Page 5 of Worth the Risk
“For quite awhile. Permanently, actually.” Her eyes go wide.
“P...permanently?” she asks. She’s flustered and I find it adorable.
“Yeah, I would have thought mom would have let you know. Or Colt. I talked to him about this just last week. I bought a house and will be taking over as the High School hockey coach in the fall.” She takes in my words for a beat then softly responds.
“I was sorry to hear about your knee. So, you’re really done playing hockey?” I let out a breath. No one’s asked me this question that really cares about the answer.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be done playing hockey, but I’m done playing professionally.”
“...and are you okay with that?” She nudges her leg against mine. A small touch but I heat at the contact. I clear my throat.
“Not sure I have much of a choice, but I am happy to be back in town and I’m excited for the opportunity to coach these boys.”
“Wow, Rhett. That’s really exciting.” I can’t stop the smirk that appears at her monotone reply.
“Yeah, you sound really excited, Winnie.” I deadpan then let out a chuckle. “Will it be so awful to have me around?” Something flashes across her face, too quickly for me to name and she looks me in the eyes.
“Of course it won’t be. I really am happy you’ll be closer to your family. I know they all miss you so much.” She smiles and it’s genuine. Then she looks up and I can sense a shift in her as she stands. “Well. I need to finish up closing so I can get home. Another early morning here tomorrow. Thanks for checking me out, Rhett…” I smirk and her neck and uninjured cheek tinge pink and she rushes to rephrase. “...er for looking at my face....for making sure I’m okay,” she stammers. It’s so cute I can’t help my grin. “Thanks for stopping by. I guess I’ll be seeing you around town.” She practically pushes me toward the door.
“No problem. I’m glad you’re okay, but you should keep some ice on your cheek tonight to help with the swelling.”
“Sure, sure. I’ll do that. Bye, Rhett.”
“See you in the morning, Winnie.” She looks confused.
“In the morning?” My cheeks hurt from trying to hide my smile.
“Yeah, I hear I’ll have to get here early in the morning if I want any of your baked goods.”
“Right, yes. Well...I’ll see you then…maybe. I’m usually working in the back but Anna will be out front taking orders and she’ll make sure you get something good.” She’s rambling now and I’m not used to seeing her this worked up or what to make of it.
“Alright then, goodnight.”
“Night, Rhett.” I feel a light shove at my hip and hear the door shut and lock shut behind me. Not exactly how I had hoped she would receive the news of my being back in town for good.How did I want her to react? Did I want her to be excited becauseshewanted me back in town? Yeah, I’m not sure that’s warranted…but the way she reacted just then?
That was not on my list of possibilities.
Istart the walk back to my family’s hotel after practically being shoved out of Winnie’s bakery. It’s quiet, just the sound of my footfalls and thoughts of our conversation fill my ears. The way she looked at me gave me the impression that she still might think about me the way I have her over the years. Maybe I mis-read her being polite for fondness at seeing me this evening. She got cagey on me when I told her I would be staying in town.
I’m almost to my room and heading straight to bed so I can get up early tomorrow morning to see Winnie—no, stop Rhett—to visit the bakery to show my support for her new business. My mom and all my siblings have been talking nonstop the last few months about all the delicious things that come out of Winnie’s kitchen. I love the pride in mom’s voice when she talks about her. I could do without the photo Alder sent me with his arms wrapped around Winnie, kissing her cheek.
As I’m reaching for my keycard, I feel my phone vibrate in my jacket pocket. When I pull it out, I’m greeted with the sight of me and my best friend. We’re decked out in snowboarding gear and huge smiles, I think we were maybe 17. I tap the screen and answer.
“Hey, Colt. What's up?”
“When did you get in, man?”
“Just this morning. I haven’t had much time to do anything other than settle in at the hotel.” I don’t tell him about visiting Winnie at her bakery and I’m not sure why because there’s no reason I shouldn’t visit her and check out her new business.
“Well, why don’t you come out to AJ’s and have a drink? You’re only just across the way.”
“I don’t know man, I’m pretty beat and have to be up early in the morning.”To see your sister who at this point in time seems to not want to see me.
“Aw, come on, it's been forever since we’ve been in the same town! I need my wingman back!” Well now I really had no desire to go, but if I was being honest with myself, I was too keyed up from my interaction with Winnie to fall asleep any time soon anyway.
“Okay, I’ll be there in five, one drink.”
Colt gives me a “Hell Yeah!” and hangs up before I can respond. I smile at his enthusiasm. He’s always been charismatic. When he and Winnie moved here we became fast friends. If Colt’s jumping off a cliff, I’m already in the water having jumped right before. I’ve never broached the subject of Winnie with him and when I wanted to back then, she didn’t want me to. Saying it didn’t matter if we were only for the summer anyway. I scrub a hand down my face, trying to clear thoughts of that summer and Winnie from my mind before I’m sitting next to her brother for the next hour.
