Page 18 of Scores Of The Heart

“A certain someone on your mind? Don’t look now, but Cindy Carter is looking over here—wait, I think she’s checking me out.”

I nudge him back with force. “Jay, fuck off,” I mumble.

“Ow.” He holds his side, laughing. “No need to be so touchy.”

I glance back over at Cindy, and sure enough, as soon as I look at her, she looks away.

That’s how it goes for the rest of the meeting, and I’m into it. So far into it I don’t know how to not be into it.

We head down to the ice as soon as the meeting is over. And it’s everything I need to try to get her out of my head and the looks we were giving each other.

I’m thrilled she seems to be into it, too. Here I was, wondering how the hell I was going to get her to notice me. With other girls I don’t have to do too much, but she’s not like that. I dig it.

I secretly like that she’s a bit of a challenge.

The disappointment was palpable as we wrapped up our glance-athon before the meeting ended. But I had to keep my raging hormones under control and walk out of there like a decent human.

She gets me unglued too damned easily. It’s been this way for months.

And, yes, I have been feeling a little deprived since Stacey left, but that’s not the reason I’m chasing Cindy. I haven’t been out on the field or done anything with anyone else since I broke up with her.

I thought having a hiatus wouldn’t be all it’s cracked up to be. But at thirty-three I’ve been out on the town a lot, and it doesn’t interest me as much as it used to.

I enjoy going out with the boys every so often and having a nice meal somewhere. But I can’t do what Jay does and stay out all night. No freaking way.

It’s harder when you hit your thirties. The lucky fucker Jay isn’t quite there yet.

I’m the oldest on the team. Ulrich, the goalie, isn't far behind, so it makes me want to work twice as hard as everyone else, so I know in my mind that I’m not losing my fitness. Not that I would let that happen, because I run every day before I hit the stadium.

I work out at the gym at the stadium, and at my place downtown at my apartment. I also have a weekender close to my folks on Mercer Island. I bought the big, gated, craftsman style house out of the city as soon as I could afford it. I get out there as much as I can, which is mainly on the weekends, or when I’m not playing. I love getting out there amongst the trees and not having a care in the world.

I only keep my luxury one-bedroom condo for convenience. If I had it my way, I’d drive in every day. But at the end of a long day, it is nice to not have to drive too far, and I can use all the amenities at my leisure.

The thought crosses my mind to head home early after we finish drills this afternoon and beat out some pent up frustration, and I don’t mean in the gym; I’ll have a date with my hand later and relieve some of the ache.

I know Jay could hook me up in a heartbeat. Even going out with him on the weekend would see to it that I worked off some frustration and my dick stayed wet. But I don’t want that. And everyone thinks it’s because I’m regretting things with Stacey.

I’m not regretting a damned thing. My ability to be ready to move now doesn’t mean I didn’t care for her. She just wasn’t the one.

There was no point in wasting time knowing that fact.

True to form, Coach Carter has us doing drills on the ice most of the morning. We break for lunch only to continue more drills, then have a practice scrimmage in the afternoon.

I want to run into Cindy again, which could involve me putting my close observational skills into motion. I prefer that term to stalker, or whatever Jay was spouting. I’m sure she wouldn’t be so accommodating though if she knew what I was really up to, and the fact I watch her everyday walk into the stadium.

In my defense, it’s to make sure she’s okay and gets into the building without a hitch. I mean, it’s not unheard of for things happening in broad daylight. That’s my excuse, anyway. The morning for me is where it’s at, and it makes me feel good seeing her. Even better now that I’m starting to realize she might be into me, too.

I’m pleased with today. Training-wise and Cindy-wise.

Going into the conference finals is going to be one of the highlights of my career, so I know I need to keep my head in the game and not let my new obsession get the better of me. I’ll see to it… first thing tomorrow.

* * *

I have physical therapy the next day, and a back massage. My lower back has been giving me some pain, but as most of us do when we feel a twinge or a tweak in our bodies, we try to hide it from the medical staff.

Ted, the assistant coach, has hawk eyes for shit like that, so I have to just do what I can and push on through until I can get a rest. That won’t be for a while yet.

Coach is always harping on about rest being an important part of the game.

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