Page 16 of Redeeming Heart

“No, let’s go,” I said firmly.

Jonah rolled his eyes at me but he realized that I wasn’t playing around. “Why do you hate him so much?” Jonah queried.

“I don’t hate him. I barely know the guy.” I answered.

“Then why are we avoiding him?” He seemed interested since he noticed my plan.

“Because he is a guy and doesn’t do well with the opposite sex. Now come on.” I don’t fear the opposite sex or have anything memories of them hurting me. From a young age, I never had an interest in love or romance even when my friends from school had desires of finding true love. All I cared about was hockey at that stage.

My mom once called me an aromantic and I think it kind of stuck.

CHAPTER NINE

“Sorry, I am late.” I was out of breath and my lungs felt like they were literally on fire from running from home, after I dropped Jonah off and over to her pub.

Aunt Maggie raised her head and gave me a look of disbelief. “You did so well during your first week.” She tsked, forgetting that I also have a life aside from working here.

“I do have other responsibilities that include me babysitting my soon-to-be stepmother’s son while she is at work.” I clarified, walking up to the bar counter and greeting everyone before going to stand in front of Aunt Maggie.

“Stepmother?” I frowned and then my eyes widened when I realized that she didn’t know.

I thought she knew. “My… my dad, didn’t tell you?” I stammered.

Aunt Maggie’s eyes were steady and resting on me, giving me no indication of what was going on in that mind of hers at this minute.

“Last time we spoke was about how difficult it was going to be getting over my sister.” She replied, placing her work down and closing the space between us.

He got over her alright. “I didn’t know he was planning on getting remarried. It hasn’t even been that long time ago since we buried her.” Aunt Maggie continued looking baffled and a bit upset. She should have seen me when he brought her home and informed me that they were planning on getting married.

I nodded and shrugged. “That’s part of the reasons why he and I don’t get along anymore,” I said and excused myself. Not have the energy to talk about this right now.

The pub was starting to become overcrowded like any other evening and while everyone else minded their own business and enjoyed the company of their drink, some were intrigued at the ice hockey tournament being broadcasted live on the tv behind the counter.

“Can I get you anything?” I asked noticing a man sitting at the bar looking at me with a curious expression on his face.

He looked familiar but I just couldn’t place my finger on where I’d seen him before.

“Don’t you think that you are wasting your time on something that isn’t meant for you, Sasha-lee Adams?”

I frowned at the man’s remark and wondered how he knew my name but it slowly came back to me. “Coach Peterson.” I greeted with a bit of suspicion.

Like me, he is a has-been when it comes to the world of field hockey as it came to an end here in New Orleans a few years ago. Everyone was either becoming an ice hockey or baseball fan.

“What are you doing here?” I questioned.

“Having a drink and hoping to have a word with you.” He answered-—not beating around the bush.

I kept my cool and reminded myself that I was at work. “What will you be having then, coach?”

“Just a whiskey.”

“I always wondered what happened to you.” He began after accepting his drink. “I never imagined a legend like yourself becoming a bartender.”

“Not all dreams get shaped overnight,” I noted.

“Yes, but you threw yours away.” I bit down on the inside of my cheek to contain the words from spilling out.

“What do you want?” I asked.

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