Page 2 of Delay of Game

“He sure acts like he’s forty. Alex basically lives and breathes hockey and then do you know what he does? He goes home and watches TV by himself, doesn’t come out to celebrate with the rest of us,” he says.

“Fuck off,Robbie.”

My head swivels back and forth between Alex and Robbie, who I now recognize as Robbie Elliot, another guy that went to my school.

“I know he’s not actually forty. We all went to high school together, I was a couple years behind you both. I only made the team after you guys graduated.”

“Sick, what a small world,” Robbie says and presents me a fist. I bump it with a smile that might look more like a grimace, but if he’s bothered by my social awkwardness he doesn’t let it show.

The two of them continue to take off their gear and after a solid minute of silence I say, “Am I in the wrong locker room? My email said to come in at ten, but not much more.”

“You didn’t get the full schedule for the week?”

I blink at Alex, more panic gripping at me, making me feel dizzy. “Um, no. I don’t think so.”

“They probably forgot to attach it,” he says, unbothered. “I’ll take you to meet the coach, and he’ll sort it out.”

“Cool, thanks,” I say, getting up and throwing my bag over my shoulder.

“Hey, what are you doing later, Jordan?” Robbie asks and for a moment I’m stunned. Is he asking because he wants to hang out or is he just making conversation?

“Nothing.”

“Well, you are now. I’m staying at my parents’ cabin and we’re gonna have a bonfire tonight. Alex will be there too. You should join us. We can reminisce about high school.”

I’m not sure what there is to reminisce about since high school was not that long ago, but maybe I need to socialize. Especially with teammates.

“That’d be cool.”

“See you then,” he says with a huge smile that reaches his eyes.

Alice

“Michael!!”I yell after my eldest brother, coughing out the mouthful of water I got when he tipped my kayak over. “I’m going to murder you!”

“Ha, good luck trying,” he yells back, swimming towards the small boat launch. Even though my brother is eleven years older than me, he still acts like a teenager. No wonder he’s twenty-eight and single.

I flip my kayak upright and get back in, aiming to return to the cabin. The weather is perfect for a bonfire, and I shiver a little in my wet suit. The smoke from the fire pit rises up through the trees and I follow the movement with a smile on my face.

The sky is a beautiful mosaic of oranges and purples, and I wish I had my phone on me to take a picture. I paddle faster and once I reach the dock, I put away the kayak and vest.

Michael says something to me, but I ignore him and angrily walk towards the cabin. My favorite brother, Robbie, jumps out of my path at the perfect time, dodging a collision.

The same cannot be said for his friend that’s walking behind him. I see his dark brown eyes widen right as I plaster myself to his body. And oh, what a fine body it is.

The stranger catches me easily and my hands land on his abdomen where they curl into the soft fabric of his baby blue t-shirt. He must be as tall as Robbie—which is to say, almost a whole foot taller than me. My eyes are level with his collarbone and when I look up at his face, my breath catches.

Fuck, he’s pretty.

Light brown skin, a dusting of freckles on his nose and cheekbones, thick black eyebrows, and short black hair, neatly trimmed. Fuck pretty, he’s gorgeous.

“Hi,” I manage to squeak out, attempting to still save this first impression.

He opens his mouth to say something back, but then I shift on my feet and my shoes let out an embarrassing squelching sound that the entire Leelanau Peninsula can hear.

The handsome stranger bites back a smile, and mortification slams into me.

Damn it, Michael!

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