Page 3 of Scoring with my Bestie's Ex

I grimace. “Oh, no. I forgot that’s what I was supposed to do. You’ll never guess who I ran into.”

Ellen tosses her book aside. “If Steven is here, we’ll drown him in the lake.”

“I said you’ll never guess, not it’s the most obvious person,” I answer sarcastically. “Aaron.”

“Aaron? You mean the hockey player Aaron? My ex?” Ellen’s eyes widened.

“Yeah. Apparently, his whole team is coming out for some sort of retreat,” I say, relieved to steer the conversation away from Steven. “So we might see him around.”

Ellen’s expression falls. “Ugh, no. I really don’t want him running around here.”

“I thought you said things ended well between you two.” I tap her feet, and she moves them off the sofa so I can sit.

“It did end well. Aaron breaking up with me was the best way you can get broken up with. He made me feel like, even though we were ending things, it wasn’t something to be super sad about.” Ellen chews her lip. “It’s still bound to be awkward if we run into each other a bunch.”

I give her a small smile. “Well, I guess this means you’re thrilled we’re leaving tomorrow, huh?”

“I don’t know about that. I don’t think that we managed to get your mind off things the way I hoped,” she says. “And there’s that scavenger hunt coming up.”

“Ellen, please.” I shake my head. “Listen, I appreciate what you did for me, but it’s not helping to be out here. I need to be busy, not sitting around with nothing to do but think.”

“We haven’t been sitting around. We hiked, we went kayaking, we went swimming…” Ellen’s shoulders slump. “I just want to help.”

I hug her tightly. “You’re helping just by letting me crash at your place until I can find a new one. Seriously, you’re the best friend ever! Trust me. All I need is to get back to life.”

Chapter two

Aaron

Sweat drips down my face as I head back to the two-story cabin the team rented.

“Cabin” feels like an understatement. I picture a cozy retreat, but this is more like a full house. When I think of a cabin, I envision those little structures dotted along the beach.

There’s nothing rustic about this place.

But we needed a space big enough to hold twenty-two people. Twenty players, our head coach, and the general manager.

I’m not sure why they decided not to bring along their assistants, but it doesn’t matter much.

Having that many men stuck in a single building isn’t my idea of fun, even if the cabin holds it. Five upper bedrooms, each with three sets of bunk beds, and an upstairs bathroom. Then there’s a sitting space in the attic, along with the kitchen, bathroom, and a TV room on the main floor.

I stretch my shoulders and back. It was a good run around the lake. The bright summer sun is a far cry from the hockey rink.

My teammate, Mike, is out front in a hammock. He and I came out here early to make sure things are in order before the rest of the team arrives.

“Got a call from Coach,” Mike says as I approach. He puts his book down. “The bus broke down, and it’ll be a couple days before they can get it repaired. They’re looking into getting an alternative, but it doesn’t look like they’ll get here tonight.”

I roll my eyes. “Figures. Ah, well. Gives us the chance to relax before they get here, right?”

“Gives us the chance to meet some girls,” Mike answers. He gets out of the hammock and gestures for me to take a look at our neighbors.

Two women are in bikinis near the little cabin closest to us, sitting in lounge chairs.

“Ah.” I turn away. “I already know them.”

Mike raises an eyebrow, grinning. “You do?”

“Yeah. It’s my ex-girlfriend, Ellen, and her best friend, Bella,” I say.

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