Page 6 of Ice, Ice… Maybe?

“Yup – slang for hockey hair… or he could be tossing your lettuce.”

“You’re disgusting. Seriously. Why are we friends?” Becca laughed nervously. “The conversations we have sometimes are staggering.”

“Because you seriously love me?” Maddie beamed excitedly. And before Becca could say anything, the woman hopped into thedriver’s seat of her car where they were both parked so they could walk from the garage to the arena together, loudly tossing over her shoulder. “Lettuce! Lots of lettuce, my darling Becca, go get ’em!”

Laughing and mortified at her friend, she shook her head and got into her car as her phone rang.

“Hey Tony, I’m on the way to the office now. I just got to my car.”

Hours later,it was twenty minutes before closing and she heard the front door to the glass-front store open as the bell chimed. Not looking up from the phone she was programming for the couple, she called out simply.

“Welcome to Cellular Central, I’ll be right with you… after this guest.”

As the screen in her hand flashed several times and began transferring data from one phone to another, she smiled at the couple easily and heard the newcomer’s voice.

“Take your time. I’ll wait.”

Becca would recognize that voice anywhere! Stunned, she stood up straight, almost like someone had put an electrical jolt on the metal stool she had been sitting on. Looking over, she did a double take, seeing the man standing there with a cap pulled down low, as he removed his sunglasses and smiled hesitantly at her.

Was he following her?

She finished the data transfer, rang them up, got several signatures before she was finally finished, and Travis walked up to the counter.

“Hi…” she said simply, looking at him in surprise.

“I have a slight problem with my phone.”

“How did you know I worked here?”

“I didn’t, but it does happen to be very convenient considering what has happened.”

“Did your phone break?”

“You could say that,” he smiled… and he put the phone on the counter, display side up, and there were eleven-hundred and seventy-eight unread text messages. Her eyes shot up in alarm, meeting his, and she hesitated. Was he accusing her of sharing his phone number online?

“I didn’t…”

“I know…” he replied softly. “A camera caught me, zoomed in, and well – my phone number is all over the SportsNews Network and internet now.”

“Ohh no,” Becca said in dawning horror as the phone continued to vibrate with each text message.

“Even if you had texted me – I’m not sure how easy it would have been to find it,” Travis began and shrugged. “So, I need a new phone number, a new phone, whatever… and your number.”

Becca sucked in her breath and met his eyes.

“You’re that popular?”

“You don’t watch hockey, do you?” he asked, a smile touching his lips as they both stood there awkwardly at the counter in the middle of the Cellular Central store.

“I don’t,” she admitted in a hushed voice, feeling almost guilty. “I’ve been to several rodeos, tractor pulls, and a plethora of other things – but no, I don’t really follow hockey.”

“I’m kinda glad to hear that.”

“You are?”

“It means that you might actually be interested in me – and not my score card, wallet, or fame.”

“Either you’re famous or have a big ego,” she chuckled shyly.

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