You Had Me at Hockey (Bears Hockey #2) - Kelly Jamieson Page 0,71
ton of cash on clothes and makeup. I even buy Josh a designer necktie travel roll and a tie to go in it. I don’t know if he has one, but he travels a lot and they have to wear suits, so maybe it’s something he can use.
I miss him.
Yes, we text. Yes, we sext. We even talked on the phone this morning.
Geez, it’s not like we see each other every day, even in New York. But…I’d like to. I’m falling deeply in like with him. And even though I’m going home tomorrow, I won’t see him until Sunday because he has another game Saturday night.
I’m super happy to be home when I roll my suitcase into my condo on Saturday. I kick off my shoes and toss my jacket onto a chair, then throw myself down onto my couch. “Home.”
I have so much to do. I didn’t do much work while I was gone. But what I really want to do? Make popcorn, pour a glass of rosé wine, and watch the hockey game in my PJs.
So that is what I do.
* * *
—
Sunday, I get together with Lilly. We decide to have lunch, so I meet her at a place near her, which is the same building Josh lives in. We’re going to plan a night out at the Fine Fox, and then I’m going to Josh’s place.
I walk into the Cheerful Rhino a few minutes before noon and search the room with my eyes. There’s Lilly, waving at me from a small table against one wall. I make my way over to her, unzipping my jacket.
“Hi!” Her smile is bright. “So nice to see you again.”
“You too!” I hang my jacket on a nearby coatrack and take a seat. “This is a cute place.”
“It’s close to Easton’s place and mine, so we come here a lot.”
“Oh, you two don’t live together?”
She shakes her head. “We’ve been talking about moving in together. My roommate just moved out so I’m on my own now. But that’s okay. I’m kind of enjoying being self-sufficient.” She makes a face. “It’s been a long time since I was.”
I’m not sure what to make of that, but the waitress comes and asks about beverages. I ask for a coffee and Lilly requests the same.
“So what is the name of this place you two went to?” Lilly asks.
“The Fine Fox.”
“It sounds fun. There’s a place my friends and I go to sometimes to play Skee-Ball. Hungry Dog Lounge.”
“Do you want to go there instead?”
“No, no! The Fine Fox sounds amazing. I was looking at it online and we can make reservations for a big group.” She pulls out her phone and reads off prices for renting tables by the hour. “I think we should get Layla to help also.”
“Okay.” Do we need three people to plan a casual outing? Yikes on bikes.
“It’s just that she knows everyone better than I do.” Lilly wrinkles her nose. “I’ve only known Easton since October. She’ll know who to invite.”
“I thought we’d invite everyone.”
“That would be a huge group, but we could totally do that.”
Like, who would we leave out? What do I know, though.
We order our lunch. Lilly has a salmon and spinach salad, and I order chicken dumplings, which is actually an appetizer but looks like enough for me. We talk a bit more about the get-together. Then she says, “I wish Easton and Josh would talk more.”
I give my head a mental shake. Where the hell did that come from?
“They used to be such good friends,” she says with a sad dip of her lips. “And now it’s like they hate each other.”
I sit silently. Then I say, “They used to be friends?”
She nods. Then seeing my expression, she closes her eyes. “Oh no. I’ve done it again.”
I still don’t know what the hell she’s talking about.
She opens her eyes and fixes her gaze on me. “They played hockey together as teenagers. For the Warriors.”
That sinks in and my mind makes the connection and…my jaw nearly smacks the table. “Oh my God. Really?”
“You didn’t know that.” She states it in a resigned tone.
“No! I mean, I know about the Warriors, and the bus crash…Easton was on the bus too?”
She nods slowly. “Yeah.”
I stare at her. Then I press the fingers of both hands to my forehead. “Holy shit.” I take a moment to process all this. “How badly was Easton hurt?”
“He wasn’t.”
I blink. My breath is coming in quick, shallow rushes. I