Page 66 of Snowflakes and Ice Skates

There was a novel or two, actually. I wasn’t sure if she really wanted to know the nitty-gritty, though. “It’s not a very nice one,” I finally admitted.

“You can tell me.” She paused. “If you want.”

This was the easiest conversation we’d ever had. I didn’t really want to ruin it, but maybe revealing a side of myself I usually kept hidden would help her see me as more than just the vapid playboy.

“For years, I felt indebted to them. They paid for my training, private coaches, and travel for the first eighteen years of my life. They were the reason I made it this far in my career. I spent the first three years in the NHL paying them back with cars, gifts, and remodeling their home since they already had it paid off.”

“Really?” She cut me off. “That’s amazing.”

I let out a humorless laugh and shook my head. “Nothing I did seemed to be enough though. They felt they were entitled to a percentage of my salary on top of everything else. When my agent and lawyer helped me tell them that wasn’t actually the case, they went behind my back and opened credit cards and took out loans in my name. With my social security number.”

Her mouth fell open. “No. How did they get away with that?”

“They didn’t.” I frowned. “Luckily, my team found out quickly and got to work fixing it, but it was a mess. An ugly, hurtful mess. They believed it was their right since I was their son, and they had provided for me. It took years to clean that up, and since then, we’ve only spoken once or twice a year.”

“Lance, I’m so sorry.” She leaned back against the cushions. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Neither do I. They never apologized, and I’ve never fully forgiven them. I don’t want it to be like this forever. They’re the only family I have, but the trust is gone.”

That was a huge reason I put up with the teasing from the guys. They could joke and make fun all they wanted, but at the end of the day, I knew they had my back. They were my family.

“That’s terrible. I’m really sorry you went through that, especially with the people you should be able to depend on the most.” She bit her lip. “I’m really impressed that it hasn't made you bitter.”

I smirked. “I think it has a little bit. I don’t trust very easily now, but I try really hard not to let it impact my other relationships.”

She watched me closely for a moment. “Thanks for telling me.” Her eyes dropped to her lap. “You deserve better than that.”

My chest tightened. She meant it. I opened up to her, and she didn’t run. I shouldn’t let myself get too excited, but it felt like something shifted between us.

Five

Jessica

Was last night real or a dream? Lance opened up to me in a way I never in a million years would have expected. He wasn’t this perfect, untouchable athlete I’d constructed in my mind. He was real with scars and a haunted past. He let me see a side of him I doubted very many have before.

His history with his parents was hard enough to swallow, but when I remembered how he came over to ask me to the party, I couldn’t help but swoon. Just a little.

Would a playboy that had a revolving door of women available to him make that much effort? Granted, asking me in person should be the bare minimum, but that wasn’t the case with most of the guys I met. They wanted someone easy and convenient. A text would have been as much effort they could afford.

He showed up. I couldn’t think of a time I’d been more shocked in my life than when he said he was there to talk to me. Me? The very day I almost sort of admit I have a tiny crush on him to Dani, and he comes along to blow me away.

It could be a coincidence, but I sincerely doubted that. The second she got to the office I’d be interrogating her.

I was on my second cup of coffee when the door chimed. I peeked out and waved to Chloe, Taylor, and Dani as they slinked out of their coats and scarves.

“You’re early,” Dani said as she sat her bag down on her desk.

I didn’t point out that she was actually late. It was already eight-thirty, and we usually got in before eight. Neither of us had a set schedule. Event planning didn’t allow for basic nine to five hours. Plus, she was the boss. She was free to come and go as she pleased.

“I heard you had an interesting evening.” Chloe smiled as she lowered herself onto the couch.

Taylor was grinning like she was in on some secret, too.

I pursued my lips and pretended to think. “Just some leftover ramen while I sorted through the team’s responses. It was pretty quiet, actually.”

She cocked an eyebrow in a way that conveyed how little she believed me.

“Nothing before that?” Taylor asked.