Page 61 of The Golden Goalie

Her name is like a knife to my chest, but I'm not talking to these guys about it. I walk forward, intending to push through them. Aiden and Gunner close off my path and stand shoulder to shoulder. “Seriously?”

“It’s Amber,” Sebastian says to Gunner and Aiden.Like he has a clue what he’s talking about. “Amber’s the only one thathas the power to fluster him like that; he’s usually Mr. Calm. Only Amber could get that kind of response out of him.”

“Stop saying her name,” I grind out, and Sebastian has the audacity to grin. I scowl and turn away.

“What happened?” Gunner asks.

“Nothing.”

“Wrong answer,” he says.

“Nothing,” I repeat. I lock my jaw and run my hand over it. “She was supposed to show up tonight if she wanted to move forward with things. She didn’t show; she’s obviously not interested.” I lift my eyebrows. “That good enough for you?”

Sebastian’s shoulders drop. “I’m sorry, Man. I really thought—”

“Please don’t,” I cut him off. “Are we done here?”

Wordlessly, Gunner and Aiden part, so I can head to the showers. I put my headphones on as soon as I finish in the shower, so I don’t have to deal with anyone. I just want to go home and block the world out for a little while. The three of them are still here when I get out, but they keep their distance. I wave as I leave and head outside. The downpour matches the mood I’m in. It’s slow-going between the left-over traffic from the game and the rain. By the time I turn onto my street, my attitude matches the storm. I pull up in front of my house and blink as my headlights hit something or someone sitting on the front porch. I throw my door open and step out into the rain and run up to the porch to where a soaked Amber is sitting and shivering. “Sweetheart, what are you doing out here?” I squat in front of her and run my hands over her arms. I put my hands under her arms and pull her to her feet and grab my keys from my pocket. I carefully maneuver us, keeping my hold on her and opening the front door. I get us inside and close the door behind us, shutting out the rain. I quickly flip on the lights and turn to her. Her teethare chattering, and her entire body is shaking. “Come on.” I put my hand on her back and propel her through my living room.

“I’m going to g-get everything all w-wet.”

Her drenched to the bone and freezing cold is making my anger even worse. “It’s fine.” I take her right into my room and into the bathroom. I’ve got the nicest shower in my room. I leave her next to the counter and start the shower before grabbing two towels from the closet as well as a pair of my sweatpants and a sweatshirt. “These are going to be huge on you, but I’ll dry your clothes while you’re in the shower. Just throw them in a pile outside the door, and I’ll grab them.” I turn back to her and take in her pale face, hair plastered to her head. The sweatshirt she’s wearing could ring water out of it. “Here.” I help her begin to get out of the sweatshirt, being careful of her baby bump. When I pull the sweatshirt from her head and drop it to the ground next to us, the air is knocked from my lungs. She’s wearing my number, my jersey. My eyes meet hers. “Amber?”

She shakes her head. “I was on my way to the game. I wanted to be there, but my stupid car broke down. By the time I got somebody to tow it, I couldn't get an Uber, so I finally just walked here. I’m so sorry I missed the game.”

I wave her off. “I don’t care about that. You walked here? From where?”

“Somewhere off of 16thStreet.”

I stare at her, thunderstruck. “Sweetheart, that’s a couple of miles from here.”

“I know.” Her eyes tear up, and I think it’s going to kill me. “I’m so sorry, Rico. I wanted to be there. I got this so you would know I wanted to go forward, and then I missed the game. Now everything’s awful.” I can’t take it another minute. I pull her into my arms. “I’m all wet.” Her voice is muffled against my chest.

“I don’t care.” I breathe her in and something inside me settles. I want to hold her for the rest of the night, but when sheshivers again, I immediately let her go. “Get a warm shower and then we’ll talk.” She moves to turn away, but I stop her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you.”

“For making a mess all over your floor?” she asks with a self-deprecating smile.

“No, for choosing us.” I lean forward and give her a soft kiss on her forehead. I don’t miss her sigh, and something turns over inside me. I step back, putting space between us, space I desperately need if I’m going to keep my hands off her. “You get warm; I’ll go make some tea.”

“You drink tea?” she asks in surprise.

I give her a guilty smile. “I bought some in case you ever came over.”

She gives me a small smile and shoos me out of the bathroom. I leave, pushing away thoughts of Amber in my shower. I take a deep breath. I probably should have just sent her to one of the other showers, but I just couldn’t do it. I stride towards the kitchen to make a hot cup of tea and see what else I have that I can pull together to make for us to eat. I'm not sure how hungry she is, but I’m suddenly starving. It’s as if my body just remembered that I finished playing a full hockey game not too long ago.

I start boiling some hot water and then start digging through my fridge. I pull out a pack of chicken and stuff to make a salad. I hear a knock on the front door and frown before heading that way. I don’t think it’s my mom; she wouldn’t knock. Well, unless she saw me bring Amber home.

I open the door to see Sebastian, Aiden, and Gunner standing there with bags of food.

Chapter 25

Rico

“What are you doing here?” I ask in confusion.

“We brought Chinese,” Sebastian said, lifting the bags.

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