Page 39 of Make Your Shot
Caleb stares at me, his gaze unwavering, his expression giving nothing away. “We can figure something out.” He pauses, his throat bobbing, lips parting but then he shuts them once more. He pulls out his phone, fingers moving across the screen as he types out a message. He doesn’t look at me, instead he scans the device.
“She said that’s fine. She’s not staying for the third period, so you could get Tella when she leaves.” He drags his gaze up to me. “Is that enough time for you with your friend?”
I nod eagerly. “Oh, yes. That’s perfect. I can drive separately, that way I can bring Tella home early.”
“You can come with us. She can stay until the game is over.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want it to be too late for her.”
Caleb dips his chin. “I’m sure.” He rolls his wrist, checking his watch. “Tella is in her room playing. I need to go.”
“Okay,” I say, a smile pulling on my lips. “Thank you, Caleb.”
His eyes linger on mine and he says nothing. He just gives me a curt nod once more before heading out of the room without another word. My lungs deflate and my shoulders sag at the sound of the garage door opening and closing.
Something inside him changed since we almost kissed. I don’t know if it’s because of Amelia’s birthday and the reminders of her, or the fact that I didn’t stop him. If Tella hadn’t interrupted, I would have let him kiss me.
And I’m not sure which one of us would have felt worse for it.
“Momma Mia! Look at you!” Steven comes striding toward me, a smile lighting his whole face as he pulls me in for a hug. “It feels like it’s been an entire decade since I’ve seen you!”
I wrap my arms around him, hugging him tightly as laughter escapes me. “It’s only been like four months!”
“Whatever,” he says, releasing me as he waves his hand dismissively. He loops his arm through mine, leading me in the direction of the bar. “Let’s get some drinks and watch some hot men beat each other up.”
Steven and I each grab a mixed drink and make our way through the crowds in the concourse before finding our section and heading down to the seats. We missed the national anthem but managed to make our way down just before the puck dropped. Steven pauses behind me, stopping in the middle of the row, eyes wide as he stares at me.
“We’re right behind the bench?”
I managed to get us seats just three rows behind the Aston Archers bench. A smile breaks out across my lips and I laugh, nodding my head. “Come sit!” I wave for him to come with me as I sit down. He drops down beside me, his shoulder bumping into mine as he scans the players in front of us.
“This is truly a dream come true,” he swoons, batting his eyelashes at me. “Do you think I’d get kicked out if I accidentally fell over the glass and onto the bench with them?”
Laughter escapes me once more and I raise my eyebrows at him. “Oh, without a doubt.”
Steven, Willow, and I all became close friends while we were in college. Willow and Steven had a little friends-with-benefits thing going on for a few months, but then Steven started seeing this new guy who came during our junior year. And Willow...Well, she just moved on to the next hook up when she felt like it.
My eyes scan the backs of the players in front of us, running over their names and numbers before I direct my attention out to the ice. Play already started and I search the players, immediately finding him as I scoot forward in my seat. Caleb skates down the ice,following the play before the puck is overturned and moving back through the neutral zone.
“Which one is your boss?” Steven questions me, poking my arm with his elbow.
Caleb quickly heads over to the bench, his lips moving as he yells something and waves for the second line center to head out. He hops over the boards, his chest heaving as his gaze immediately collides with mine. His expression relaxes when he sees me, but only for a brief moment. He quickly looks at Steven, his brow furrowing.
“Him,” I practically whisper, the sound tumbling from my lips as I stare back at Caleb. His eyes linger for a fraction of a second longer than they should before he tears them away from me, taking his seat on the bench. “Number 8.”
“I didn’t see his face,” Steven says with disappointment. “There are two Ford players?”
My heart pounds erratically in my chest and I down more than half of my drink in a single gulp. “Yep. They’re brothers.”
“Woo wee, sister. That could be fun.”
I snort, shaking my head at him. “Carson isn’t single and Caleb is a widower.”
Steven purses his lips then puckers them as he takes a sip of his drink. “Well, okay then. There goes that fantasy.”
We get halfway through the first period before Steven abandons me to go get us fresh drinks. I shouldn’t be drinking since I’m going to have to be responsible for Tella after the second period, but Iswore to myself I’d only drink two during the first period.
That was before I realized how strong the bartender was making the drinks. And before I realized I’d have a bit of a buzz before even starting my second.
