Page 94 of Second Round

I wavered for a moment. My natural instinct was to at least greet her with a cheek kiss, but there was something in her posture that didn’t invite that. I sat down beside her. I could feel the warmth of her thigh nexttomine.

“The Vice aredoingokay.”

“So, why areyouhere?”

“I told Tristan I was going to drop bysometime.”

She turned towards the ice. “I wasn’t aware that you two were keeping intouch.”

“Not a big deal. He texted me to tell me he got the ‘A.’ And to thank me for my help. You raised apolitekid.”

“Thank you.” She watched Tris dart into the offensive zone and head to the net. He went behind to fight for the puck, won it, and then managed to jam in a wrap-around. Jackie jumped up and clapped her gloved handstogether.

“Woooooo! Way to go, Tristan! Yay,C-3!”

I stood too and grinned at her adorable enthusiasm. “Nice goal. The kid’slookinggood.”

She nodded with her eyes glued to the ice as Tris was hugged by his teammates. “I’ll be happy when they decide on a team name though. Cheering for C-3 is not verysatisfying.”

We sat back down. I moved a little closer to her. “So, are you enjoying your new neighbourhood?” There was no question that this area wasn’t as ritzy as her old place. But Jackie never seemed like the kind of person who caredaboutthat.

“Yeah. It’s relief not to have to maintain a lifestyle I never wanted in first place. I’m close to Sharon’s. Everything’s great. Hannah and Tristan both like their school and have new friends. And I’ve got some flexibility aroundmoneynow.”

“Are youworking?”

“Yes, I have multiple part-time jobs. I want to be around for the kids, after school and all thatstuff.”

She shrugged dismissively, so I dropped the subject of work. It felt natural and right to be together here in my element, the arena. Maybe it was time to suggest we get together again. “You should bring Tristan to aVicegame.”

“Oh, sure.” Great. Plans for the future were a first step. I’d come here without a game plan, but things were progressing. It might take time, but Jackie had aforgivingsoul.

“If you’d like tickets, Icould—”

We were interrupted by a man sitting down on the other side of Jackie. “Sorry I’m so late. Got caught up with aclient.”

He was tall and thin with reddish hair and glasses.Merde, who was this? I extended a hand. “Hi. I’m LeoGauthier.”

“I’m Sid Bramley.” Jackie leaned back as we shook handsacrossher.

“Have you got a kid on this team too, Leo?” heasked.

I shook my head. “No, I’m a friend of Jackie’s.Tristan’stoo.”

“Oh, really.” Something shifted in his manner, and he squinted at me. “Do you come to his gamesoften?”

“Leo is a hockey coach,” Jackie explained. “He worked with Tristan over thesummer.”

Sid nodded. “I see. You coachkidsthen?”

“No. I coach theVancouverVice.”

He snorted. “Oh, that team. They’re a bit of joke.” Then he deliberately placed his arm behind Jackie, resting his hand on her hip. A dog marking his territory. He leaned around her to look at me. “Nooffence.”

“None taken,” I assured the big asshole. So this was Jackie’s new boyfriend. It certainly didn’t take her long to find someone new. Not that it was a surprise. She was a very attractive woman, but more importantly she was kind and generous. What guy wouldn’t want to go out with someone like her? “So, what do youdo,Sid?”

“I work for Ernst and Young. As anauditor.”

Well, if she wanted someone with a boring job so he could focus on her, then she was in the right place. But she could do a lot better. I glanced at Jackie, and her eyes were glued totheice.

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