Page 119 of The Goalie in Room 1

“That isn’t what I’m doing.”

“Then what are you doing?”

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Cash laughed once, but there was no humor in it. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”

He moved past me toward his bedroom.

“Cash.”

He stopped without turning.

“You know I want you. I want to be with you.”

His shoulders rose with the breath he took.

“That has never been the fucking question, Doc. The question is…will you ever stop standing in our way?”

“I’m still…”

He surged forward, wrapped a hand around the back of my neck, and pulled me to him. Our lips met in a desperate and needy kiss. It was all teeth and tongues.

“Fuck!” I gasped, pushing away from where I pinned him against the wall. “We ca⁠—”

“You’re fired.”

“What?”

“I said you’re fired, Dr. Vale.” He pulled out his phone, tapped at the screen, then turned it toward me. A group text with Davina, Matteo, and me.

Effective immediately, I’m transferring my care to Dr. Anderson. Thanks, Cash.

So many questions rushed to the front of my mind.

How did he get Davina’s number?

How did he know Nelly Anderson?

Before I could think of any more questions, a thumbs-up appeared from Matteo and typing dots showed for Davina. When the message arrived, it said,

Davina

I’ll take care of it tomorrow.

“What—”

“Puck’s in your zone, Doc. What’re you going to do about it?”

His bedroom door closed softly behind him.

I stayed in the hallway, staring at a door I had no right to walk through. Or hadn’t had any right to walk through. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the handle and opened the door.

21

CASH