Page 29 of Lucky Shot
“Do you have any other questions for me?” he asks after a beat of silence.
“There are probably a million more things I should ask, but I’ve reached the limit of sporty knowledge that my brain can hold.”
He wears a guilty expression as he smiles awkwardly.
“Thank you for this. I appreciate it. Especially after the misunderstanding yesterday.”
“You’re welcome.”
Nick won’t let me pay even after I tell him I can write it off as a business expense, then we walk out to the parking lot.
“Well…in case I don’t see you before I head out in the morning, it was nice meeting you.”
“Yeah, you too. How long is the flight back?” His brows furrow. “I don’t think I asked you where you’re from.”
“Lake City, but I’m not heading there.”
“Why not?”
“Eh…it’s a long, boring story.” And depressing. “The lease on my apartment was about to end before I left so I’m sort of homeless right now. I mean, not that I don’t have anywhere to go. Any of my family members would be happy to let me crash, but I need to finish this book in six weeks, and I can’t do that with my mom hovering over me, asking me if I’ve showered or eaten today, you know?”
One side of his mouth pulls up, but he still looks embarrassed for me.
“Anyway, I’m waiting for my agent to find someone else I can interview so until then, I found a hotel not far from here. Hotel Thirteen, I think. They’re holding a room for me through the weekend until I figure out what’s next.”
“Hotel Fourteen?”
“Yeah. That’s it.” My smile brightens. “I wonder why it’s called that?”
“Urban legend says it’s the number of times someone has been murdered there.”
I laugh but he doesn’t join in.
“You’re serious?” A bit of anxiety creeps in, but I bat it away. This entire town is gorgeous. Even if it’s the worst hotel here, it can’t be that bad. Right?
His mouth pulls into a thin line as he nods. “You can’t stay there.”
“I will be fine. Besides, it’s the only thing for miles that has vacancy.”
“It’s tourist season. Everything books out months in advance.” The way he says it like I should have prepared better rankles me. His jaw does that flex thing that makes me worry for his teeth.
“Well, IthoughtI had a place to stay,” I fire back then take a deep breath. Arguing is pointless. I’m never going to see him again. He can go back to being grumpy in his beautiful lake house, and I’ll go…anywhere else. I flash him a smile. “Goodbye, Nick.”
9
NICK
“What were you thinking?” I ask, then have to repeat the question at a shout.
Aidan is learning to play the guitar and he hits a particularly sour note that has me wincing.
I motion for dad to follow me outside to the back patio. I glance over at the cabin. I can’t see her, but I know she’s there. I can feel her, which doesn’t make any sense, I know, but it’s true. I like my space. My privacy. I don’t have time to sit around every day and teach her hockey.
“Tell me you’ve officially lost your mind. Something to explain why you invited some stranger to stay on my property and told her I’d be available for interviews.” Over the past few years, I have very purposely avoided reporters and media, even my own team’s marketing and publicity department as much as I can. I work hard to be the best leader and captain to my guys, but I let other people – much better suited and more well-spoken – speak on behalf of the team.
“Her agent called the house asking to speak to you. I was taking a message for you, but what she was asking didn’t sound like much. A couple of interviews and a place to stay.”
I wait for more of an explanation. None comes.
