Page 21 of Make Your Move

Lincoln drifts back a bit, but his eyes are still on mine as Nash tries to talk to Posey through the glass. She’s just as excited to see her uncle, and I can’t help but smile. Nash doesn’t linger for long, and he heads back to the line of guys as they begin to take shots at the goalie. Lincoln slowly skates backward, winking before he turns to get in line.

“Did he just wink at you?” Riley asks me, her voice quiet enough that no one else hears her.

I don’t look at her, and she can’t see the way I’m trying to bite back my grin right now. “I think he had something in his eye.”

Riley snorts. “Right, of course. Silly me for thinking it was something else.”

My father interrupts the conversation he didn’t know we were having and takes Posey from me. “I’m going to go take my favorite little girl to get some ice cream, and we’ll meet you two in the suite.” He leans closer to me. “Have some fun, Nova. I got Poe.”

I look at my father, and he has the kindest, most caring eyes. Even though I have the best support system in the world, sometimes I don’t like to ask for help. Being a single mother comes with challenges of its own, and I’m grateful for the ones who are in my corner.

“Thanks, Dad,” I say as I lean forward and kiss his cheek. He holds Posey in his arms, and the two of them head up the stairs as Riley and I stand by the glass.

As I look back at the ice, I see Lincoln as he shoots a puck, sinking it directly into the netting. I’m looking forward to watching him play. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him moving on the ice like this. He’s not flashy, and he isn’t a showboat, but he moves with precision and skill. He moves quietly and plays smart. There isn’t a move that man makes without calculating it first.

“Damn, he’s good,” Riley says before she takes a sip of her hard seltzer. “I can’t believe he’s back and playing for the Archers.”

“I can’t either,” I admit, the words coming out in one breath. I don’t know why I never heard from him after he left, but it doesn’t matter anymore. “I’m glad he is.”

Riley looks over at me with mischief dancing in her eyes. “I think he is too.”

The teams finish warming up, and Riley and I watch as they all head off the ice before the Zamboni comes out to clean it. The machine runs, clearing the ice, and the two of us begin to head up the stairs. We make our way up to the suite level and stop by the bar to get another drink before heading back to our box.

While we’re there, Riley orders two shots and hands one to me. I take it from her, and she raises hers into the air.

We clink the glass together before we both toss back the burning liquid. My throat feels like it’s on fire. I grab Riley’s seltzer and quickly wash down the liquor with it. It doesn’t do much to chase away the disgusting taste.

“God, that was horrible,” I mumble, making a disgusted face. I don’t normally take shots, and this is exactly why. I can’t stand the taste or the way it feels.

“That was pretty bad, wasn’t it?” Riley laughs, shaking her head. “No more shots.”

“No more.” I laugh, agreeing with her as she links her arm through mine. We head to the box where my dad and Posey are and settle into our seats to watch the game. The puck drops, and the guys are on the move, but there’s one who keeps grabbing my attention.

The player in the blue jersey with the number seven on his back.

The one who has always had my attention, even if he didn’t realize it.

CHAPTER TEN

LINCOLN

“Who’s got the next round?”

I look across the high top table at Carson who just spoke. After the game, Carson, Nash, Rowan, Hayes and I all came to the bar to get drinks to celebrate our win. Nash looks over at him and he nods before he gets up from the table.

As he walks around the back of my chair, I reach out to grab his arm. “I don’t need another drink,” I tell him before he heads to the bar. I’ve already had two drinks and spent the past hour nursing my last one until the liquid grew warm.

“I think I’m going to head out,” I say to the rest of the guys at the table as I push my chair back and stand up. Today was a long ass day and I just want to crawl into my bed before we have to get back to it again.

“It is getting late,” Hayes agrees as he nods his head. “I think I’ll probably head out too.”

“You’d better go tell Nash because he’s about to order you another drink,” Ford reminds him, looking up at one of the TV screens to watch the top sports highlights of the week.

Hayes quickly gets up and heads over to Nash to tell him. The two of them are by the bar talking so I don’t bother going over there. Instead, I look at Ford.

“I’ll see you at practice. Tell those two I said bye,” I say as I jerk my head toward the bar.

Carson nods and smiles, exchanging good nights before I leave him sitting at the table. I head through the crowded area and step outside onto the sidewalk. The street is relatively quiet with a few cars driving past. I walk over to my car which is parked along the curb and start my journey home.

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