put my feet up.”
The four of us sit in their living room as they explain how they envision the fundraiser. They’re excited about the basketball team being involved, knowing they’ll attract more donations with their swagger and a much wider reach. The basketball team is normally at the top of the pecking order, but since the football team has been so good the past two years, they’ve fallen a little.
With everyone being able to transfer and the name, image likeness contracts, basketball is the most affected. Combine the transfer situation with several Stallions players going into the NBA after one year, they’re unable to build a team that stays together. At least that’s what Lettie tells me.
“Do you have a director or stage producer?” I ask.
Logan looks at Harper. “Umm… do we?”
Harper plays with the hem of her royal-blue Stallions sweatshirt that’s probably Logan’s. “No, do we need one?”
I shrug. “I’m a theatre major, and I’d love to be able to put a charity event on my resume.” I explain what a production and or stage manager is responsible for and how it would help them be able to enjoy their event.
“Oh my God, yes. Logan?”
“Babe, if it will help take a load off you, then I’m all for it.”
Harper’s gorgeous caramel eyes sparkle, formulating a plan and for some reason, I don’t think it has anything to do with the fundraiser.
“I’m not sure if you all know, but my dad is the hockey coach. Maybe I can get…”
Harper cuts me off, lifting her eyebrows in quick succession. “Oh, we know.”
I tuck my lips inside my mouth, I guess Reed told them about me being his coach’s daughter.
Chapter Seventeen
REED
Arival team from Louisiana snapped our winning streak, and we’re no longer undefeated. At least we’re still undefeated in conference play. It was a foregone conclusion when we were losing five to zero by the end of the second period.
My teammates looked at me differently after not showing up to practice the past two days and not letting anyone know of my whereabouts. All the goodwill I built up with my teammates dissipated when I barely made it to the game, in fact, I missed all but three minutes of warmups.
Coach slid me to the fourth line for disciplinary reasons, which I completely understand. I’m not asking for special treatment just because he knows myrealfather.
Fueled by anger and a desperate need for clarity, I embarked on an overnight drive to myanonymousfather’s office building, but as I pulled up to NHL headquarters, an overwhelming sense of immobility took hold of my feet. The words I had written on my phone suddenly felt inappropriate now that I found out his identity and profession.
