Page 26 of Scores Of The Heart

Friday night goes by in a blur, but we win against Philadelphia, and that’s all that matters. Cindy wasn’t in the stands tonight, but she comes to most of the games.

I wonder why she wasn’t there?

Her absence bothers me more than it rightfully should, and it made me play that bit harder. But I still have visions of her wearing my number, and it’s all the fuck I can think about. It’s every sports guy’s dream to have a woman who’s the object of his affections wear his jersey.

I can just see it now, #61 Peterson on her back.

I end up going to bed late Friday night alone, nursing a cold beer and a plan in place.

I’ll confront Cindy on Monday morning. I’ve decided, since I know where she’ll be just before eight-thirty. There ain’t gonna be no escaping me then.

Hopefully, I’ll see her in the meeting again and I’ll make it even more clear I can’t stay away from her. I hope she wants it as much as I do. She seemed pretty keen from where I was sitting and standing, with cold coffee down my front.

The thought is sobering. I know I should talk to someone for advice, maybe Jay, but maybe someone outside of the team is better. Christoph is always pretty level-headed about most things, and a friend of mine outside of the hockey circles, Luke, has always been a good friend over the years. Though, I don’t see much of my old friends like I used to.

I see more of Jay, Ashton and Taylor, which reminds me that we’re gonna meet up for drinks one weekend when we’re not playing since we haven’t done that for a while.

Everyone is pretty tense going into the conference finals, as no one wants a repeat of last year. And as captain, I have the job of keeping everyone motivated and ensuring I have plenty of encouraging words to help them relinquish any self-doubts.

That’s the plan, anyway. It usually works. The guys all want this as much as I do, and we’ve worked fucking hard to come back from last year.

I’m out on-the-fly late Saturday afternoon when I park my silver Maserati outside my coffee spot, right across from the stadium for a refreshment. I know she doesn’t work today, but I still like coming here.

The barista’s know me well by now, they should, since I’m here every damned morning ordering the same thing and sitting in the same spot.

I guess we all have our superstitions. And it’s become a distracting habit over the past few months, one I’m not too sure I want to give up.

I fucking like watching her, knowing she’s safe.

Fuck. If anyone tried to hurt her, I’d see red and do some serious damage.

It’s when I go to grab my takeaway and I’m about to leave the cafe when I look over to one of the tables, close to the door, and see the back of a woman’s head. The first thing I see is jet black hair, pull-up up into a high swinging ponytail. Then I can hear Cindy’s soft voice because her table is so close to me, that and the cafe is quiet. I swallow hard. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her with her hair up before.

She’s sitting across from a blonde girl who looks up at me.

I stand there like an imbecile holding my coffee. I press my lips together and decide I’m not chickening out, no fucking way. She tilts her head on the side, still looking at me, but says something to Cindy.

That’s when Cindy turns her head. Fuck me if the first thing does is smile, and it’s a sweet, unexpected smile. Then she goes and bites her lip as she gives me a little wave. I take that as my cue to sidle on over there and say hello.

Of course, I’m usually the king of cool and casual, but today, my heart beats fast in my chest and I feel a notch of excitement in my gut.

“Hey,” I pull a grin from nowhere as I stop in front of their table.

“Hey, Tyler.” Her smile is like the sun breaking through the sky on a cloudy day. It lights me up inside, making me feel all kinds of things I shouldn’t, but I’m loving it all the same.

“Hey.” I smile right back as I glance between Cindy and her friend.

“This is Susie, my best friend,” she says, gesturing over the table to her friend.

“Hey.” I give her a nod.

“Hi, Tyler. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.”

“Would you like to join us?” Susie asks right off the bat.

I see Cindy’s eyes momentarily grow wide as they spare each other a glance across the table.

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