AllFreeNovel
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“We’ll start with the newest Taylor Swift ‘Love Story’ trend,” Parker says. Several of the guys nod like they know what she’s talking about. Guys who probably have too much time on their hands and spend it on TikTok.
“‘Love Story’—how appropriate,” Alec says, his gaze swinging between me and Parker.
She rolls her eyes. “Shut it, Ego.”
I choke on a laugh. I’ve never heard this nickname for our captain, but it’s perfect. Based on his glower, Alec doesn’t seem to like it as much.
“Maybe you and Logan should star in this one,” Eli says with a grin. “Give me your phone. I can film.”
“Will there be kissing, Boss?” Tucker asks.
I’m ready to speak up when Parker beats me to it.
“Are y’all going to be like this?” Parker puts her hands on her hips, glaring around at the guys. One by one they look down.
Except Van, who says, “Like what?”
“Like totally immature prepubescent pee wee players,” she says sweetly. Someone chuckles. “While I’m at work, I’m working. Anything personal”—she eyes me in a way that makes my neck feel hot—“stays off the rink. Is that clear?”
There’s a low chorus of, “Yes, Boss.”
I only nod, thinking about all thepersonalthings I’d like to do with Parker right now. Just when I think Parker can’t get more attractive, she goes and does something like put a bunch of grown men acting like boys in their place.
“Eli and Van, front and center,” Parker says, already moving on. “Here are your dresses.”
Dresses?
Dancing on camera is bad enough. Parker better notevertry to put me in some kind of costume.
As though my fear is broadcast through the stadium speakers, Parker catches my eye, giving me a wicked smile that makes my heart skip. Then a quick shake of her head tells me she’s kidding.
Relief mixed with something else—appreciation, maybe?—settles over me. Parker might be the one forcing us to do all this, but she’s also looking out for me.
As Eli and Van strip out of their jerseys, there are catcalls and whistles. But neither guy seems to care as they pull on long, sequined gowns that hang down to their skates.
“Didn’t we already do a ‘Love Story’ video?” Tucker asks.
“Good memory, Tuck,” Parker says. “Two points for you! But this is a new trend with a sped-up version of the song. What can I say? TikTok loves its Taylor.”
“Why aren’t you featuring your favorite player, Parker?” Alec asks, sliding a glance my way.
“Who says he’s my favorite?” Parker answers. This has them all laughing. I even chuckle. Even more when she winks at me before pointing her finger back at Alec. “But rest assured, Ego—you arenotmy favorite.”
That has everyone laughing harder.
“Everyone else, take your spots on the bench until my cue.”
Everyone skates toward the bench like they’ve all gotten some memo I wasn’t privy to. Maybe they did.
“Hope you weren’t expecting special treatment,” Van says with a smirk, adjusting the straps of a pink sequined gown. His chest tattoos peek out of the top, looking ridiculous next to the frilly fabric.
“Not even a little bit,” I say.
“Come on,” Felix says to me, skating toward the bench. “We’ve got the easy job.”
The easy job turns out to be nothing more than jumping over the low wall and flooding the ice together at a certain point in the song. Over. And Over.
Van and Eli skate some basic choreography on the center of the rink. Their sparkly dresses fan out around them as they lip sync to the song Parker plays. Ramesh films with a small camera, weaving his way around all of us expertly on his skates. Parker directs all of this while getting her own footage from different angles than the camera guy.
