Page 83 of Secret Puck
“Hope she doesn’t mind we came along.”
“Are you kidding? She’s thrilled. My mother’s happiest when she has lots of people to dote on.”
He wraps his arms around my lower back. “What are you up to this morning? Can you save me from some lame football game outside?”
I gasp. “Lame? It’s an honored tradition.” I take his hand and pull him to the door. “You can be on my team. I’ve never lost.”
The neighborhood football game on Thanksgiving morning is a tradition as far back as I can remember. When I was little, I’d sit along the sidelines and cheer on my dad and Adam and whatever boy I had a crush on at the time. But sometime in middle school I decided to join the other brave girls out there. I love it.
“Morning, sunshine.” Mav jogs up to us.
“Morning,” Heath says, voice cracking. He clears it a few times. His gruff morning voice is my favorite.
“Glad you got your sexy ass up; we need a QB.”
Heath shakes his head. “I never played football.”
Mav punches him. “I know, but you’ve got those QB good looks like Tom Brady.”
“Did they already pick teams?” I ask.
“Nah,” Mav says. “They’re fighting over Adam.”
“You four are the most athletically inclined people we’ve had in a while.” I scan the yard to see who made it to play this year, and my gaze snags on someone I didn’t expect. “Bryan’s here?”
The question is more to myself than the guys, but Heath asks, “Who’s Bryan?”
“My ex.” Bryan and I make eye contact and he starts toward me. Seeing him for the first time in three months has my emotions whipping around like I’m on a merry-go-round.
“Hey, Ginny.” Bryan envelopes me in a hug, pressing his large body against mine and squeezing tightly. Apparently he feels none of the awkwardness I do. I can’t decide if that’s comforting or not. “It’s so good to see you.”
“I didn’t expect you to be home for break.”
“Just for the day. I fly back tonight.”
“Oh.” I shift uncomfortably and wring my hands to have something to do. “How’s Idaho?”
“Eh… you know.”
“Actually, I don’t.”
“Well, it’s not Arizona. How’s Valley?”
I sneak a glance at Heath out of my periphery. He’s got his arms crossed and a hard expression on his face. “It’s great. I really love it.”
“Yeah?”
I nod.
“That’s awesome.” He does a blatant once over of my body. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks.” I smile politely. He looks good too, but not in that way where I want to rip off his clothes. And the guy who I do want to do that to is standing beside me. I turn to him. “Bryan, this is my friend Heath.”
“Hey, man.” Bryan juts his chin in acknowledgment. “You play hockey with Adam, right?”
“That’s right.”
“The guys were talking about you earlier. Sounds like you’re going to be the opposing QB. I’ll try not to make you look too bad.” He takes a step back and winks. “Good to see you, babe. I’ll call you. Maybe we can hang while we’re both in town for winter break.”
