Pucked Off (Pucked #5)(98)

“When I started dating Alex I heard the hat trick rumor,” Violet offers. “Later I found out it wasn’t actually true, but when I thought it was… Well, I puked all over his shoes. It was epic. But now we’re married.”

“And Randy had a huge player reputation. I mean, most of it was actually legitimate because he was a player, but well, that’s changed.”

“We’ve known Lance for a while now, and neither of us has ever seen him this hung up on anyone.”

“Not even Tash?” I arch an eyebrow.

They exchange a look. “That situation is comp—”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Complicated. So I’ve been told.”

Violet grimaces. “He would probably kill me for saying this, but she really messed with his head, and Lance, he’s not the way the media likes to portray him. I mean, yeah, he’s done the bunny business, but I think it’s blown way out of proportion. He hasn’t had it easy. Anyway, you should come to the game. See him play. We’ll all be sitting in the same section, so you can see what it’s like. And Sunny will be there with the baby, too.”

“Really?” April gets all excited and checks out the tickets. “Holy shit! These seats are killer! We have to go.”

“So Lance doesn’t know you’re doing this?”

“Hell no. He’s been adamant about making sure you have your space. I tried to get him to call you, but he refused. He said he doesn’t want to do to you what Tash did to him.”

If Lance wants this to work, and it certainly seems like he does, he has to let me into this part of his life. Which is why I decide to take the tickets.

“Okay. We’ll come.”

“Yes!” April begins to bounce.

“But you can’t tell Lance. It has to be a surprise,” Violet says.

“I don’t know…”

“I bet he’ll be so happy when he sees you sitting in the stands; he’ll forget to be mad at me for doing this. When Alex was a stupid dick and told the world we were just friends on national TV, I stopped talking to him for a month. Then he was so excited when I showed up at the final game of the Cup championships. Chicago won, and he stole his own thunder by grabbing a microphone from a reporter and asking me to be his girlfriend.” Violet sighs.

“She rambles a lot,” Lily says.

Violet blinks a few times, like she’s coming out of a daze. She waves the hand with the ring on it around. “Anyway, we have a car picking us up at six at my place. We can swing by your house on the way if you’d like, so you don’t have to worry about getting there.”

“Yes. That’s perfect! Thank you so much,” April answers for me. “Come on, Poppy, you’ve been sulking for almost two weeks.”

She’s right. I have. And this scenario is exactly what I need to put into action what I’ve already decided in my head. I’ll get to see firsthand what this world is going to be like outside the confines of my bedroom and my house. And how Lance handles me being there.

We exchange numbers, which is strange all over again, and Violet and Lily high five each other, hug me, and leave.

“That was surreal,” I say once they’re gone.

“And awesome!” April adds. “Oh my God. We’re going to a hockey game! And our seats are amazing.”

I share her excitement and fear what it means that my heart is beating so hard right now. My decision is made. And my heart is terrified.



I’ve changed my outfit three times. I’ve redone my makeup twice. And I’m not really a makeup girl.

I’m wearing a pair of dark jeans and a green top, because Lance has mentioned that he likes the way I look in green. I’m also wearing my pale yellow and green flowered bra and panty set. It’s very feminine. I don’t expect he’s going to see it.

Okay. Who am I kidding? Now that I’ve made the decision to go to the game—and start hashing this mess out—a significant part of me wants tonight to end with him at least getting a glimpse of it. But I’m so nervous. Because this whole situation is entirely unprecedented. The wife of the captain of the team and the girlfriend of the legendary Randy Ballistic are picking up me and April so we can go to the game together. Something Lance never asked me to do. And he doesn’t know.

I consider texting him.

I want to text him.

But it’s just hours until the game, and by this point it’s unlikely he has his phone with him. If he does, I don’t want to be a distraction—the way right now he’s totally mine.

The car that comes to get us is a black extended SUV limo with tinted windows. I follow April out of the house to find Mr. Goldberg, who I’ve had a lot more tea with over the past week or so, chatting up Violet.

“Ladies night out, Miss Poppy?” he asks.

“We’re going to a hockey game, Mr. Goldberg. This is Violet; she’s married to Alex Waters, Chicago’s team captain.”

“Is that so? Violet Waters, that’s a lovely name.”

I’m positive he’s checking out her rack. She’s wearing a form-fitting sweater with the Chicago logo on it.

“It makes me sound like a Disney princess, right?” Violet says with a big grin.

“That it does. Have a nice night, ladies. Be safe, Miss Poppy, and if you see that boyfriend of yours, make sure you remind him I’m out of those biscuits.”