Page 49 of Redeeming Heart

I introduced the team to Meredith and all of them got along pretty well with her, talking and making jokes when a part of me realized that they were becoming like my second family. We were slowly starting to spend time together, getting to know each other and becoming a strong team with no secrets.

“Who else is starving?” Megan asked standing up and pulling out her wallet.

“Oh, heck, yeah.” One by one they pulled out their wallets.

I looked at Meredith. “Anything you want?” I asked, getting my wallet out as well.

She nodded. “I can’t have you paying for us.” She protested but I assured her that it was fine.

“You’ll get the next one.” I stood up and joined my crazy team at the food stand. I still had a couple of minutes to decide on what I will be ordering while they were placing their orders.

I finally got a chance and placed an order for Jonah, Meredith, and myself. I grabbed our food and started to head back with the girls when I found Brandon and his team on the ice.

The girls seemed extremely excited and they weren’t shy to hide their excitement when Brandon acknowledged me with a wave from the ice, followed by Jake and Jared.

“Am I the only one wondering how come you are the only girl immune to all of the hard-earned muscles and handsome features?” Nicole asked.

I caught Meredith’s look when I sat down next to her.

I pulled up my shoulders. “Maybe because I don’t just see him as a pretty face or a guy with abs but as a person with incredible skills.” I clarified and caught a few smiles including Meredith’s.

“You are weird,” Tammy remarked with a grin.

“Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said looking up and catching Brandon going for goal with an easy strike of the puck.

I would be lying if I didn’t think Brandon was handsome but I saw him more than a guy with just good charms. I found it extremely rare how easy it was talking to him and not feeling judged. I have never spent much time around him back in school to get to know him because I believed we were from different backgrounds. He was the popular guy who everybody wanted to be friends with, while I focused on things I wanted in life, and taking care of my sick mother.

Getting to know him wasn’t all about getting him to like me. I truly enjoyed being part of his funny conversations and learning that we have so much in common.

He earned his position on the ice from all his hard work and effort, and I would give anything to become as successful as him.

He might just be the motivation I lacked from becoming the best.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Meredith dropped me off on her way home at the pub for my shift and I was a bit staggered when I didn’t see Aunt Maggie. It wasn’t usual for her not to be here and she was also not answering any of my calls.

One of the bartenders mentioned something about her going on a date and I was happy for her for taking a chance, but something still felt a bit off. Especially when Kevin showed up at the pub looking for her and leaving a gift box behind after telling me that he went over to her house but she wasn’t there.

I was slowly starting to get a bit suspicious and a lot worried because it didn’t sound like Maggie to see more than one guy.

“Another gift?” Hendricks asked, frowning at the box that had a beautiful ribbon strapped around it. Kevin went really out of his way to make it beautiful for her.

I nodded, feeling as if I was missing something.

“She never comes in on her birthday or accepts any gifts. She usually just throws them out and made us promise not to put up any birthday decorations.” Hendricks explained.

Everything around me slowly started to fade away when it suddenly struck me. I forgot her birthday and she has been dealing with this pain all on her own. Like me, she stopped celebrating it because of a guilty feeling that she doesn’t deserve to be here.

“I have to go.” I blurted.

Hendricks frowned. “You can’t just leave in the middle of a shift. She’ll be fine. She just needs to be alone and will be back tomorrow.”

His excuse of thinking that he knows Maggie infuriated me and the fact that no one cared enough to see that she was suffering.

“I have to find her,” I didn’t give him time to comprehend what was happening as I rushed out almost running someone over in the process.

I muttered a quick apology without looking up and continued rushing down the stairs.

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