She backs up to the door, but I follow her, careful to keep my touch gentle as I cup her face.
My next move is a very calculated risk, but I’m willing to take it. I lean toward her, bringing my face close to hers. “You are the most captivating woman I have ever met, Lily Evans.”
I’m close enough to kiss her. And I want to—so much—but I can’t rush this. Otherwise, the hidden Lily I’m discovering might bolt like a wild animal, fleeing into the shadows. I press my lips against her forehead, relishing the softness and warmth of her smooth skin and the musky scent of her hair.
When I step back, she blinks at me. “Good night, Lily.”
“Good night, Payton.” She sounds tentative…unsure, which kills me, but I’m not giving up on my plan. I just need a little more time to convince her this thing between us is worth fighting for. Tomorrow morning, we head to North Florida for an away game, which means I won’t see much of her for a couple of days.
So I wait until she closes her door, memorizing her allure before retreating to my room, cognizant that thoughts of Lily—her silky warmth and sultry scent—will keep me up all night.
We’re barely holding our own against the Icemen tonight, and I know it’s because of me. At the end of the second period, I missed a pass because I lost focus. The opposing team took advantage of my blunder and scored. Now we’re tied, and I’m feeling scattered as I rip the tattered tape off my stick.
All I can think about is Lily. Even though she and her gal-pal Del are watching from the shadows, probably disguised, I kept searching the fans for her familiar face. I reach behind me and grab my phone from the cubby assigned to me in the guest locker room, intending to send her a text, but there’s already one there.
From her.
Lily: Quit letting the other team fluster you. You lose focus when that happens.
For the first time all evening, I grin. She noticed I wasn’t focused. I heart her message and send a thumbs-up emoji, but what I’d rather reply is that I’d focus better if I could see her here, wearing my jersey.
But that would be a lie. She’d wind up a bigger distraction than just my thoughts of her. Even as I inhale the sweat-laden stink of the locker room, I remember the scent of her hair and the feel of her cheek against my hand.
I’m realizing I not only want Lily butneed her, too. The thought of her going back to England and not seeing her guts me. Am I a horrible person to hope the investigation into my cousin’s presumed death continues indefinitely?
Luke sits on the bench next to me and hands me the tape to redo my stick. “Here.”
“Thanks.”
“You seem off tonight, Pay. Everything okay?” He rests his arms on his knees, head turned toward me, waiting for an answer.
I clench my jaw. “Just a little distracted.”
Elias stands nearby. “Just a little? That’s an understatement, man. You’re playing like a rookie.”
The other guys’ expressions confirm it. Not in a judgy way but out of concern, and I feel like an absolute git to have let them down. “Sorry, mates. I’ll do better next period.”
They nod their understanding andreassurance. After darting a concerned look at Luke, Ethan squeezes my shoulder. “We’re here for you, bro.”
Something passed between them I’m clearly not privy to. I shoot Luke a questioning glance.
He leans his head in closer. “Everything okay at home, Pay?”
“Right as rain. Why do you ask?” I finish taping my stick.
Appearing uncomfortable, he roughs a hand over his mouth. “Just checking. Sophie seems to think you and Lily might be having some trouble.”
I recall the conversation Lily relayed to me about her unexpected encounter with Sophie and Luke walking out of her bedroom the night of the spaghetti dinner. “Adjusting to married life, but we’re sorting it out.”
Sounds believable to me. Hopefully, Luke will think so too and tell Sophie there’s nothing to worry about.
“Okay, I’ll take your word for it. But you know we’ve got your back, right?”
Would they still if they knew the truth? That I not only lied about who Lily is, but also about who I am?
The temptation to tell them the truth builds again. But if I do that, Lily won’t need to pretend she’s my wife anymore, and knowing her, she’d put even more distance between us. The longer I can keep this charade going, the greater my chances of winning her heart.
“I appreciate that more than you know.”
