Page 41 of The Golden Goalie

“We’re with her,” Sebastian says.

Rico, seemingly oblivious to everything else going on moves over and pushes into Cal’s group. “So, you’re Cal.”

“Am I supposed to know who you are?”

Rico smiles and shakes his head, looking like he’s as relaxed as possible. “Nope.”

“Why are you even talking to me?”

Before I can even decide whether I should intervene, Rico points at me. It silences me real quick. “Because you left her here late last night. Alone. In a dark parking lot. With a car that didn’t work. And you also don’t seem to know when a girl's not interested. Since you don’t seem to get it, I figured I’d stop by and spell it out for you.” He steps closer. “Amber is not interested in you.” He says the words slowly and distinctly, so there’s not a chance that Cal doesn’t misunderstand.

Cal scoffs. “You don’t get to talk for her. She’s got a mouth; she can talk for herself.”

Feeling irritated beyond measure, I stand up. “Cal, I’ve told you a hundred times I’m not interested; but you won’t listen.”

I watch as his face falls, and it’s like he gets it for the first time that I’m really not interested in him. I feel bad; my goal wasn’t to humiliate him. “Cal,” I say softly. “You’re a...great guy,” I manage to say. “Somebody is going to be very happy to be with you; just not me.”

He turns his head towards me and locks me in his gaze. His face twists into a cruel smile, and he laughs. “Joke’s on you. You really thought I was into you? You’re pregnant, carrying a guy’s baby that doesn’t even want you.”

“Hey,” Rico says, stepping in front of him, blocking him from my sight. “It’s time for you to go.”

“I’ll leave when I’m good and ready to go and not a moment sooner, and neither you nor this—”

“I’d be really careful what you say about my sister,” Aiden says stepping up next to Rico.

“Leave,” Rico says in a cool tone.

“Come on, Cal,” one of his friends says. “Let’s just go. She’s not worth it.”

Cal crosses his arms over his chest. I’ll admit; he’s got some muscle. But he’s got nothing on the group standing in front of him. “And you think you’re going to make me?”

Now I’m just irritated. “Cal, oh my word. Just leave already. These guys are professional hockey players. That one makes it his life’s goal to hit people so hard they can’t walk,” I say nodding at my brother-in-law. He turns his steely gaze on me, and I shrug. “What? It’s true.”

Cal’s friends practically shove him away from the Green Thunder guys. Of course, Cal can’t just leave without being a jerk at least one more time. “Screw you, Amber.”

“Somebody already did!” One of his friends shout and they leave in a cacophony of laughter and noise.

“What is wrong with people?” Rico demands.

“Were we jerks like that when we were in college?” Sebastian asks, still frowning at the door where Cal and his friends left.

Gunner steps over to Rico and talks to him quietly while Aiden turns to me. “You okay?” There’s genuine concern in his eyes, and my anger begins to fade. He's one of the good ones.

“Yeah. Thanks for uh...standing up for me.”

“You’re family.”

I feel a smile begin to form; I couldn’t keep it back if I tried. “Thanks, Aiden.”

Chapter 18

Amber

Rico finally turns to me and runs his gaze over me. “Are you okay?”

I laugh because he makes me feel something, and I can’t afford to feel anything. “I’m fine; he’s just a jerk.” Then because I don’t know what else to do with myself, I cross my arms over my chest. “How did you just happen to show up when Cal and his buddies were here.”

“Oh, that was because of her.” I turn to see who Rico is pointing at.

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