Page 45 of Love at Teamsgiving
“To the Knights versus Kings game? That might not be a good idea.” Margo winces.
Gracie says, “It can get rowdy, but she can sit in the suite with us. We’ll explain how it all works. I was new to hockey once, too, but we live and breathe it here in Cobbiton.”
“And corn,” Vohn adds.
Margo shakes her head. “Juniper is the original hockey super-fan-girl. She practically taught me everything I know.”
Gracie lights up, nearly as brightly as Vohn, which is a surprise because she seems like the sunshine in the relationship, whereas he’s the grump. “That’s perfect.”
Margo continues, “Not exactly.”
The couple stares at me as if understanding. “Oh, you’re from New York. That means you’re an Empire State Kings fan.”
I nod slowly, bashfully.
Gracie smiles. “We’ll work on that.”
“That we will,” Margo says, winking. “Consider yourself in the club.”
I recall a conversation about the lonely hearts club that Margo and I had at the Honey & Lavender Bakery back when we still lived in Manhattan.
We were both single, and I’d all but sworn off dating while Margo was open to finding a sweet guy. Instead, she found a stoic mountain of a man who, at first glance, seemed to have about as much personality as a rock. But he turned out to be her good luck charm and now they’re happily married.
With Erica about to do the same, I guess the lonely hearts club is now an organization with a member of one.
Me.
A sleek black car skids to a stop next to the curb and the guy I’ve been trying not to think about gets out.
He’s wearing jeans and a Knights hoodie. His hair is annoyingly shiny and his stubble is attractively dark. His gaze lands on me, skims the group, and returns to me for a beat.
It’s a cool early October day, but my cheeks heat the way they would when we were in high school and I was fighting a crush.
“Brandt,” Miguel says, nodding the way guys do.
“Cruz,” the assistant coach, returns.
“Junie,” he says to me.
“Miguel,” I repeat, insistent on not referring to him as Mikey.
Margo lets out a little chirp.
I roll my eyes, regretting getting her into my fantasy hockey league. As mentioned, she’s happily married, but he’s her top pick to win this season and I can tell she’s dying to tell him as much.
Instead, she says, “Hi, I’m Margo, one of Juniper’s best friends. Would you be our special guest at the season opener fantasy hockey league party? All the hockey wives and girlfriends participate, including Leah, Ella, and Jess. Also, I’m an event planner, so it’s a lot of fun. No occasion is too big or too small to celebrate.”
Miguel says, “Margo, I’ve heard so much about you.”
“You have?”
He has not because we don’t discuss things like my friendships because we’re in an enemy ship. That bratty little voice inside pinches my ear, the back of my arm, and kicks me in the shin, telling me to cut it out. But I’m on a Miguel-cott.
But he’s so hot.
He makes me boil with rage.
But his voice is so deep and rumbly.
