Page 68 of The Closed Off Captain

He puts his hand out to Gunner. “I’m Ryan Clark, since Chloe obviously isn’t going to introduce us.” Gunner shakes his hand after an awkward moment in which I think he’s going to refuse. Ryan turns to Mrs. Coftman. “And you are?”

“I’m Gunner’s mom,” she says rather stiffly but shakes his hand.

Ryan beams at her. “But of course you are. You're the fine woman that’s raised not one, but two great hockey players if I recall. Your other son played a great game out there tonight and last night.”

Mrs. Coftman beams at him. “He did, didn’t he?”

“He sure did. Tell me, what’s your secret to raising such great hockey players?”

She laughs, and I grit my teeth. This is so Ryan. He makes everybody his best friend the second he meets them. Everybody loves him. Even I thought I did once upon a time.

Chapter 31

Chloe

“What do you do?” Mrs. Coftman asks.

He beams and pulls on the suit he’s wearing that probably costs more than the car I drive. “I’m one of the assistant coaches for Northern Michigan—Chloe’s and my old alma mater.”

Mrs. Coftman looks over at me and then back at Ryan. “You two went to school together?” Her voice is a little more uncertain than it was a few minutes ago.

Ryan grins. “Went to school together? We did, didn’t we, Chlo?”

He’s always called me that, and I’ve always hated it. I don’t know why he can’t just say my name the way it’s supposed to be said.Chlo-ee.He keeps going, and I will him to keep his mouth shut. But he doesn’t.Shocker.He just comes right out and says it.

“Chlo and I were almost engaged.” I wish I could disappear into the floor. The hand on my spine freezes mid-stroke on my back, and I feel the oxygen sucked from the room. “You never told your fiancé about us?” he asks me.

I don’t know what to say, and I feel like I’m going to be sick. I just want to get out of here. “Guess she never felt the need to,” Gunner says. I close my eyes a moment because he isnothappy. It takes a lot to work Gunner into a temper; I’ve only seen it a few times in the years I’ve known him. But he is definitely not happy right now. It’s time to take control of this situation.

“Well, it was nice to see you, Ryan,” I manage to tell the lie with a straight face. I turn to Gunner. “We should get going.” He doesn’t look at me.

Ryan laughs. “Some things don’t change, do they Chlo?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gunner nearly growls.

“Nothing,” I say and turn to him. “Let’s go.”

His eyes finally meet mine, and he stares at me a moment before he nods. That hand begins moving on my spine again. “Let’s go.”

“A word of warning, Coftman,” Ryan calls out from behind me. “She’s not the kind of woman to settle down. She only cares about her career and is as cold-hearted as they come. She probably already runs your life for you, doesn’t she? She doesn’t know how to not control every single person and thing around her.”

My cheeks burn, but I refuse to respond to his words. Gunner stops, and I put my hand on his back. “Just ignore him.”

But Gunner doesn’t listen to me; I don’t know why I thought he would. He turns around, his eyes narrowing dangerously on Ryan. “That’smyfiancé you’re talking about.” His words are low. “She's no longer yours. So, you don’t need to worry your tiny little brain about what she might or might not be doing.”

Ryan’s eyes widen, and he laughs. “You think I want her back? No way, Man. I’m just giving you a heads-up. I'm married to my gorgeous wife, who is everything.”Everything I wasn’t. He doesn’t say the words, but they’re implied.

I don’t stick around to hear any more of the conversation. I step around Gunner and make my way to the exit, not bothering to slow my stride. “Care to slow down a little? These old legs can’t walk that fast.”

I immediately slow down. “Mrs. Coftman, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you came with me.”

“Well, I was trying to walk with you, but you marched out of there like this place was on fire.”

“Sorry,” I mutter.

She links her arm through mine, surprising me. “Don’t give that man a second of your peace. He’s an idiot.”

I can’t help my smile. “How do you know?”

---