Page 10 of Home Game

“So, you set the alarm.”

“Sorry.” He slowly got up and then was walking towards me. I backed out and made my way to the living room. He followed. He was wearing a pair of gray sweat shorts and his hair was wild. His body looked like it belonged on a billboard. Washboard abs, bulging pecs, huge arms. The guy took care of his body.

He looked at the bedding that I had neatly folded on the end ofthe couch. And then took me in. Fully dressed and ready to go. “You have to work?”

“Yes.”

“Need a ride?”

“Bus is fine.”

He rubbed his face. “What time is it?”

“Just after 5 AM.”

“Want something to eat?”

A beat. “I took the burger from last night.”

He looked confused. “Yeah, sure.”

“So, thanks,” I said. “But I need to go now.”

He walked over to the kitchen and then came back with a card. He passed it to me.

“What is this?” The card was smooth. Made of expensive thick paper. His name was on the front. There was also a number.

“That is the number of my answering service. If you ever need anything, you can call that.”

A lump formed in my throat. “I’m not some stupid cling-on that is just going to keep bothering you.”

“I know.”

“You don’t have to worry about me contacting you again.”

“I get it. But you helped me yesterday. So call me if you need anything.”

In a weeks' time, this guy wouldn’t even remember my name. “Fine.”

“Do you need some money?”

“Fuck off.”

He laughed. “You’re prickly in the morning.”

“You’re no peach yourself.”

He walked over to the door and disarmed the alarm. I picked up my bag. I stopped in front of him. He smelled like warm male and expensive soap.

“Goodbye.”

He opened the door. “Bye.”

CHAPTER 3

RYAN

Practice was overand I was coming off the ice when Gordon motioned for me to come over.

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