Page 14 of Ice, Ice… Maybe?

“Guess what I found,” his uncle said, interrupting his thoughts as he shoveled a scoop of watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberries into a bowl and slid it toward him, too. “A 1955 Bel Air that’s been restored and modified.”

“You want it – buy it, Uncle Davy. You know I’ll cover you. You always have my back and take care of me. Let me take care of you.”

“You already bought me the Savoy.”

“Because it was beautiful,” Travis grinned, spearing a piece of watermelon before sneaking a slice of bacon off his uncle’s plate. “And it looks nice next to my Blazer.”

“You could have bought a brand-new Blazer for what you paid.”

“I love that big ol’ monster,” Travis chuckled. “Orange Crush is perfect fortowing the boat or the jet skis, and you know it. They just don’t make them like that, you know? I’ll happily go without Bluetooth, and an airbag to have a massive, big-block engine like my Crush has.”

“It looks like a rust-bucket.”

“Because I like the patina and refuse to get her repainted,” he countered his uncle’s skeptical comment. “Besides, I’ve had sleek and beautiful – I’d rather have what makes me happy than buy what society thinks I should be driving, especially when it gives me a backache sitting in those bucket seats.”

“You are the only person I know who would pass on getting another Porsche – and purchase a 1972 four-by-four Blazer with brown leather seats.”

“I’m unique,” Travis grinned – only to have his uncle ruffle his hair like he was a child all over again, before patting him on the back.

“You really are, kiddo. I hope you never change.”

An hour later,Travis was pulling into the private parking garage and ended his phone call feeling better than he did earlier. He’d gotten Becca’s text message, but had fallen asleep after a grueling practice. Placing another order to surprise her, wanting to make her feel special, he texted her once more before going inside to warm up.

Hey Becca – I’m so glad you liked the flowers and sorry I missed your text.

I was exhausted after practice. Coach had us doing drills for nearly four hours, and I collapsed into bed. Today is another hard practice because we have a game tomorrow, so I might not be near my phone, but I will text you back. I promise!

He texted her a photo, holding up two fingers and smiling. Yeah, it was nice to have his own teeth, unlike a few of the other guys who caught a puck to the face.

I can’t wait for Friday.

CHAPTER6

BECCA

The next evening,Becca collapsed in her bed, looked at her cell phone, and sighed heavily. She downloaded Travis’s photo and made it her new wallpaper and lock screen on her cell phone just like some infatuated girl, before texting him back.

Hey, I am sooo sorry.

I don’t know what is going on in the world or why people feel like they don’t have to show up at work – but this has to be the longest work week in the universe. Twelve hours on my feet, in heels, is a nightmare for anyone.

Clicking send, she saw three dots appear almost instantly.

I get it – really, I do. You don’t even want to know how my afternoon went…

Share the misery, lay it on me!

I’m sitting in an ice bath right now, trying to keep my body from being inflamed due to the abuse it took this afternoon.

Everything hurts, including the cowlick on my head.

LOL – cowlicks don’t have feelings.

Tell that to mine.

And to her surprise, Travis texted her a photo of him in the ice bath. You couldn’t see anything but from the torso up – and she might have had a huge issue if that photo was any different from the one before her. Becca nearly swallowed her tongue seeing his tanned shoulders and the expression on his face. He did look exhausted, but there was this peaceful-looking smile that did something to her heart. He had a small scar on his shoulder, another on his collarbone, and a few bruises that were obviously healing, leaving a few greenish-purplish marks.

If we’re having a contest, then you win. I’m not taking a picture of my abused feet because you might be a weirdo.

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