Page 5 of Dirty Dare

“Chase, good to see you, man.” The guy’s been working construction and somehow managed to double in muscle mass over the past four years. “What the hell has Sandy been feeding you?”

I intentionally use his mother’s first name, falling back on the teasing we used to give him about him having the hottest mom on the hockey team. “She still talk about me much?”

Rubbing a hand over his grin, he gives me a slow shake of his ash blond head. If we were sharing ice, I’d have all but guaranteed myself a trip into the boards for that one. Worth it, though.

We catch up a while, me doing my damnedest not to let on that I’m tracking a certain swimmer’s every step, smile, and interaction. Waiting to see if he’s tracking me.

Spoiler alert: he’s not.

More guys from the team get in on the conversation. And damn, I’m surprised how much it feels like coming home.

Of course, Wildren isn’t home.

It’s a town I left years ago. It’s nice to visit. But there’s no going back to what this place was to me. Or even what it might have been.

Chase is still giving me a play-by-play of the Wildren High hockey highlights from last season when a head of chestnut curls ducks under my arm and I’m caught in the feminine squeeze of Laura’s hold.

“Trevor Gulbrandsen, you sly dog, sneaking into town without calling me,” she chides with a warm laugh.

“Hey, thought that was you coming in,” I say, hugging her back.

Chase juts his chin at me, flashing a wink before signaling to the group that they’re all going for a beer and will be back in a few.

Wow. Not awkward at all.

“Congrats on the degree.” I take a step back, still smiling. “What was it, accounting?”

Her eyes light up as she squeezes me again. “Holy buckets, I can’t believe you remembered that! Or that I ever thought accounting was for me. I switched to early childhood education.”

“A teacher? That’s awesome, Laura. You got a gig lined up or still feeling things out?”

She laughs and rests a hand on my chest as she peers up at me like I just climbed a tree to rescue a kitten. “Same Trevor. Such a sweetie. I’ve actually got an offer for a full-time position in the fall over in Carver.”

“Nice. Must feel good knowing you’ve got a spot.” Not that I’m jealous. The fact that I don’t know where I’ll be is good. It means I’ve still got a shot at moving up. Playing between the Orators and Slayers is a good thing… even if it sometimes feels like there’s no place I belong at all.

“Yes. I’m lucky.” She wags her head, giving up a little sigh. “I am.”

There’s obviously something else. “But?”

“But Carver’s three towns over.” She scrunches her nose in that cute way she’s always had. “I went to college thirty minutes from home. I don’t know, I guess there’s a part of me that feels like it might be fun to broaden my horizons some. Have a bit more adventure. Excitement. You know?”

“Sure. I get that.” I also get that her hand hasn’t left my chest and there’s something in this prolonged eye contact that’s conveying she wouldn’t mind if that adventure happened with me.

Again, I find myself searching out Cam and the memories of him every minute in this town seems to unearth.

I’m guessing he isn’t a guy after some adventure and excitement, because he hasn’t glanced over once since he saw I was here.

But I can’t stop looking. His nose is still blade straight. He’s dressed in a solid T-shirt with brown cargo shorts that are somehow just that much more understated than what most everyone else has on. There’s no ring on his finger— that I can see, anyway.

He came alone. Not that it matters.

Laura gives me a nudge and asks, “Right?”

Shit. She was talking.

“Sorry, Laura. Been a long day of driving. What were you asking?”

She laughs like it’s funny instead of putting me on blast like I deserve. The least I can do is pay attention to what this woman— this friend —I haven’t seen in forever is saying.

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