to the front of the bus.
“Honey bunch, what are you doing?” Lula looked concerned.
“I need to get out of here,” I whispered. “My dad’s team is here, right now, and if we hurry, I can get on the plane with them if you can drop me near the arena.”
“The girls won’t like it,” she whispered back.
“By the time they figure out what’s going on, I’ll be gone.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Lula got off the highway at the next exit and headed toward the arena. “Be careful, sweet girl—text Lula Mae and let me know you’re okay.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and weighed my options. My father was the team’s goalie coach now that he’d retired from playing professional hockey, but he had the flu and wasn’t on this road trip. I knew lots of the players but there was only one I wanted to call. Without overthinking it, I dialed his number and prayed he would pick up. We hadn’t spoken in months, but he was still my friend.
My soulmate.
My love.
My Zaan.
“Hey, we’re about to get on the bus. Can I call you back?”
“I need help,” I said quickly. “Where are you?”
“We’re in Fort Lauderdale,” he countered. “Where are you? What’s going on?”
“I’m by the mall, just a few blocks away…” I told him exactly where we were.
“We’re around back, literally getting ready to walk out to the bus in a few minutes.”
“Oh, god, don’t leave without me! Please tell them to wait. I can have the driver drop me off at the player’s exit if you can call someone to get us through the gate. The game let out not that long ago, so there’s a ton of traffic, but if you get me in…”
“I’ll talk to Coach right now. Call you back.” He disconnected.
Lula turned the bus toward the arena, slowing down as she went against the postgame traffic, but I was so ramped up on adrenaline, I was bouncing on my toes as I waited for word from Zaan.
A minute later he called back.
“Gate Z,” he told me. “And then I’ll meet you outside.”
“Thank you.” I relayed the message to Lula and we followed signs toward the correct gate.
“Have her just pull over by the guard,” Zaan was saying in the phone. “I can walk you in. That’s easier than her trying to turn around in this parking lot.”
“Okay.” I pointed. “Let me off there, Lula.”
“You sure, sugar?” Lula gave me a dubious glance.
“It’s the team my dad works for. I’ll be fine.”
She slowed the bus to a stop and I leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I’ll text you tomorrow! Thank you.”
“Go get ‘em, girl. You know you love that boy.”
I gave her a rueful smile. “I don’t think it’s mutual anymore, but you never know.”
I jumped off the bus and as I turned, I saw him. Tall and broad-shouldered, his dirty blond hair falling over his forehead, it was still Zaan. He’d changed some, gotten bigger and stronger, but not that much, not enough that I wouldn’t recognize him. I couldn’t help myself and ran straight to his arms, throwing myself at him as if I was grabbing a lifeline.
“Hey.” He hugged me tightly. “You okay, babe?”
He called me babe. I nearly melted.
“Could you just hold me for a minute? Please.”
“Of course.” He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest as the tour bus pulled away.
I breathed in his aftershave, his masculine scent, and emotion burned through me. God, I’d missed him so fucking much.
“What’s going on?” he whispered after a few seconds. “The guys are already on the bus and we’re going to have to walk over there.”
“Can I fly home with you?”
He grimaced. “Lex, you know that’s against the rules.”
“This is an emergency. I couldn’t spend another minute on that bus and…if I get on a commercial flight the press will recognize me. I’ll talk to Jared.” Jared Wylde was the head coach of the professional hockey team Zaan and my father both worked for, the Las Vegas Sidewinders.
“There’s the bus.” He motioned with his head. “Come on.” He took his arm from around me but kept a hand at the small of my back as we walked to where the bus was parked.
Jared came out, a frown creasing his face as he recognized me. “Sweetheart, what are you doing here?”
“Hey, Jared. I know it’s not usually allowed, but I can’t get on a commercial flight tonight. I literally had the tour bus stop and let me off on the side of the road… I couldn’t take it another minute. There’s a shit ton of crazy going on with the band. Please, please let me fly back to Vegas with you.”
Jared shifted, taking a deep breath. “If people find out about this…”
“The only way anyone will know is if the guys talk or we keep standing here. Please. I’ll explain on the bus.”
“Come on, then.” He motioned with his head and I hurried up the steps.
“Thank you.”
“Where’s your stuff?” He looked down in confusion.
“I told you, I had the driver drop me off. This is all I took. I’m done. I’m not going back. I don’t care if they sue me or if I spend every dime I’ve made getting out of my contract, but I’m done.”
“Jesus, sweetheart. Come sit down.”
I sank into the seat next to Jared and closed my eyes in relief. Zaan sat in the seat behind me, one big hand reaching forward to lightly stroke my arm through my jacket.
“Lexi.” Cody Armstrong, the team captain and a good friend of the family, sat across from me. “What’s going on, beautiful?”
I shook my head, suddenly emotional all over again.
“Here.” Zaan passed a bottle of water forward and I accepted it, drinking deeply.
Some things never change, I thought. He might not love me anymore, but he still knew exactly what I needed, when I needed it.
“I couldn’t take it,” I said after a moment. “The drugs, the partying, the men… It was gross. I’m not talking about having a little fun—these girls are hardcore. Sharing needles, men, spending money faster than anything I could imagine. And the more hit songs I wrote, the more they hated me. I’m just done.” I closed my eyes and leaned back in the seat.
“It’ll be okay, honey.” Jared squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll get you home to your family and you can figure things out.”
“Thank you.” I blinked away tears. “I really appreciate you letting me fly home with you. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re family, Lexi.”
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