Page 43 of Enemies in Paradise

“He doesn’t usually play this rough?” I ask, unzipping my parka. “Is it warm out here, or is it just me?”

Evie and Georgia, both shivering and huddled in their coats, look at me.

“It isnotwarm—that’s why Hope and Charly aren’t here.” Evie’s chin is tucked so far down into her coat that all I can see is the eyebrow she lifts.

“His showing off is working,” Georgia snorts.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My voice gets lost in the shouting between Bear and another player who are on the verge of coming to blows.

I loosen my scarf.

This is a side of Bear I didn’t know existed. He’s proved he’ll fight me to get the shop, but not like this. What I’m seeing now is a man who’s willing to fight for whatever he wants. But when he has the chance to throw a punch, he stops himself, then skates away, proving he’s also a man who knows how to stay in control of his emotions.

Watching him on the ice heats me up even faster than watching him play drums or get dressed did. For the first time, I’m seeing Bear not as the kid I accused him of being, but for the man he is.

The very large man with the name BEAR in all caps on the back of his jersey. A jersey I’m suddenly picturing myself wearing.

That image takes up residence in my brain cave right next to the picture of Bear shirtless. It’s not going away any time soon, no matter how much I tell myself I hate Bear Thomsen.

Chapter 14

Bear

The pickup game Zachput together does the opposite of what he wanted. I trip once while trying to score, but that only makes me fall in love with pond hockey all over again. I love the challenge of it. Being back out here only makes me want to fight for the pond even harder.

But seeing Cassie standing by the bench with Evie and Georgia reinforces how hard the road ahead may be. Feeling her eyes on me while I’m on the ice, though, not only makes me play harder than usual but also reminds me I’d planned on negotiating with her.

Not that I’d forgotten, but I made the plan before the Great Cat Attack. I’ve needed a couple days since then to calm down and stop itching. My skin feels okay now, but my conscience is stillbugging me. I keep hearing Georgia’s words about Cassie and me both having a hard time right now.

I haven’t stopped wondering what Georgia meant. Is Cassie losing someone too? Is that why she wants to leave LA, or is there something else driving her so far from home?

I’m still mad at Cassie for the cat prank, and maybe each time I make a hit, it’s partly to show her I can’t be pushed around. At first, anyway. But then I notice her expression after I shove Zach out of my way and successfully score a goal. I’m not one to brag, but I know what impressed looks like, and that’s what she is.

While all the other guys pack up and leave right after the game, I use the shower in the shop’s restroom to clean up. I worry the whole time that Cassie will leave before I finish, but I have a hard enough time talking to her when I’m not a sweaty mess. I need to be at my best when I have this conversation.

After the shower, I comb my hair and try to tame my beard as much as possible without actually trimming it. Usually I wouldn’t grow it out until hockey playoffs, but the Utah Miners are tearing up the ice in their first season, and I choose to believe it’s because of my beard. They started winning as soon as I stopped grooming it.

Does it look good? Not really. And it’s itchy. But the Miners are counting on me and my facial hair, whether or not they know it.

I walk out of the bathroom and take some deep breaths to steady my skittering nerves. Georgia assured me all the cats are gone, and the fact I can breathe means they’re not just gone, but that Cassie must have gone to a lot of work to clean up after them. Something about that thought gives me a little more confidence that she’ll be willing to talk.

I have no idea what I’ll say as I head toward the door between the shop and the studio, but then I spot the flowers with theI’m sorrybear sitting on top of a tool cabinet. I’d forgotten about them.

They’re a little wilted, but still look okay. The roses are just opening, and if I explain I planned to give them to her the other day, she’ll understand why they’re not fresh. Although, it looks as if they’ve been watered. I wonder if Cassie did that, too.

I hope.

I carry them to the door between the shop and studio and am about to knock when there’s a knock on the other side, startling me. The door opens a crack, and I step back to avoid getting hit.

“Bear?” Cassie pokes her head around the door, then jumps when she sees me.

“Sorry!” I say. “I was about to knock, too.”

“Oh.” She puts her hand over her heart and laughs, then steps inside the shop. “That’s okay. I didn’t expect you to be right there.”

“Yeah. I didn’t expect you either.” I let out a nervous laugh and clutch the flowers closer to my chest. “I’m glad you’re here, though. I was hoping we could talk. Maybe work out something without resorting to anymore animal attacks.”

Cassie laughs and the music of it fills the shop. I don’t remember ever hearing it before. Now that I have, I’ll do whatever it takes to hear it again.

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