Page 33 of Uniquely in Love

Skating back to the bench, I caught the attention of Coach Monroe, and she walked over to the edge. She was wearing her dark hair back in a tight bun and a powder blue suit for tonight’s game. “What’s up, Harper?”

“I need a favor.”

She raised an eyebrow, but nodded at me to continue.

“There’s a girl,” I said, looking backwards over my shoulder at where Ellie still stood. “At the glass over in section 110. Can you upgrade her seat? Maybe somewhere behind the bench?”

“I can try, but…”

“Please.” I wasn’t above begging. Not for this. Not when it came to her. “She’s my—” What was she to me?Ex-girlfriendfelt wrong.Childhood best frienddidn’t quite communicate the depth of feelings for her. She was a lot of things to me. “We’ve known each other since birth,” I said instead. “Our parents are best friends. I’ll pay for it. I just need—”her close by. To see her. Knowing she was really here was almost enough to have me jumping out of my skin. I shook my head.

“Oh, if she’s family, you should have led with that. I’ll see what I can do. Keep skating, and I’ll have someone go get her. What’s her name?”

“Ellie. Ellie Bradford.”

She nodded, pulling out her phone and beginning to type furiously on the keyboard. A few moments later, she looked back up at me. “I’ve got it taken care of.”

“Thank you.” I turned around, heading back out to the middle of the ice to continue warm-ups, hitting a few slap-shots towards the goal and practicing a few maneuvers with the puck.

It was everything I could do to keep my eye off of the girl who once held my heart.

Especially when a staff member came down the stairs, and she hesitantly followed behind him before they disappeared at the top of the stairwell. I knew I couldn’t focus on the spot for too long—even pretending to stretch wouldn’t give me enough time to wait for her to reappear—but finally, she did.

Standing rink side, right behind the player’s box. During the game, she’d be right there. I couldn’t afford to get distracted—there might not be points awarded at the end of the game tonight, but Coach Donovan would be making decisions for the season based on how we played in these pre-season games.

Nevertheless, knowing she was close enough that I could see her filled me with a sense of ease. She wasn’t mine, but tonight, I could pretend she was.

For just one more night.

After the first period,we headed back to the locker room. I pulled off my gloves once I got into the tunnel, putting them in their spot so they’d dry out during intermission. After dragging my jersey over my head, I pulled my phone out, sitting on the bench as I opened my text message app and found Ellie’s contact.

God, I still couldn’t believe she was here. It was a struggle to stay focused on the ice, knowing how close she was to me. I was desperate to talk to her face to face.

Would the guys mind if I invited her out tonight? Probably not. Some of them would be too busy entertaining whatever girl they picked up on at the bar. While I hated the term puck bunny, there were plenty of girls who were interested in being with a professional hockey player. Hopefully, they’d be too wrapped up in themselves to even notice me bringing Ellie along.

Because even though I knew it was a terrible idea, I needed to talk to her. Needed to hear her voice. Needed to know why she was at my game, when she’d never come to one before.

Not inyears.

I missed her being in the stands for me. My junior years felt like a distant memory now.

For a long time, I’d been jealous of the guys on the team whose wives would come for the games and watch warm-ups or hang out in the wives room until they were done and ready to go home. I wanted that. To know someone was there for me. That at the end of the night, we’d be going home together. That I wouldn’t be sleeping alone in a cold, empty bed.

Unable to help myself, I typed in a message.

Owen

Hi.

Short, sweet, and to the point. I held my breath as I waited for her to respond, the dots finally appearing on my screen.

Ellie Daisy

Who’s this?

Owen

Ellie.

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