Page 20 of Sin Bins and Second Chances
After assuring my family I’ll see them at home, I make my way over to the employee’s only hall. This is probably a stupid idea. It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve hung back after a home game, though. When you’re related to one of the players and live locally, some employees get to know you. Especially since my family comes to every homegame possible, and I never miss one unless I’m sick.
The media is gathering around the corner. A podium is being mic’d up and set up by the media team in front of the backdrop that remains up. Fabric stretches across a stand and displays the team’s logo in a repeated pattern.
After the results of the game, I’m sure they’re going to have Jude and Connor hurrying to get out here. The team captain almost always is included in the post game interviews, they switch out the other players depending on how the game went.
I smile and nod to one of the guy’s blocking the path as he steps to the side to let me pass. It gets quiet the farther down the hall I travel. Once I get halfway down to where the door to the locker room and coach’s office are, I lean up against the wall and wait.
If I were a random girl, I’d be on the other side of the door, outside. No doubt about it, after that game, there would be a crowd of puck bunnies on the other side. This wasn’t like that, though. I want to congratulate the guys and then catch a ride home with mycousin.
I did this sometimes, but I’ve never felt nervous about it before.
It takes a while for the players to slowly begin trickling out. Most of them smile or hug me as they pass, like an extra little sister they didn’t ask for. I enjoy knowing they’re like an extended part of the family. Every one of them have been out to the ranch numerous times. They’ve eaten at Andrew’s house and our grandparents.
“Hey, waiting for me?” Andrew smiles as he approaches.
Ethan is walking out with him and it takes more than I care to admit not to focus on him. To notice the smirk on his face. I glance between the two then refocus on my cousin.
I hesitate. “Yeah, I was hoping for a ride back to the property. I don’t want to hear Grandpa and your dad discuss sheep prices again.”
Now, sure, I could’ve driven myself. It’s only an hour from the ranch. We’re all going to the same place, though. It made more sense to ride together, most of the time.
I step up next to the pair of them, walking alongside them down the hall. We turn the corner to head outside.
Andrew laughs. “I was going to grab a drink with a couple of the guys first. You know you’re always welcome to join us, though. If you don’t mind hanging out for a couple of hours. I’m kind of wired after that game.”
“Oh.” I nod. “Sure.”
“I’ll take you home if you want.” Ethan speaks up. “I’m not in the mood to go out at the moment.”
My heart pounds in my chest at the offer, he can’t be serious. “I don’t want you to go out of your way.” I shake my head. His uncle’s house isn’t far from the ranch, but he would have to drive past it to get to the ranch, by the smallest bit.
Ethan chuckles. “Driving back to Sage Creek takes almost an hour, and it’s not out of the way. As long as you don’t hog the radio with your girly pop music.” He teases.
“What do you want to do?” Andrew questions as we step outside. “Up to you.”
I should go with my cousin, that’s the safe choice. I can hang with the team for a while and grab a few beers. That’s a lie. I don’t drink beer; it tastes like piss. I could have a drink and convince them to get food. They’re always hungry after a gameanyway.
“That could work.” It’s settled. I’ll hangout with the guys for awhile before going home. “A ride home would be ice.” The words are coming out of my mouth before I can stop them. Shit. “Food, though.”
Seriously? Where did I learn how to talk?
Ethan smiles. “I’m starving. We can grab some tacos on the way.”
“Uh, yeah. Sure.” What is wrong with me? A chill snakes down my spine. “I love tacos.” I swallow knowing the red is creeping across my chest and up my neck.
“I remember.” Ethan gestures toward his truck and we part ways from Andrew.
“You kids stay out to trouble. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” I hear Bennett shout across the parking lot as Ethan leads the way with his hand on my lower back.
I glance back at the guys. “You need to say that to yourself.” They’re all laughing as they pile into fewer vehicles than they arrived in. It’s only because Andrew is with them I know they won’t get into too much trouble.
Ethan opens the door and I hold my breath as he helps me climb up and into his truck. After hecloses the door, I exhale and focus on steadying my breathing. The seconds it takes him to get to the driver’s side seem to stretch and only make me more nervous.
This is no big deal. I’m just sitting in my ex’s truck. He’sjustgiving me a ride home. This doesn’t mean anything. He’s just being friendly.
He climbs into his seat and starts up the truck. The radio is turned on low and I consider turning it up so there’s less awkward silence. We make our way out of the parking lot and onto the highway before he turns the music up, just a little. If it weren’t for the country music playing, this was mostly definitely be the most awkward moment of my life.
This is nerve-wracking, but I don’t know how to talk to him anymore. It takes me back to the first couple of times I tried talking to him as a teenager once I realized I was crushing on him. Before, we were friends; it was easy. He was over often enough, being Andrew’s best friend. Then it all changed. It was awkward. I was awkward—and I hadn’t changedthatmuch.
