Page 54 of What if It's Us

“Do you think she would be receptive to the idea of going about it the old-fashioned way?” Griffin asks.

I shrug, feeling a bit overwhelmed with all my thoughts and emotions on the matter. “I honestly have no idea. I think she’s trying to keep this as non-sexual as possible. And maybe she’s doing that more for me than herself because she thinks that’s how I’d prefer it? I don’t know.”

“I guess you won’t really know till you ask her,” Griffin says. Just then his phone beeps in his pocket. He pulls it out and smiles at the text message he likely just received from his wife.

“Is that Layken?” Ella asks him. “Maybe we should tell her to chat with Marlee and feel her out a bit.”

Griffin holds his phone up in the air and proudly states, “She’s one step ahead of you.”

He gestures to me with a nod of his chin and reads her text message. “Hey babe, if you see Ledger, tell him he’s the subject of every conversation that has come out of Marlee’s mouth today!” He wags his brows at me. “She even sent the heart-eyes emoji. She never sends me that one. She always sends me the eggplant, the tongue, and the water droplets. So, I think this heart-eye one is all for you.”

CHAPTER TEN

MARLEE

The chill of the rink seeps into my skin but I barely notice as I stand several rows up with my gaze fixed on the guys moving below. Even in practice, they’re a blur of movement, muscle, power, and grace. They’re strong, fast and purposeful, their bodies clearly honed from hours of summer workouts as they itch to be back on the ice as a team.

Strong legs pump beneath padded gear, and the sharp scrape of their skates cuts against the ice. The rhythm with which they maneuver around the rink shouting instructions or laughing with one another is both overwhelming and exhilarating. There’s a solid contrast between the chill of the ice and the heat these guys exude. Off the ice, they’re just normal fun-loving men with a camaraderie that adds to their allure, but on the ice, they’re the epitome of power, precision, and pure grit.

With training camp in full swing this week there’s a renewed energy in and around the arena and it feels good.

It feels right.

It’s refreshing and exciting.

I inhale a deep, fulfilling breath with a satisfied smile on my face. Whatever it is in the air today, it has all of us feeling optimistic that this might be our best season yet.

It’s good to have my Stars back together again.

In particular, one Star.

My gaze lingers on Ledger when I spot him racing down the ice dribbling a puck with his stick. Maybe it’s the way his broad shoulders stretch his jersey taut when he leans into each turn or the effort behind the ease of his movements that makes him more magnetic to watch.

Or maybe it’s just me.

Either way, I could get lost in watching him all day.

“What’cha doing?”

I turn to glance behind me even though I recognize her voice immediately. What I didn’t plan to see though was Layken standing with my college best friend, Blakely, as well as our team’s mascot, Ella, and the coach’s daughter, Corrigan.

“Hey ladies.” I turn back around, continuing to watch the goings on below us. “I’m just checking out a little bit of this morning’s practice. Are you off today, Corrigan?”

Corrigan is an ER nurse who works at Pacific Children’s Hospital, but she’s also the girlfriend of our newest player, Bodhi Roche so we do see a lot of her during the season.

“Off for two days.” She smiles. “And I am grateful as hell. Summer is rough for kids. It’s been one accident after another.”

“Oh yeah?”

She nods. “Bike accidents, playground accidents, drownings. You name it. It’s happening. Every single day.”

“Don’t let her fool you,” Layken says, bumping hips with her best friend. “Corrigan is great at her job. Pacific Children’s is lucky to have her.”

“So, you’re watching practice?” Blakely asks again.

“Yep. Just had a free minute before I have to meet with the team so I thought I’d see how they’re looking.”

“Uh huh,” Blakely says, stepping up next to me and bumping my hip with hers. “You sure you’re watching the whole team or do you only have eyes for one of those guys down there?”

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