Page 35 of Anti Player

Matt is laughing so hard his shoulders rise and fall with the movement.

I stay quiet. I don’t need to poke the bear.

After we eat lunch, we all go our separate ways. I have some supplies to get for tonight’s camp so I head out to buy them. By four o’clock I am walking over to Brett’s apartment since we usually drive to hockey camp together.

Asher is with him and when I see him, I say, “Hi, bud, how was camp today?”

“It sucked,” is his answer. He looks at the ground instead of me.

“But we’re going to have lots of fun tonight. You want to be my special helper?” I ask.

That perks him right up and his head lifts and his blue eyes twinkle. He bobs his head.

“Cool,” I say.

Brett smiles, clearly happy to see the change in Asher’s mood.

We head over to the sports complex. The kids get into their groups and programming begins.

“Do you want to try skating today?” I ask Asher.

“Only if you are,” he replies. He really is adorable.

“I’m gonna skate too. I plan on helping out the six-year-old group. Are you okay with that?” I ask him.

“Yeah.” He shrugs.

I get his skates on, and we join the group on the ice. These kids know how to skate so one of the instructors is showing them how to hold the stick properly.

I step in and Asher goes to stand with the other kids in a row.

I give them a spiel about holding the stick and then I tell them to skate around while imagining they are guiding a puck. Asher joins in easily.

“You’re so good with them,” Laura Lynn, their instructor says.

“Thanks. I enjoy working with them,” I reply.

“You can really tell.” She smiles wide and I am getting flirty vibes from her.

“Thanks.” I call out to the kids and tell them I will be giving each of them a puck. Once they’ve collected their pucks and they are skating around, I have time to just watch them. Laura Lynn sticks to my side.

“It’s just so cool you do this,” she beams.

“Thanks.” I nod.

“Do you maybe want to grab a coffee or a cocoa after camp?” she asks.

I take a breath. “Thanks, but I don’t date instructors.”

Laura Lynn blushes. “That’s fine. I can’t believe I had the guts to ask you out, but I figured it was worth a try.”

I smile because I don’t know what else to say.

Laura Lynn skates off to help some of the kids with their technique. Asher is skating with another boy.

“He really likes it here,” I hear the voice before I see her. Maddie walks onto the ice in her runners.

“He’s doing well.”

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