Page 4 of Scores Of The Heart

He looks at me strangely. “You wake up on the wrong side, Ty?”

I don’t bother answering.

“You gonna tell me why you sit here every freaking day at the same time?” he prattles on.

I give him the side eye. “You gonna let me drink my fucking coffee before the barrage of questions?”

“You should be so lucky. Speaking of lucky; man, I hit the big time last night. You should come out with me on the weekend. We can hit the clubs. You need to get out more and let loose.”

“Last thing I need,” I tell him. “Especially in the middle of the season.”

He waves it off. That’s the thing with Jay. He can pull all-nighters and still perform on the ice the next morning. He’s younger than me, I’m thirty-three, and the all-night benders definitely don’t agree with me anymore. Especially not during the season.

“That Stacey chick has really done a number on you.” He shakes his head.

If only that were my number one problem. “Far from it,” I tell him. “I’m fine. I’m just lying low. It's not ideal for my image to be out partying right after our split.”

“Since when did you care about your image?”

I glance at him. Good point and as observant as ever. He’s the kinda guy that’s always jovial, making everyone laugh, and in everyone’s shit. You kinda forget he’s fucking smart and observant at the same time.

“Since now.” My heart starts to kick up a notch because I can see Cindy’s car pulling in.

Yep. The cafe is located with direct access to the side of the stadium, where I get a full-blown view of the staff parking lot. I doubt anyone else sits here like a freak just for a quick glimpse of the girl who works in the same building but is rarely seen.

I need to grow some balls.

Jay’s looking at me. But I don’t move my eyes from her svelte frame. She’s grabbing all her shit from her car and trying to close the door while she juggles it all.

A smile inadvertently pulls from the corners of my mouth.

This is the fucking highlight of my day. Not watching her juggle shit, just watching her full stop.

I should ditch Jay, run on over there, and help her carry something. Could be the perfect icebreaker.

Maybe I will tomorrow. Famous last words.

Jay’s rabbiting on about something in my ear while I sip my coffee, drowning out everything around me, including him. Having the ability to do that takes some practice. I guess coming from a large family will make you good at most things.

My fellow teammates, Taylor and Ashton, are practically experts at drowning out the noise. They've become close friends over the years, as has Jay. They’re the ones who told me about using visualization techniques to drown shit out on the ice during important plays. I guess it’s kind of the same thing as I’m doing here in the cafe. Sort of.

“… then she grabs me from behind, and slides her hand down the front of my jeans right there in the middle of the club. She didn’t care who saw. We practically did it on the dance floor…”

Jay, please shut the fuck up for five seconds.

The highlight of my day is about to slip into the stadium. I’ll have to come up with an excuse to pass by her office. I know it’s true. Because I’ve resorted to that kind of shit, instead of being my upfront usual self and just walking up to her.

That’s if I can even catch a break.

I’ve been lying low on that front, not wanting to draw attention to myself.

And that’s unlike me.

Maybe I’m feeling ill. Or maybe she’s just too good of a distraction.

I notice Jay has now stopped talking. I turn my head to see if he’s fallen unconscious.

With a sly grin he turns his head from the exact direction of the employees entrance, then back to me.

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