Page 44 of The Pucking Coach's Daughter

After a long moment, he resumes playing with my hair. It’s actually kind of soothing. There’s nothing better than someone running their fingers through my hair, and he’s getting dangerously close to that.

“Do you run?” he asks me on our way out of class.

He stuck with me as I dragged my bag closer and packed up. I purposefully moved slowly, but now we’re alone in the hallway.

“I do…” I eye him. “Why do you ask?”

“You have the look.”

“Lovely.”

“I’ll run with you.”

“You really don’t have to do that.” My grip on my bag’s strap tightens. “I like solitude.”

“So does Ollie. It’s why he lives all alone in that big house.”

“You’ve said that before.” I sigh. “What’s that angle about?”

He smiles and nods at someone passing us. Takes a moment to slap hands and pat backs—the guy version of a hug—with another. I keep walking.

I’m hungry and not entirely sure I want to be dragged to the arena on a Friday night.

“I could just sit with the SJU crowd,” I say when he catches up to me. “They’d be nice to me.”

He considers that, subtly guiding me to a car in one of the student lots. When we reach the sleek black car, he leans on the passenger door and faces me.

“You so sure about that?”

“I…”

“Rumors have been spreading over there, too. About how you’re fucking Carter Masters to get info from him. You’ve switched sides, so to speak.”

My cheeks burn. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, hasn’t he mentioned?” Penn’s expression is the picture of innocence.

And I almost believe it, except for the keen sharpness in his eyes. Like when he touched the bruise on the back of my head—he doesn’t care, he’s just trying to expose a secret.

“He wouldn’t mention, since he and I aren’t anything.”

“Oh, of course.” He steps aside, yanking open the door for me. “Get in.”

I balk. “No.”

“Yes.” His brows furrow. “Sydney. I’ve been nothing short of nice to you. I’ve got to get to the arena early for a meeting, but what you need for students to leave you alone is there.”

“What I need,” I repeat.

“Yeah.” He lifts his shoulder. “If I had it in my car, I’d just give it to you now.”

“And what is it?”

“A magic talisman.” The duh is silent.

I wait a beat, then sigh.

Fine.