Page 77 of Fated Shot

He pauses for a moment before continuing. “I’m originally from the Ottawa area. I grew up in a small town just outside of the city. I went to school in the States, Michigan University, before getting drafted to Boston, where I played until I joined the Tundra.”

Mom doesn’t seem phased by the quick information dump that is Jack trying to summarize his life in two sentences or less.

“That’s wonderful. What did you study in school?”

He gives me a quick look that I can’t quite decipher, slightly knitted brows, before turning back to my mom.

“Finance,” he says with a polite smile.

Did he just say finance? Ugh. Does that mean I have a type? No wonder he didn’t tell me.

“I didn’t know that,” I pipe in. The guy’s got a business brain and didn’t even tell me?

“That’s an interesting choice,” my mom continues.

The corner of his mouth quirks up into a cute smile. “I always thought if hockey didn’t work out, I could try to be an accountant.”

“A very respectable career choice,” she says with an approving nod.

“I always thought so. I’m fortunate hockey stuck, though. I don’t know if I could actually handle being at a desk all day.” I can’t picture him sitting behind a desk with a calculator in his hand. Do they even make desks big enough for brooding hockey players?

“And what do your parents do, Jack?”

He shifts in his seat but doesn’t break eye contact.

“My mother was a nurse.”

“Oh, how lovely! She’s retired?” she asks before I have a chance to stop her.

“She passed away when I was younger, actually,” Jack supplies quickly.

“Oh my, I’m very sorry to hear that, I didn’t know.”

“Thank you,” he replies, polite as ever but a bit more solemn than usual. “One of the hardest workers I’ve ever met, raised me pretty much on her own. Kind too… she was always so happy, singing or dancing around the house. She made everything feel a little brighter. She was the best.”

“I’m sure you miss her very much. Sounds like a special woman indeed.”

He nods his head before taking a sip from his water glass.

“So,” my mom continues, clearly sensing it’s time to switch gears. “How did you two meet, anyway?”

She’s got this knack for reading a conversation perfectly—must be a perk of being a social butterfly. Or maybe she just wants the tea.

“Cordelia’s,” we both say at the same time, meeting each other’s eyes. We laugh at how in sync our replies were as my mom looks between us, beaming.

“Oh, how nice, right in our little Wyndham! Do you have any plans to visit again?”

“I’ve actually rented a cottage already for the end of the season. They book up so quickly, and I really wanted to find a nice space. Wouldn’t miss another summer up there.”

I can feel my face warming as I think about the prospect of him, or rather, us together in my favorite spot in the world. I can’t imagine anything better. His gaze turns to me, a slight wink only quick enough for me to notice as my cheeks flush.

“Well, we’re looking forward to having you in the neighborhood again, aren’t we, Amelia?” Her intonation at my name alerts me to the fact that I’ve completely zoned out, staring at Jack.

“Um, ye-yeah, I can’t wait,” I say, trying to snap back into the moment. “W-we can’t wait, I mean.” I fuddle around to grab my menu, pretending to review it.

I see him holding back a chuckle as he sips his water. He’s got to know how bad I have it for him at this point. If he didn’t before, he certainly does now.

Chapter 31

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