Page 15 of Cloudless
Her eyebrows draw together even further. “How do you know my name?”
My smile only grows with her resolve. “Your brother told me about you during hockey camp yesterday.”
The fire in her eyes fades to a simmer as she accepts my explanation. Her pigtails bounce as she steps forward, hand extended in front of her for a professional-grade handshake. “It’s nice to meet you, Kam.”
Future boss lady right here.
My hand swallows hers as I accept her handshake. “It’s nice to meet you too, Rosie Posey.”
I turn to find a much more composed Lila in front of her car. Still, I soften my voice to keep her tears at bay. “I’ll be right back.”
She bites her plump bottom lip as she nods.
I stuff my hands in the pockets of my shorts and watch the sun make its final descent of the day as I walk to my Tahoe.
One thing Lila said really stood out to me.
Normally I would call my dad, but I can’t do that anymore.
Her statement repeats in my head like an echo bouncing between the buildings in a city. My desire to know her story only grows with every step I take away from her.
CHAPTER 8
HOCKEY PLAYERS DESERVE CHEERLEADERS
KAM
Ellie pushes off the Tahoe’s driver door and slides her phone into the back pocket of her jeans as I approach.
The number 23 disappears as she crosses her arms over the jersey she wears to every game. “I would be offended you forgot I existed, had you not also forgotten your hockey gear, too.” She waves a hand at my hockey bag, abandoned by her feet.
I grimace. “Sorry, Ellie.” The car shakes as I toss my bag on the backseat and slam the door.
My feet move as quickly as they do on the ice as I get in the car. The slam of my own car door cuts off Ellie’s sigh. Her mouth works a mile a minute as she makes her way to the passenger door.
Her butt has barely settled in her seat before I’m pulling out of the parking spot. I feel her assessing gaze on the side of my face like the warmth from a bonfire as I drive the few lanes over to Lila’s car.
Her brows arch as I pull into the parking spot in front of the vacant car. My heart tries to thump a hole in my chest when I don’t see Lila or the twins right away.
The impact of my feet hitting the ground reverberates through my aching knees. I can practically feel the curiosityrolling off my sister in waves as she wordlessly follows me to the back of the Tahoe. The rising trunk door skims the tips of my hair since I can’t bother waiting for the damn thing to go all the way up.
Ellie’s eyes stay glued to the side of my face, despite the loud pop that rings between us as I open my storage bin. I’ll have to remember to thank Dax for always having a dead battery later.
I breathe a sigh of relief, and my heart rate returns to normal, when I spot Lila emerging from the shadow of Posey’s tree. The twins follow close behind her. Heat envelopes my face as a shy smile touches Lila’s lips.
Her smile falls and her eyes widen as they dart to my sister next to me. A blush starts on her cheeks and creeps down her neck to disappear beneath her red shirt.
In my peripherals, I see Ellie tilt her head to the side as her gaze bounces back and forth between Lila and I. Her signature smile brightens her face as she waves. “Hi, I’m Ellie.”
Lila’s wide eyes flash to mine for the briefest of moments before she gives a small wave back at my sister. “Uh, I’m Lila.”
Ellie’s smile grows at the same rate Lila’s blush deepens. I busy myself with the jumper cables as my sister throws her arm around a clearly uncomfortable Lila. “I’m glad mybrotherwas here to help with your battery situation.”
My brows draw down in confusion at the emphasis Ellie puts onbrother.Lila’s shoulders fall with a visible sense of relief at the mention of the word.
The jumper cables slip through my fingers like water and pool in a tangle at my feet as realization dawns.
Wait, was Lila jealous?
