Page 5 of From Ice to Home
“Sure it does,” he says, leaning closer. The familiar scent ofhim hits me like a ton of bricks. “No one would ever think to look for the New York Rangers in Las Vegas during the playoffs.”
“That’s kind of perfect.” I take a step back, his proximity making it extremely hard to think straight. “So, I guess you have to get back, or—“
He steps away from me, giving me a second to catch my breath before I realize I failed to notice the two other guys that are with him.
“Or?” Lucas asks, and I can’t help but hear the hope in voice. “We could join you?”
He looks over my shoulder, his mouth settling into a victorious grin. “It looks like your friend is definitely not coming back over here, so you have the room.”
Following his gaze, I look over to where Mona is still flirting with the guy who bought her a drink. Her second glass is already ready and waiting as she ever so subtly touches his arm every chance she gets.
“I’d say that’s a very accurate observation.” I sigh, turning away from him. He holds my chair out for me, before sitting down next to me. I can’t believe that the guy I fell in love with in High School, the same guy who went off to play for the NHL, is sitting next to me. We haven’t spoken since the day I told him we shouldn’t be together anymore, but I’d be lying if I said I never kept tabs on him.
Or at least as much as my heart allowed.
I don’t think I’ve ever watched one of his games all the way through. The emotions it stirred up were always too much to handle. On one hand I could watch him all day, seeing him in his element, living his dream on the ice. On the other hand, I couldn’t bear the thought of him moving on without me.
Somehow it feels like he left me behind, even though it was the other way around.
At least in theory.
“I’m Lucas,” he says, holding his hand out to Liz with that confident grin of his. “I guess Sanders here is still trying to find her bearings.”
“I’m so sorry—“ I start to apologize, my mind swirling at his use of my old nickname.
“It’s fine,” Liz cuts in, her smile widening as Lucas’s teammates pull up another chair and make themselves at home at our table. “Besides, right now I’m thanking Mona for not waiting two minutes longer before accepting that awful drink.”
I take a deep breath, trying to settle the giant butterflies that have taken flight inside my stomach.
“Thanks for the champagne, Luke.” I can’t believe he remembered that it’s the only thing I ever wanted to drink when we were younger.
“It’s a pleasure,” he says, his smile lighting up my insides in a way that’s almost unbearable. “Besides, didn’t you always say it’s not a celebration without bubbly?”
“I did say that.” I can’t bring myself to stop looking at him. He’s so different and still he’s the boy I fell in love with in the tutor centre. When he walked into my life that afternoon, I didn’t know he would bury himself so deeply in my very being that even now, after all these years, I won’t ever be able to get him out.
My gaze slips to his forearms, the light scars he has and the new tattoo on the inside of his arm. A cross with twisting vines around it, at the bottom there’s a verse: Proverbs 3:5
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.’
His gaze follows mine. Reaching out, I trace his tattoo with my fingers. My breath hitches, his skin warm and real beneath my touch, confirming that I’m not imagining any of this. My heart races, reading the verse again and knowing that Lucas is still very much the boy I knew if he is still relying on God in all his ways.
“I’m sorry I never called.” It feels too small and too little considering everything. The way we left things…it wasn’t easy. But I knew it was the right thing at the time.
“It’s fine, Sanders.” His voice is calm, but his eyes hold something so much more, something I’m not sure I’m ready to face. “I’m glad I found you here.”
I draw back my hand, my breath catching as I try to steady myself. He smiles at me, and for a moment it feels like no time has passed at all.
“Me too, Luke. Me too.”
2
LUCAS
After we won the Eastern Conference Semis, the team got a couple of days off to regroup and refresh. It’s been a rough season and it started to show in the playoffs. Round two against the Hurricanes was a battle and it got to some of the guys. Coach was majorly impressed by our performance, despite some of the guys struggling to keep it together. He figured the team was under too much pressure, and he needed his guys to relax. At first the General Manager didn’t budge, but after he sat in Harry Matlock’s office for two hours, putting together a plan that worked for both of them, we got the good news.
We’re heading to Vegas for two days.
If it were up to me, I’d be in my truck, heading down to Georgetown to see my dad and my little brother, Noah. But that was out of the question for now. The agreement was that the team stays together, keeps it dry on the break, and sticks to strict curfews.
