You Had Me at Hockey (Bears Hockey #2) - Kelly Jamieson Page 0,66

talking about Easton and not yourself.”

“Well…yeah.” Duh.

His face is impassive as he stares me down. “You two don’t talk. I’ve noticed.”

Shit. I shrug. “It’s not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal if it affects your play.”

I resist the impulse to defend myself. I’ve been working my ass off. But…deep down inside I have to admit that Millsy and I don’t communicate very well. On the ice or off. I don’t care about off the ice. But on the ice matters.

“Okay,” Coach says. “You two don’t have to be best buddies, but you have to play together. I’ve brought this to your attention. I expect you to deal with it.”

“That’s fair.” I appreciate that he’s treating us like adults. Even though maybe we’re not totally acting like adults. “Thanks, Coach.”

I rise and leave his office, heading to the locker room to change for a workout.

I replay that whole conversation about a dozen times as I punish my body with grueling workout moves until I’m dripping sweat, my clothes soaked, my eyes stinging. I go from denial to annoyed (with Coach and with Millsy), to defensive, and then to annoyed with myself. I think about how I can do things differently. Millsy and I need to talk more on the ice.

Is Millsy getting the same lecture? If so, it won’t come as a complete shock if I approach him tomorrow to tell him that.

I can do it. I’m a warrior.

* * *

—

Leaving our Saturday night plans in Sara’s hands terrifies me even more than talking to Easton. It’s not that I don’t trust her, but…things have a way of going off the rails around her. She did tell me that we’re going for a fun dinner at a place in the West Village with her friends—Connor and Eli, Kamal and Sunny. Considering how the poetry reading went, I’m apprehensive.

She insisted we meet at the Times Square–42nd Street subway station. I get there early because I’m still not sure how long it takes to get places, so I wander around aimlessly, watching the crowds for her. Then she texts me that she’s here, and I still can’t find her.

Dammit, I should have picked her up. I have my car, I can drive more places.

We text back and forth and then there she is, right in front of me. I haven’t seen her for a week and, damn, now I realize how much I missed her.

“Hi.”

She smiles back at me, her lips shiny pink. “Hi.”

She’s wearing her black puffy jacket and a big scarf again, over ripped-up jeans. Her long wavy hair sweeps over her shoulders and her eyes glow that mystical blue-green. Her smile seems like she’s happy to see me too.

I bend and give her a quick kiss and she beams back at me, then slides her arm through mine. “Come on. We can take the Three train.”

We eventually arrive at our stop in the West Village and she leads me around the corner to a place called the Fine Fox. It appears to be a tiny place, but as we enter, the space stretches out on either side of the entrance and far back. Low lights illuminate green pool tables, ping-pong tables, and…is that shuffleboard? Holy shit, I haven’t played shuffleboard since I lived in Swift Current.

We’re shown to a few small couches grouped around a low table near the pool tables. To our right, a stage has musicians setting up to play. I guess the others aren’t here yet.

“Please tell me we’re going to play shuffleboard,” I say as we remove our jackets.

She grins. “I was thinking ping-pong, actually. But we can do both.”

We settle in on one of the velvet couches and pick up menus. There isn’t a huge food selection here. We order beers while we’re waiting.

“Did you practice today?” she asks.

“We watched video.” I grimace.

“Was it bad? I thought you played great.”

She always thinks I play great. “Made a few mistakes. Coach actually called me into his office after, to talk about it.”

“Oh. Like being called to the principal’s office.”

One corner of my mouth hooks up. “Yeah. Sort of.”

“Were you in trouble?”

I sigh. “Just something to work on. Uh, I need to communicate better with…the power play unit.”

She purses her lips and nods. “Okay. Sounds like something you can work on.”

“Yeah.” I swallow my sigh.

The other two couples arrive then, and we stand for hugs and handshakes. I paste a smile on.

Everyone settles in, they order their drinks, and the music starts. I