Page 72 of Risky Play

Fi bounced Scarlet onto her other hip. “D said you’re doing work for her. Are you looking for any other authors?”

I stared at her for a second. It hadn’t occurred to me to take on more than Dinah’s admin work. I did quite a bit for her, but it wasn’t uncommon to have more than one client. I had some book blogger friends who assisted for more than one author, so it was doable.

“I haven’t thought about it, but I’m open to it,” I told Fi. “What do you need?”

“I have a signing in a couple of months. I could use a second set of hands.”

“I’d love to help.”

Fi smiled. “Great. I need help, especially since I’m probably gonna have pregnancy brain.”

I laughed. “I’m down for more experience. I’d love to work for a PR company for authors.”

Dinah nudged me. “You’re so organized, you could start your own.”

The thought had crossed my mind. I had a big presence on social media, and it could be something I made a career out of, but I wanted to finish my degree first.

We watched the players go back down the tunnel for a couple of minutes, and then the starting lineup was announced on the PA. Pride swelled in my chest when I saw my brother taking the face-off at puck drop.

Noah was so good at what he did, and he deserved all the money on his contract. The Bulldogs have been a struggling team for years, but they had so much potential. The past couple of games had been good, but there was still a lot of hockey left to be played. I was confident they could at least make the first round of the playoffs this year.

“Come on, come on,” I muttered under my breath as I watched the New Jersey captain bat the puck away from Noah.

“Dammit,” Dinah muttered next to me.

If Riley and Blaise did their job and got it out of our zone, we could still get possession back. But I watched in agony as the team spent way too much time in the Bulldogs’ zone trying to play keep away. I felt the air release out of my chest when Jersey went in for the kill, and then our Metzy made an aerobic save.

“Metzy, you beauty!” I cheered.

Dinah laughed. “Yeah, I mean, he’s the only one showing up today.”

I belted out a cackle. Most WAGs would not say that, but Dinah didn’t give a fuck. She had been a desperate Philly fan way before she and my brother ever got together. Her marrying him didn’t change that, and I loved that about her.

Nothing happened on that first shift, but I noticed Matt out on the second line, and that made me happy. He was so worried about whether he was good enough and would stay on the team, but Coach LaVoie wouldn’t put him on the second line if he didn’t see his potential. Matt was far too hard on himself. I watched every single game while they were on the road, and I saw how he was pushing himself. He was hungry to keep wearing the red and black, and I admired that about him.

Dinah gripped my arm as we watched the Bulldogs set up a play. Hallsy had the puck, and he was trying to find an opening, but a Jersey defenseman screened him. Matt was wide open. He could do this. Hallsy deked the shot and passed to Matt, who took the chance.

In a split second, the puck flew into the back of the net, and the crowd around us let out a relieved cheer. The red light lit up behind the Jersey goaltender, and Benny and Hallsy were grabbing Matt into hugs. The arena was buzzing, and I felt it all throughout my body, excitement for Matt coursing through me. I was giddy as I watched him skate down the bench, high-fiving all his teammates before play restarted.

“That was such a sick goal,” Dinah said.

I grinned. “He’s too hard on himself. That was a beauty.”

She and Fi pinned me with raised eyebrows.

“How do you know that?” Fi asked.

“We’re friends,” I explained.

“Does my husband know that?” Dinah asked but with mirth in her eyes.

Shit. I couldn’t let her think there was something more than friendship between me and Matt. If Noah found out…we’d be screwed. I wasn’t ready to tell him yet, and he and Dinah didn’t keep secrets from each other, so I couldn’t confide in her. It wasn’t time to open that can of worms yet.

I lifted one shoulder weakly. “We’re just friends.”

She gave me a hard look. “So you know nothing about his new girlfriend?”

I played dumb. “What new girlfriend?”