Page 21 of For Puck's Sake

“A bit. Oh please, Rid. How many times did you watch Chris Martin walking along the beach looking rain-swept and forlorn?” She bellowed with laughter as she flopped back down in her seat.

“Too many times to count,” I mumbled my reply, and she only laughed harder. I looked over at her once more, fought back my own smile, then turned my attention back to the road. I loved those moments, just me, my girl, and the open road. We argued about music and got lost in getting lost. No destination. We didn’t have a lot of days like that, but when we did, we just enjoyed the ride.

“Okay, let me play you my favorite song and you can give me your honest opinion,” I said with finality, before we moved on to one of her favorite albums.

Brea blew out a breath and rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. She leaned over in my direction, and I met her in the middle for a brief kiss on her lips. She moved and I moved, she ebbed and I flowed, there was no me without her.

“Fine. Win me over. Let’s hear it,” she said as she pulled away.

I fiddled with my phone, then placed both hands on the wheel as ‘Sparks’ began to play.

The applause of the audience pulls me from my memories.

“Thank you,” Brea says with a bow to the crowd. She perches on her stool with Bessie resting on her knees and goes into her next song seamlessly. I remember the day I first played the song for her, and she begrudgingly fell in love with the lyrics.

“I wonder, who she played Coldplay for tonight,” Devan teases, eyes raising suggestively.

“Oh, fuck off, Scott.” I look away, but I can’t hide my smile. She played it for me, and I can’t stop my heart from skipping with joy. Dare I say with hope.

It’s a sign, right?

For the rest of Brea’s set, she guides me down memory lane, playing our favorite songs. Both mine and hers. It’s our story.

So, definitely a sign.

TWELVE

INTERLUDE

Podcast Recording:

Hey to all my hockey gals and guys listening in tonight. This is Hockey HomegurlHattie on Ice, the podcast with all the latest hockey gossip.

Tonight, I’m bringing you news about our favorite Seattle Vipers Captain, Tor Bailey. Did you see the pictures trending on Instagram? The video on TikTok? Well, if you didn’t, ladies and gents, don’t walk, run to your favorite social media source. Be warned, puckers, you might want to bring a box of tissues with you. According to the man himself, he has indeed “Tied the Knot.” Yes, that’s right, Tor Bailey and Alexis Rhodes tied the knot in a private ceremony in Paris. The pictures we’ve seen so far are of just their hands with the rings on their fingers underneath the Eiffel Tower. I mean, Holy Tiffany’s Batgirls and Batguys. Alexis is going to have to lift weights to hold up her finger to type her books. I’m not jealous, no, not jealous at all. And no, I didn’t go research the ring on the internet to know that the platinum full circle diamond band is worth over twenty thousand dollars. Cry me a river and swoon at the same time. It’sofficial. Puck bunnies are crying into their pillows in Seattle. One down, three to go ladies. I guess congratulations are in order to the couple.

Moving on to our next Viper of the hour. Rumor has it that Ridley Masters is off the market. He hasn’t been seen in a month since news about his potential baby momma. In fact, the forward has gone MIA. The local puck bunnies have camped outside of his penthouse for weeks. My ear is to the streets, and I’ve not heard a peep. Not even a picture. I need my Masters fix, puckers. We’ve gone from wild nights out to radio silence. If you’ve seen him around Seattle, anywhere, inquiring minds want to know. Keep those eyes peeled ladies. Has another one of our favorites been taken off the market? Has he gone underground with said baby momma? If so, who is this mystery woman? So many questions and no answers. Well, your girl Hattie will find out and I will be right here with the latest and greatest.

Drop me a line with your speculations, ladies.

Now on to our next topic: Devan Scott’s latest romance book rec. Have you read it? Let’s talk about it.

THIRTEEN

BREA

As expected, Ridley and I didn’t get to go on our lunch date. At least not yet. We’ve both been so busy, there hasn’t been any time. He’s busy with Prestige during the day and I am doing an increasing number of interviews and promo shoots for the tour. I mean, how many pictures do you need? I’m a lowkey artist, yet my label is attempting to push me to be more. I’m used to dive bars and smaller venues, but Dean says I am selling out stadiums. Stadiums! I can’t fathom it.

“You don’t know how big you’re getting. We’ve been in Lark Bay too long, B. You’re going to get a big surprise when we leave here.”He told me the other night as I checked off another performance at Reds. The weeks are counting down, and as I hugged Red goodnight last night I realized, I’d be happy just like this. Surrounded by friends, singing to sold out crowds at my local bar and coming home at night. But I guess that doesn’t pay the bills. Soon I will be on the road and Lark Bay will become one of the many places I’ve been. This time when I leave, I will take only good memories, knowing I will return, regardless of the outcome with my parents, and Ridley.

“Are you daydreaming or are you helping?” Red asks startling me mid lime-chop as she drops a container of steaming tumblers in front of me.

“Hey, I could have lost a finger, woman! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” I shoot her a horrified look, my mouth falling open in shock as I slide off my glove to check my finger just in case. Of course, I won’t admit I was indeed distracted and chopping fruit aimlessly. It wouldn’t have been her fault if I’d cut a finger off.

Red scoffs and purses her lips at me. “Girl, please, you’ve had your head in the clouds from the moment you walked in here this morning. I only let you help me because I know you want to talk. You know I like to do this myself,” she says as she begins to stock the freshly dried glasses behind her. I watch her work, because she’s right. Today I’m teaching my first of three music classes at the community center. Which means Ridley and I will be in the same place at the same time. Okay, so we’ve been in several places together at the same time at this point, hell, he is sleeping in the house a few feet away from me. But today is different, well, it feels different, and even though I should be home preparing for my first lesson, I’m here stalling and in desperate need to talk.

“Brea.” Red snaps her fingers in front of me, then proceeds to carefully take the knife from my hands as I stare at her dumbfounded. Yep, no more cutting for me. She grabs the containers of limes and slides them away from me. I don’t even stop her or plead about really wanting to help. Who am I kidding? I’m useless, and I came in here after my morning run with a purpose.

When she returns, she places a glass of water down in front of me and folds her arms over her chest. “Okay, spill it.”

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