Page 117 of Lucky Shot
Once I step on the rink, I mull over everything Adam said. The only other time I had anxiety was right after my mom died, but it makes sense that it would show back up now.
Surprisingly, it’s Ruby that I find myself wanting to talk to about it. I haven’t shared much about my injury or my dad’s health with her, but she’s become someone I trust. My friends are great and I know they’d listen, but I like the way Ruby sees the world with her rose-colored glasses and endless optimism.
I pull out my phone to text her, hovering over her contact. The last I heard from her was a picture of her with her niece after the game last night. They won and she looked so happy and proud, pure sunshine. I know what her family means to her and I’m happy she could be there, but it’s a reminder that this isn’t home for her. In another week, she’ll be gone for real.
I’m not the only one that’s going to miss her when she leaves either. Aidan has gotten attached to her too. Every day when we get home from the rink, he’s practically giddy to grab his guitar and head over to the cabin. He talked about the cookies they made all day yesterday.
I type out a text asking her when she’s coming back, then delete it. Fuck. I’m really not good at…this, whatever it is we’ve been doing the past few weeks. Calling it a fling feelsdisingenuous, but a relationship with an expiration isn’t much of one at all.
I toss my phone onto my bag, sitting on the bench, and push my legs faster to warm up. I’m on my third lap when I hear music playing from somewhere. I recognize the catchy upbeat Sabrina Carpenter song, but as I scan the empty seats I can’t figure out where it’s coming from.
Finally, the music gets louder, and I locate its direction. Out of the darkness steps Jack fucking Wyld.
He holds up the phone and bops his head in rhythm. I skate over to him, happy to see my old teammate but confused too. I’m not even sure how he got in the building.
“What the hell are you doing here, Wyld?”
He presses stop on the music and flashes a grin at me. “Miss me?”
27
RUBY
This weekend was incredible. I loved visiting my family, seeing Greer’s team win the championship, and soaking up the sunshine.
But, it also sucked. I missed Nick and Aidan and the lake view. And I might have even missed hockey.
The people in front of me groan as they step out of the airport into the parking garage.
“Oh, it’s so hot,” one of them says.
I fight a laugh. I’m still wearing a sweatshirt because the plane was so cold I haven’t warmed up yet. My Arizona blood is still not accustomed to Montana, but my heart is happy to be back.
I get in the MINI Cooper and head straight for the rink. I don’t even need to text Nick to know that’s where he is. Aidan is at his mom’s house this week, so Nick will be filling his time with hockey.
I pull into the lot and smile when I spot his truck. I park next to him and am stepping out of the car when he walks out of the building with his bag on one shoulder. His head is down so he doesn’t see me until I’m only a few feet away.
He stares at me a beat as if he’s sure he’s seeing things, then a slow grin tugs at the corners of his mouth.
I pick up my pace, closing the distance between us and flinging my arms around his neck. I missed him too damn much to play it cool.
“You’re back,” he says, wrapping his strong arms around my back and squeezing. He lifts my feet off the ground, and I burrow closer into him.
“Yep and…” I pull back so I can look up at him. “I finished the book!”
“When?” His lips are pulled wide as he searches my face for understanding.
“I got on the plane, and I don’t know…it just all came together. I wrote the entire ride to Arizona and then stayed up last night after Greer’s game, and I sent it to Molly this morning.” I don’t know if it’s any good or if anyone will want to read it, but I’m so damn proud of it.
He sets me down but keeps his hold on me. “You finished but you still came back.”
He seems to think there was some question in that. Silly boy.
“Of course. I have one week left on my rental and a hot hockey player that I’d love to show my appreciation for all he’s done to help me.”
He grins.
“I meant sex,” I whisper, not so quietly. “Like right now. Immediately. I’ve been thinking about all the fantastic things you can do with that glorious dick for the past forty-eight hours. Minus a few hours where I was around other people because that would be weird.”
