Page 5 of Ice, Ice… Maybe?

“Yes, sir.”

Travis knew better than to argue with his coach, especially after his cell phone started ringing – again. His coach looked at it pointedly, rolled his eyes, and walked off exasperated. Flipping off the volume, he clicked ignore as the phone rang again… and again. He was going to have to get a new number.

This was never going to stop.

“Dang it,” he sighed heavily. “I hope you actually text, Becca… ‘cause I don’t think I can empty my voicemail fast enough to allow you to leave a message.”

Attempting to dial his agent, he quickly hung up as his phone picked up another call – and then tried calling him again, trying to get through as he was yanking his clothing out of the locker. He was just going to get a second phone – and put this one on silence or get it disconnected. He couldn’t handle this mess right now and had a headache from the pounding his jaw took earlier… in fact, his head was ringing as the stupid phone kept still pinging audibly as text after text came through.

“Ughhhh…” he muttered, frustrated.

Dressing quickly, he slapped a hat and some sunglasses on his head, before marching out to his vehicle. He was going to the closest cellular store, then going home to get some rest.

CHAPTER 3

BECCA

“You have gotto be kidding me?”

Maddie stared at her as she dug her keys from her purse that was lying under the seat in her friend’s car. She wasn’t too thrilled with the phone call either, but it was overtime, and she could use the money. Her brother thought she was nuts for trying to make it on her own when she could have lived at home, rent-free, and made a living. Besides, going to some bar hoping to meet a guy did not sound that appealing – especially when you’d already met someone today who knocked your socks off.

“I’m sure Maria would rather be working than to be rushing her kid off to the ER with a broken arm. I mean, how many times have we told her trampolines are dangerous? I’m just glad that it’s only a few more hours before the office closes.”

“Right?”

“Go,” Becca urged easily. “Have fun and be safe. I’m heading straight for the store, and then I’m going to go home, live a glamorous life by doing laundry, and second guess myself all night long about calling Mr. Golden Boy - number eighty.”

“Youhaveto call him…”

“We both know what he’s lookingfor…”

“So give it to him – several times in fact – and if you need to tag off? I’m your girl.”

“Oh my gosh, I am not ‘tagging off’ with you,” Becca laughed easily, knowing Maddie was only joking. “No ‘phone a friend,’ no ‘doubling down,’ nothing… okay? And I am not ‘giving’ him anything. Sheesh!”

“When something like that happens, you know you have to call him, right? It’s like an unspoken galactic rule somewhere from one of your cartoons. Star Raiders? Trans Morphers? Robo-Snack? What’s the name of those corny cartoon shows?”

“Maddie?”

“What?”

“Go have fun,” Becca said flatly, rolling her eyes and laughing at her friend. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Unless you are having the greatest sex of your life with a certain hockey player…?”

“If I suddenly up and decide to act like my brother, Matthew, and sleep around with anything that has legs, I’ll let you know immediately.”

“Code word?”

“Sure. Code word.”

“What should we use?”

“I don’t know. Something easy to remember? Score? Beer run? Hockey puck? Slap shot?”

“Too obvious… how about something you’d know – like ‘Til all are done’ or ‘anime bunny girl’ or ‘lettuce’?

“Excuse me – did you say lettuce?”

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