Page 26 of Wildcat
“The thing is, I knew as soon as I contacted you, I’d want to see you, and I couldn’t. I was waiting until I had more time where we could really hang out, get to know one another.”
My pulse races as he speaks and I swallow thickly. “They are ready for you.” I take a step away from him, but he closes it.
“How do you follow-up a night like that with a text, you know?” he mutters more to himself than me. “Anyway, I’m sorry.”
He skates into position and the lights drop. Breathing is easier when he’s a good distance away and not saying all the right things. He looks good against the neon green, too. He looks good. Period.
I check the schedule to see who’s next. “Ash Kelly?”
“Here,” someone calls.
Ash Kelly moves to the front of the pack. He’s about the same height and build as Leo but with longer hair that’s slicked back and touches his ears.
“You’re next after Leo.”
“Thanks.” He continues to stand next to me as Leo stares seriously at the camera.
“Would it kill him to smile?”
Ash huffs a laugh. “Yeah. After the shit we gave him for last year’s photo, he isn’t taking any chances.”
Well, I can’t blame him there. He’s nearly unrecognizable in last year’s roster photo.
“I’m Scarlett,” I say.
“Oh, I know who you are.”
My face heats and a memory from my and Leo’s night together flashes in my head. “Right. The neighbor.”
“That’s right.” His smile is pleased. “He wouldn’t shut up about you last week at camp.”
Kill me now. I don’t respond. Seriously, what do I say to that? He could brag to his buddies, but not pick up the phone?
“If I hadn’t seen you with my own eyes, I would have thought he dreamt the whole thing up. Never seen him so spun up about a chick.”
“I don’t date athletes.”
“Why not?” Ash gives me a horrified look. “Hockey players are awesome. Or at least we are. Especially Leo. Best guy I know.”
His face reads sincere and I don’t doubt he means it. I divert my attention back to Leo. He’s skating around, shooting pucks now. He catches my eye and butterflies swarm in my stomach. Wait, no, I’m pretty sure that’s just hunger pains. It has to be. Yep, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. No hockey players. Definitely no Wildcats.
I’m still helping out when Dad comes back down to grab me for lunch.
“Go,” Lindsey says. “We’re going to break for lunch soon, too. Thanks for your help. Next time, maybe you’ll pick up a camera.”
Dad takes me to the cafeteria on-site. We get our food and sit at a small table off to the side.
“How was it?” he asks.
“It was really cool. Lindsey’s great. How long has she been here?”
“Not sure. She was here when I got here. How can you tell she’s good without even seeing the final images?”
“She has a way with the players. She knew exactly how to get each one to relax. They were having fun.”
He nods and smiles. “She does do that. I hadn’t really put it into words like that, but you’re right.”
He asks me about my photography as we eat. I can ramble all day long about it, so I do most of the talking. He smiles and nods along as I tell him about all the things I’ve shot recently.
