for a long time—long enough for her eyes to smart once more from hot, unshed tears.
“It’s just a hockey game,” she muttered.
But he could have asked me to come watch. He could have taken me along, introduced me to his friends.
He could have. But he didn’t.
18
Matt rolled into the Roadside Grill along with several of his teammates. It was nearly ten and the boys were raring to go—but not Matt. He was here out of habit really, just going through the motions. He sidled up to the bar and ordered a draft.
“Heard you boys lost bad,” Duke said with a grin. His long, handlebar moustache quivered as he slid a mug over to Matt.
“Yeah well, that’s what happens when one of your best forwards doesn’t have his head in the game.”
Matt glared at Seth Longwood. The guy might be an idiot, but he was right. Matt had been distracted for most of the game. He’d drawn penalties that had hurt his team, and then he’d gone and got himself kicked out after he nailed Jamie Dollar from behind. It was a stupid thing to do—the guy had chirped him and Matt’s temper had gotten the best of him.
“It’s just one game,” Duke said, tossing his towel over his shoulder before moving down the bar to fill orders.
Matt stared down at the mug of beer. He grabbed it up and then set it down on the counter. Hell, he didn’t feel like beer. He didn’t feel like this place or the damn music that was blaring either.
He frowned and settled back onto the barstool, drawing out his cellphone and scrolling through his messages. There were two from Betty, both scolding him for not getting back to her previous messages from the day before. She’d flown back to New Orleans with Beau after the fundraiser, and he hadn’t talked to her since.
He wasn’t winning any friend-of-the-year awards, that’s for sure. But Betty never shied away from the tough questions and the last time they’d talked, she was all up in his business—and it was all about Grace.
He scrolled further. Nothing from Grace.
“You okay?”
Logan Forest slid onto the stool beside him. “Heard you had a bad game.”
“You heard right.” Matt frowned. “Where’s Billie? Didn’t you guys have a game on the other pad?”
He nodded. “We did. She’s not…she’s um…” Logan’s face split open in a wide grin and he swore. “Hell, I know she told her sisters today so I’m pretty sure by Sunday the whole damn town will know. She’s pregnant.”
Matt whistled and shook Logan’s hand. He slapped him on the back and ordered them each a shot.
“Just one. I’m only here to pick up some chicken wings. Seems she’s already craving crap food, so she thinks this one is a girl.”
“Congrats,” Matt said and they downed the tequila.
Logan slammed the shot glass onto the bar. “We’re excited. Abel’s a handful, but I’m looking forward to another one.”
Duke came over with a large takeout bag in hand. “On the house, Forest. Congratulations.”
Logan accepted the bag with a smile. “That’s got to be some kind of record. How’d you find out?”
“Twitter.”
“Are you kidding me?” Logan looked shocked.
Duke chuckled. “Yeah. I am. I heard it from Larry at the bank.”
Logan turned to Matt, shaking his head. “Who the hell needs Twitter when we have Larry from the bank?”
With a nod, Logan left and not more than five seconds later, Sasha Armstrong waltzed into the place. She was with a bunch of women, most of them hockey wives, and as soon as she spied Matt, she did a one-eighty and headed right for him.
Matt scowled. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with Sasha.
“Good luck with her,” Duke muttered, before moving to the opposite end of the bar.
Well, shit. Matt glared at the mug of beer he didn’t want. He should just leave. Yep. He was done. He pushed the mug down to Longwood his intention to leave, but Sasha Armstrong had other ideas.
“Not so fast,” she said sharply. “I want to talk to you.”
Matt frowned, more than a little annoyed. Totally wasn’t his night. He should have just stayed home.
“Sasha—“
“Don’t even bother. You owe me Matt.”
Matt stared down at the redhead, aware that they were generating the kind of attention that kept a bar hopping, and the local gossips happy. Seth Longwood for one, talked shit more than anyone he knew and the guy was listening with both ears.
There was a time—not so long ago if he was truthful—when Matt would have told Sasha