Page 29 of Cloudless
The weight of my phone in the pocket of my sweats threatens to consume me as I catch another curious glance from Wyatt.
Our normalno phones on the icepolicy dies a slow death as I check my notifications. Again.
Where are they?
The clock on my screen switches from 10:59 to 11:00. Jasper is officially late.
Right before my screen fades to black, a notification pops up on my screen. I almost drop my phone as my cold finger struggles to click on it.
I feel the tension in my shoulders relax for the first time all morning as her name stares back at me.
Lila
Good morning, Trouble.
“My sister’s been getting that dreamy look on her face every time she checks her phone this week, too.”
A strike of pain flares through my neck as I turn too quickly toward Jasper’s voice. His hands deftly lace his skates with efficiency normally reserved for more experienced players.
It takes far too long for me to reply. His declaration consumes my thoughts.I’ll file that information away for later.“Morning, Tank. I was getting worried about you.”
He stands, a natural on the thin blades of his skates. “Yeah. Sorry I’m late. We had to deal with the social worker this morning.”
I feel my eyebrows practically disappear into my hairline. “Social worker?”
I’m frozen in place as he swings open the door to the ice, completely unfazed by the bomb he just dropped at my feet. “Yeah. She was cool. Lulu was pretty worried about it, though.”
My brows descend from my hairline as he's swallowed up into the swarm of boys on the ice. My mind reels with the additional unexpected puzzle piece that’s been dropped on my lap like a ton of bricks.
A streak of blonde in the stands catches my attention. My gaze zeros in on the swaying ponytail as she walks down the steep stairs with her mini-me following close behind her. A pink backpack bounces on Posey’s back before they take their seats many rows above the throng of parents gathered in the stands.
I’m enraptured, watching Lila’s hair flow over her shoulder as she bends to help Posey get settled in the hard plastic seat.
Her gaze finally meets mine with the force of a semi-truck. It’s enough to knock any grown man on his ass.
The small smile that lights up her face when she sees me makes me feel like puffing my chest out in celebration.
Yeah, that’s right. That smile is for me, fuckers.
“Stop smiling like a lovesick fool at the pretty lady and do your job,Captain.”
I level a glare on Dax that would have most grown men shitting their pants. The fucker’s grin only grows, obviously receiving the reaction he’d been hoping for. He skates away from me before my mouth can catch up to my brain and dignify him with a response.
Questions circle my mind in a never-ending loop as I join the group to begin drills.
Why did Lila and the twins meet with a social worker?
Why does Jasper always talk about being the man of the house?
Why did Lila say she couldn’t call her dad about her car battery?
The picture slowly being revealed through the puzzle pieces isn’t a pretty one.
I barely take part in the drills for the rest of the day. I’m consumed with thoughts of her. My skin itches with the need to run up the stairs and demand to know what her story is.
By the end of the day, the last puzzle piece clicks into place with a finality that takes my breath.
And it breaks my heart.
