Talk Hockey to Me (Bears Hockey #3) - Kelly Jamieson Page 0,78
Josh was in Winnipeg visiting family, so he wasn’t far from Calgary, but Easton was still here in New York. I guess they’re both here now? I gnaw on my lips and twist my fingers together until the stop at Fifth Avenue. I cross the street and make my way to the statue of General Sherman. He’s accompanied by Nike, the Greek goddess of speed, strength, and victory. Oddly enough, she’s a symbol I held on to during my hockey career. They both gleam rich gold in the late afternoon sun, and I pause to admire them.
Turning, I spot the two men sitting on a stone bench and start toward them. They look up and jump to their feet. “Kate?” one of them asks.
“Josh?” I smile and extend a hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. And you know Easton.”
I shake his hand too, trying to stay composed. “So what’s going on?”
“Well.” Josh gives me a toothy grin as Easton peers at his phone. “It took us a little longer than we expected to find Hunter. He wasn’t in Calgary, he was on Vancouver Island.”
“Ohhhh.” It only takes me a second. “Tofino. He loves it there.”
“Yeah. I’d never been there,” Easton says. “Cool place.”
“You went there?”
“Yeah.”
“Jeez, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to be flying all over the continent. I thought it would be easy.”
“No worries.” Josh says. “It was kind of a fun road trip. I hadn’t been there either, and it’s awesome. Ocean, surfing, laid back…”
I nod, losing my patience, but my smile fixed in place. “I haven’t been there either.”
At that moment, two women walk up to us with big smiles. One of them has a little black dog on a leash. Oh please God, no, this isn’t the time for autograph seekers.
But Easton reaches for the woman with auburn glints in her hair and the dog and kisses her, while Josh wraps the other woman with long brown hair in a big hug.
“Hey! I missed you,” Josh says, and plants a big kiss on her lips.
She smiles up at him. “I missed you too.”
Easton and the other girl are exchanging similar greetings. The dog leaps enthusiastically on Easton, and he bends to rub the dog’s head. I love that dog’s face!
I shake my head. What is going on? I just want to know about Hunter!
They make introductions. “My girlfriend, Sara Carrington,” Josh says. “And this is Easton’s girlfriend, Lilly Evans. And this is Otis.” He gestures at the dog who smiles up at me, tongue hanging out.
“Nice to meet you.” I force another smile.
“We had to come!” Sara says, beaming back at me.
I catch Josh sliding her a “shut up” glance.
“Oookay.” How can we talk with their girlfriends here? I feel a headache coming on. Crossing my arms, I give Easton a look.
“It’s okay,” he says hastily, reading my expression. He looks around at the people strolling by and sitting on benches. A big crowd of seniors parade by, two by two, following a man; I guess it’s some kind of guided tour.
I spot a big bear mascot walking along the sidewalk from Fifth Avenue. Ha. Good thing Hunter isn’t here.
I remember his phobia with a pang. I miss him so much. I’m so worried about him.
I look back to Easton, then do a double take at the mascot. Isn’t that the Bears’ jersey he’s wearing? I wore that costume myself.
“Is that…is that…Orson?” I point.
Everyone turns and looks.
“It is!” Sara says.
“It’s not even hockey season.” I shake my head. “Weird.”
Orson has a weird, misshapen appearance. There’s a gap between the furry legs and the big feet, revealing bare human skin.
“That’s no good,” I say with disapproval. “That costume doesn’t fit properly. Even I made a better Orson than that.”’
“You were Orson?” Sara turns big eyes on me. “That is so fucking awesome! I would love to do that.”
“It was only one time.” I wave a hand. “Long story.” I’m still staring at Orson as he nears us.
“Orson!” Sara waves. “Hi!”
Orson lifts a hand in greeting.
Sara grabs Josh’s arm. “Josh. Seriously. I need to be Orson. When the season starts.”
He gives her an incredulous look. “What?”
Sara’s…interesting.
Orson lumbers toward us. People are pointing and smiling. A couple of kids run up to him and he gives them high fives.
Under his other arm, he’s carrying a stack of big poster board cards.
“Why is he here?” I ask. “Is there some kind of Bears event in the park?”