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My heart stops. “W-Why?”
“You’re Chase’s fiancée. Any exchange you two have in public—especially during a game—is going to be top Denver Kings socials news. You know, other than winning because we’re crushing it tonight.”
She cheers with the others and I duck out of the high-fives, feeling the need to be invisible.
What have I done?
Half the country will see me go pale and rigid, literally frozen on the ice. And there’s no way to stop it.
When the final buzzer sounds, and the media crowds the winning team—the Kings, I fly out of the arena.
I need to get someplace safe.
Post-game media obligations are no chore for me—well not when we win anyway. But right now, I need to find my girl.
It happened again. Whatever struck her earlier tonight happened again.
What the hell are these episodes?
And what if they happen when I’m not around?
“Bridget,” I call one of the Ice Queens.
She jumps and gives me a cheerleader high five. I offer it to her but quickly follow it with “Where’s Pepper?”
She points her thumb back. “Your girl raced out of here soon as the buzzer went off. She looked like she was going to throw up.”
Shit.
I’m already moving past Bridget when she calls back. “First night jitters. I’m sure she’s fine now.”
I head for the locker rooms, leaving the rest of the team to perform interviews, fan interactions and other bullshit I can’t deal with now.
“Pepper?” I call, jogging down the empty halls like a freaking lunatic chasing after a girl who won’t stop running. “This has got to stop, Pepper.”
I hear a sniffle come from the Kings locker room and follow it until I see her. She’s tucked inside the small alcove between the locker room doors and the hallway.
Her eyes are wide with worry, her hands shaking like she doesn’t know what to do with them.
“Baby—”
Before I can finish the thought, Pepper throws her arms around me. “Congratulations, King.”
What the hell?
I don’t pull her off me. I don’t ask her what the fuck she’s hiding—I know I just heard crying. But her eyes are dry and her smile is bright when she pulls back.
I glance back toward the tunnel. Still clear. But not for long.
“Get in here.” I pull the door open and drag her in with me. “Wait here. I need seven minutes to get out of this gear.”
She licks her lips. “Alright.”
I make it out of it in record time and grab her arm. “Let’s go.”
“Where? I’m okay with doing it here,” she says.
I turn back, confused. “What?”
