When I bring the last book out, I toss the box behind the counter to break down later, but a small package flies out and lands on the floor at Georgie’s feet.
“Looks like you missed this,” Georgie says, bending over to inspect the tiny parcel. She rips open the paper. “I forgot I ordered these!”
She scatters the brightly colored contents across the counter. The small pile of thread brightens the mood, both of us grinning as a wave of nostalgia hits. Friendship bracelets.
“These are so cute!” Swiping one, I hold it in the air, admiring it. “I remember making these when I was little. Right around the same time my mom was scribbling my name in my underwear.”
She laughs. “I got them on purpose.”
“You did?”
She hands me an orange one. “This is for you. I picked orange because it means confidence, courage, and creativity.” Georgie smiles, her light-brown eyes dancing. “I figure with everything you’ve got on the horizon, it was pretty fitting.”
“It’s perfect, thank you.” Slipping it on my wrist, I feel a buzz. Must be how Wonder Woman feels when she puts her bracelets on.
“Maybe you can show them to Jake the next time you see him.” She laughs. “After you apologize for being so bossy.”
“I am perfect being bossy, thank you very much.” I don’t mention the part where I haven’t stopped thinking about Jake since yesterday. In fact, I’ve worked very hard to push his six-foot-whatever hotness out of my mind for now. I’ve been down that road, and it’s a no-go. Not now. “Anyway, from what Travis mentioned, this guy needs a break—he’s got enough problems. He was suspended from play but then was let go from his team. I remember Travis talking about him when he signed him a fewyears ago—he’s got a temper, or at least has been known to be like a closed book. Very stand-offish, which I can attest to now. He’s here while Travis works on a new contract for him.”
“This suspension thing sounds familiar.” Georgie already has her iPad out and is starting to play detective. “What’s his name?”
“Jake December.” Pointing to the device clutched in her grasp, I shake my head. “But, don’t do that.”
“Why?”
“I’d rather not know a whole lot about him, at least not like that. He’s my brother’s friend, and if I do get to know him, I want to get to know him on my own terms. Not go off what the press or some gossip blogs say.”
“Uh-huh.” Clearly not listening to me, Georgie lets her fingers do the scrolling. She’s a fan of ice hockey and has been a plus-one whenever Travis has invited me to games over the past year. Seeing Georgie, this tiny little waif who looks like a bohemian goddess, you’d never think of her holding a beer that’s sloshing all over the place while she screams at grown men fighting on the ice. It’s pretty hilarious actually.
She emits a low whistle, alerting me that she’s found something interesting. “Oh, wow. I knew his name sounded familiar. He’s a superstar who is expected to go on to national teams soon…if he can get his anger in check.”
Get his anger in check—and that’s why I didn’t want to know, ‘cause he’s still known as the angry guy. But now I’m curious.
“What do you mean?”
“One story talks about how an incident happened in a game recently where he and his teammate got into a fight, leading to his ten-day suspension. The other guy was also suspended, but Jake was let go from the team permanently because the argument apparently spilled off the ice and into the locker room.” She winces as she closes her eyes. “Looks like the owner of the team was in the locker room at the time and he endedup getting knocked down by Jake. That’s probably why he was fired.”
Georgie keeps reading while my thoughts swirl. The same guy who had his little dog with him in his tiny car yesterday took out a teammate and the owner? I’m still unpacking when Georgie does another dramatic gasp, but this one isn’t for show.
“You’re going to want to see this,” she mumbles, flicking her eyes to mine. She taps on the screen. “He played for the Blades.”
I wince. I know that team, only a bit too well. “And?”
“The guy he got into a fight with. It’s Todd.”
“Todd.” I choke on the name as my jaw goes slack. “As in the Todd who I dated…that Todd?”
I peek over her shoulder, and sure enough, there’s the story with Todd’s face front and center next to a photo of Jake. My skin actually crawls when I see him.
Trust me, there’s no love lost there, at least not for me.
Shuddering, I tap on the screen and scroll down the page, looking for something.
“What are you doing?” Georgie asks.
“Looking for another story. Anything, just not that. I don’t want to see that.”
“Well, it’ll give you two something to talk about,” she jokes, but I’m not laughing.
