Page 18 of Sin Bins and Second Chances
I can’t help but be a little wary, but I accept the glass, then toast with her. “To potential new friends.”
“A few of us that work together like to get together for the occasional girls’ night out, you should join us on the next one,” she suggests.
“Sure.”
Alexa passes me her phone. “Add your number and text yourself from mine so you can add it.” I nod and do as she asks. “Can I tell you a little secret?” She grins. “I also want to be your friend because I stalk your bakery account and am hoping to convince you to bring some treats up to the office sometime. I’ll pay of course. Technically, the office will.”
I laugh. “Sure. Just message me through the app so I don’t forget and can keep track forinventory purposes. I run my orders through the website that is linked.”
“Absolutely! I wish I could bake. Or cook. I burn water.” She throws her hands up with a laugh. “I’ve got to go and help man the raffle table, but we’ll talk later.”
I nod. As I watch Alexa walk away, I see Ethan crossing the room toward me. That is a conversation I’m not ready to have, so I quickly make my way around one of the closed doors and into the hall. My eyes dart across the area to see where I can hide.
Is it childish of me to avoid him? Possibly, but I can’t be around him right now. Not after what happened at my cousin’s house. Not aftereverything.
I dart around the corner where it’s quiet and let out a sigh of relief. A few minutes to collect myself and then I’ll head back inside and find someone else to talk to.
“Why are you running away from me?” His voice comes out in a growl.
My back tenses as I take a step back and hit a wall. I’m cornered and it’s not what was supposed to happen.
“I’m not running,” I lie.
He steps closer, making the hallway feel even smaller. “Then why are you avoiding me?”
“I’m not, I…” I freeze. What the hell can I say? I’ve been caught.
“You’re avoiding me.” He reaches out and twirls a strand of my hair with his fingers. “You can’t avoid me forever.” Ethan drops the hair and takes a step back.
He’s right, I can’t. Not now that he’s back.
Chapter Nine
ETHAN
After wrapping the blade of my stick, I move to the knob. I wrap the blue across the top, twist it, then wrap it once more at the bottom of the grip I’ve created. I place the blue tape back in my bag and grab the white to cover it. Is it a superstition to do it this way, possibly? However, hockey players are some of the most superstitious people I’ve ever met. And don’t even get me started on goalies. Hiding my favorite color away so it never mattered what team I was playing for.
“Ready, Miller?” Jude taps his stick twice on the ground to gain my attention.
I glance up at him. “Yeah.” My face stays straight.
Of course I’m ready, physically and mentally. I was ready to hit the ice and play for the Lonestar Bobcats since I attended my first game in this very stadium.
My nerves have nothing to do with the game, the small crowd, or being on a new team. The only thing keeping me on the edge of my seat is a fiery little redhead who’s been avoiding me since the dinner at her cousin’s place a week ago. I know she’ll be out there watching, too. The Miles family always shows up to support one another. They don’t do small; they do big and over the top.
It’s not like I wish she weren’t here. I need her here, fucking crave it. If she would let me get within shouting distance of her, I’d never let her forget it. She occupies every spare thought I have and creeps into times I shouldn’t even be thinking of her. Like right. The fuck. Now.
“Let’s do this.” I stand and move over to the center of the room where the team is slowly gathering around the team logo on the carpet.
“They say it’s just like practice.” Jude Becker, the team captain, speaks up. “As if this little scrimmageisn’t a big deal.” He laughs, then his face goes straight. “But we’re going against our long-time rival, the cheeseburgers.”
The cheeseburgers isn’t the actual name of the team. Their mascot is the cheetah, but this rivalry goes back years ago to when two brothers played on opposing teams. Let’s just say these brothers weren’t close and they both only hyped up their teams to not hold back. That feeling only grew with each player over the years.
“They’re in our house.” Andrew taps the foot of his stick to the ground once and the rest of the team copies. “This is our ice, and nobody—nobody—comes into our house and walks away with a win, especially not them.” He chuckles. “When that puck drops, we’re not holding back. I want fire.” A tap of his stick and the rest of the team follows. “I want grit.” Another tap. “Hit hard. Skate fast.” Another tap. “Let’s go, boys.”
A quiet takes over the group as we collectively ground ourselves, then leave the locker room. We gather in the hall leading to the ice and can hear the crowd booing the entrance of the other team and it brings a cocked smile to my face. With my helmet in place and my stick in my lefthand, I slowly edge forward with the rest of the team. The music starts and I can hear the announcement and the cheers start from the other side as we make our way out to the ice.
This is the moment. It’s out here on the ice where I prove myself. It wasn’t easy getting traded to the Lonestar Bobcats; I need to prove I belong here. Practice is one thing, but this is something else. Especially knowing the first game is against the damn Cheetahs. Fucking cheeseburgers.
