Page 125 of Divorced from Number Thirty-Eight
My brows go higher. “Holy shit.”
“Smooth, right?” Smitty’s eyes slide to the other side of the room where Leo’s tying his skates. “Truthfully, I didn’t think the man had it in him.”
“No, me neither.” Leo isn’t exactly a monk, but I’ve known him for a few seasons now and he’s not the type to pick up a woman he’s just met.
“Though maybe he actually doesn’t.” Smitty pulls on his jersey. “Because Kailey told me that Harper was supposed to come to Game Night but bailed and that one…” A jerk of his chin. “Has been in a foul mood ever since the shower.”
That’s true.
He missed a shot in practice yesterday and nearly broke his stick on the goal post.
Then there’s the permanent scowl that’s been etched into his face since the party.
Not to mention the look in his eyes—one I’ve seen in the mirror too many times since I rescued Faye from the fire.
Longing, worry, guilt.
I’ve been so distracted by everything happening in my life I haven’t been paying close enough attention to my teammates.
I’m the captain, and though we don’t have any real assholes on the roster, there are always behaviors I need to help manage, ruffled feathers than need to be smoothed, concerns that need to be brought to the coaching staff.
I’ve been in a holding pattern, Auto-Mode engaged.
Right.
I need to be better about that.
And—I study Leo a little closer—I need to watch out for him too.
Because if the expression on his face is any indication, something has seriously pissed him off.
And that something was definitely a woman.
Forty
Faye
“Thanks,” I tell the sales associate as she passes me the bag.
She smiles at me, her expression a little harried, and I know it’s because there’s a line a dozen deep behind me, all of whom are eagerly—if not impatiently—waiting to buy their Grizzlies goodies.
I hurry away from the counter, letting her get on with it.
Kailey and Luna are waiting outside the shop, the brightly lit concourse filled with fans dressed in the turquoise, gray, and black, the Grizzlies’ colors.
How a team with an angry, rabid bear (complete with the red eyes to prove it) has those colors, is beyond me.
But they sure are pretty.
“What did you get?” Luna asks, bouncing on her toes and clapping her hands together.
I pull out the jersey and hold it up.
Luna grins—one that widens when she peaks around to read the back…and the name emblazoned across the shoulders.
I like the sound of my name on your lips, Red.
I shiver, wondering if he’ll like it on my back too.
