Page 49 of Wildcat
I flick it to Tyler on the wing, and he sends it right back as I line up and shoot. The goalpost lights up, and Tyler and Maverick huddle around me. Declan joins in, giving my helmet a tap before I skate by the bench to fist bump all my teammates.
My goal shifts the momentum, and we win three to two. I’m walking on air as we get to the team plane.
I look around for Scarlett. She sat behind the bench at the game, but I still haven’t had a chance to talk to her, and I don’t see her now. Is she not coming with us to the next game? Damn, disappointment hits me hard, and I sit forward, eyes glued to the door as the last of our team and staff arrive. Minutes before takeoff, she finally gets on the plane and slides into a seat across from Coach.
I sit back in my seat and let out a long breath. Ash chuckles, drawing my attention. A quick glance around tells me all the guys around us noticed too.
I power on my phone and get the usual barrage of notifications from my parents and sister, congratulating me on the game and my goal.
But the cherry on top is a new text from Scarlett. Two words instead of one,Nice goal.
“What are you grinning about?” Ash asks beside me.
“She finally texted me.”
“Ah, I know that look. I miss that look. I haven’t been excited about a girl since…” He shakes his head as if he’s trying to think back. “College.”
“You had a girlfriend in college?”
He points to my phone. “What did our dream girl say?”
“Our?” I chuckle and slide my phone where he can read it.
After he does, his gaze lifts to mine, and he smiles. “How sweet. I guess she was paying attention tonight.”
“Not like she had a choice.”
“Take the win.” He leans his chair back, then lifts his wrist for me to tap.
He’s right. It’s an opening, however small.
17
BALLSY, LEO LOHAN
SCARLETT
In Arizona,one of the girls on the media team gets sick, and I fill in with the pre and post-game interview setup and teardown. Even doing the grunt work, it’s amazing to see everything that goes into it. The only downside is that I miss a lot of the game, including a goal by Leo.
We’re staying in Arizona again tonight and heading to the final game on this road trip in the morning. My phone rings as I’m getting out of the shower, and the name on the screen makes my heart race.
On the third ring, I swipe it and answer hesitantly, “Hello?”
“Hey.” Leo’s deep voice answers. “Did I wake you?”
“No, you just caught me off guard by calling. Ballsy, Leo Lohan.”
“I was afraid I’d fall asleep mid-text.”
I can hear the exhaustion in that deep rasp. “Maybe you should sleep then.”
“I’m not playing tomorrow. Besides, I wanted to hear you congratulate me on my goal tonight.”
“Wow,” I say with a laugh. His responding deep chuckle makes me smile. “Congratulations. I saw a replay.”
“I heard they had you in the interview room. Man, I hate that room. Though, if I’d known you were working it tonight, I might have offered myself up.”
I’m silent, unsure what to say, and a little scared to fall into easy conversation so quickly. This can’t happen, and talking to him is just going to make it harder.
