Page 61 of Rematch
Chelsea looked at him, smiling. “That sounds wonderful. Ethan’s aunt Agnes had a boat as well, but hers was nowhere near as big. She would take me, Ethan, and Allyson out on it, though our fishing expeditions were usually fraught with drama.”
“Drama and fishing don’t mix.”
She gave him a gorgeous grin. “You’ve never gone with Ethan, who refused to stab poor defenseless worms, or Allyson, who screamed bloody murder whenever we actually managed to land a fish.”
Preston laughed. “You didn’t add to the drama?”
“Hell no. I’ll have you know I’m an excellent fisherwoman. I baited Ethan’s hooks and took the fish off Allyson’s before setting them free. All the while, Agnes lay back in her lounge chair, drinking Aperol Spritzes and laughing her ass off at us.”
“Agnes sounds like a lot of fun. Is this the woman who had all the hats and no television?”
Chelsea’s eyes widened. “I forgot I’d told you that story.”
He and Chelsea had spent hours in that hotel room last year, alternating between the hottest sex of his life and sharing childhood stories. He remembered being fascinated by Chelsea’s adventures with Ethan’s aunt.
“She’ll never get to meet him,” Chelsea said sadly, glancing over at Lennon. “Aunt Agnes would have loved Lennon.”
“I’m sure she would have.”
“Ethan has sworn to take on her role in Lennon’s life, exposing him to the same adventures and games and scavenger hunts.”
“Then I’m glad I managed to score tickets for him. I know I mentioned the team box, and I can definitely get him a spot there whenever he wants, but I thought for this first time, he might prefer being center ice, lower bowl, near the glass. Best spot to really feel like he’s part of the action.” Preston walked over to the kitchen counter, retrieving the envelope with three tickets for tomorrow night’s home game. “I know you’re not sure if you can make it, but there’s one in there for you just in case. And for Allyson, of course.”
Chelsea accepted the envelope. “Oh wow. It was so sweet of you to think of her, and I know Allyson will go. Ethan’s done nothing but sing your praises since he met you at the bakery.”
Preston noticed she didn’t say anything about her attendance, but he didn’t push, even though he really wanted her there. Hockey was a huge part of his life, of who he was, and he wanted to share that with her, wanted her to see him out on the ice.
“My dad and I watched the Boston game last night.”
He smiled. “Oh yeah. What did you think?”
“I was blown away, because that sport is seriously nuts.”
“Nuts how?” he asked, chuckling at her wide-eyed expression.
“How in the hell do you skate like the wind, all while pushing a puck down the ice and getting shoved into the boards by other giants, then manage to get that teensy puck by the biggest giant in the rink and into the tiny net? It’s nuts!”
“I guess it is. But it’s fun.”
“How sharp are the skates?” she asked.
“Razor sharp.”
She shuddered, then narrowed her eyes, looking at him more closely. “How many of those teeth aren’t your originals?”
Preston laughed loudly. “A few, but I’m not revealing which ones until at least our eighth date. Don’t want to scare you away.”
Chelsea’s brows furrowed slightly, leaving him to wonder about her reaction.
Was it the word date that was tripping her up? Granted, today wasn’t a traditional date, but in his mind, it was exactly what it was. He’d invited her because he wanted to get to know Lennon, but he also wanted to spend time with her.
He considered tackling the subject of the other man again, then changed his mind. They had approximately twelve million other fish to fry before he could propose that they pick up where they’d left off last year. Dammit.
Preston led her across the room to the large shelf he’d had built especially for his aquarium. His mother was deathly allergic to both dogs and cats—all pet dander did her in—so the only pet he’d been allowed to have as a child was a fish. Which was fine with him, because in his mind, there was nothing more peaceful than watching fish swimming around.
“Oh, is this Johnny and June?” Chelsea asked.
Preston shook his head. “Sadly, I lost both of them in September. I got them when I first moved here, so they were with me for fourteen years. I took their loss pretty hard.”
