Page 15 of Cash

“Watch Malone for blue line slap shots.” Taylor said as he sat down next to him. “When they have a lead, he usually starts pulling those.” Cash nodded and took another drink of water. “And their second line seems to be drifting to the left side instead of playing center.” Cash just nodded, taking another drink of water.

Taylor was a hockey machine. He had more hockey sense than all the coaches and other players of the Magic put together. Cash and Taylor had been playing together for three years and Taylor always knew his next move. He knew the next move of everyone on the ice.

His tip about the second line leaving the center lane open did get Cash a third period goal, but they still lost. One last game in, if they lost that, they were out. If they won, they had to win the next two to advance to the next round.

He was on his way out to the bus after the game feeling the loss. No one on this team liked to lose. He was happy to be sitting next to Taylor. Taylor was autistic. His ability to know where the puck was and where it would be was amazing, but when the games were over, he crashed. So he was already on the bus with his noise cancelling headphones, blindfold and weighted blanket. It worked out well for Cash, because he didn’t want to talk to a soul after that loss.

But that being said, as he sat down his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Evie - Tough loss, but your last goal was pretty good

So maybe he wouldn’t mind talking to one soul in particular.

Cash - You liked that?

Evie - Don’t make this weird.

Cash - I wouldn’t dream of it. Go out with me this weekend.

Evie - Goodnight Cash

Cash - Goodnight Evie

He slid his phone back into his pocket and laid his head back on the bus seat. He sighed contentedly, that game sucked, but she managed to make it a little bit better. The bus pulled out of the arena as they made their way back to the hotel for the night. The next morning, they would be flying back to New York, and he was ready to be back in the same state as Evie. It had only been a little over a week, but he was excited to see her again.

8

EVIE

It was Saturday morning and Evie was pulling up to the rink. It had been over a month since she had seen Cash outside of Conner's gate. A month since their night together, she still couldn’t get out of her mind. She texted him to wish him luck, but that had been it. He had texted her a few times, but she didn't text back. She wasn't sure why, but she was nervous. This was just a meeting about the camp. Cash and Wes would be there, and they would talk about the upcoming camp.

Camp was a month away. She was just thankful that they would be on separate rinks. She still hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind.

As she was getting her stuff together to get out of her car, her phone dinged.

Mom - What time are you going to be there tomorrow?

Evie took a deep breath. The following day was her sister's wedding shower that she was dreading, and not the kind of excited dread she was for seeing Cash. No, this was a bone deep, and real.

Evie - What time do you need me there?

Mom - Well I mean you're the maid of honor you are throwing this.

Evie - We both know that's not true.

Mom - I will be there at the club to check in with the caterer's and staff at 10.

Evie - I'll be there at 10

Mom - See you then.

Slipping the phone back in her purse, she got out of the car. She grabbed her skating bag from the trunk and went into the rink. After this meeting, she had a full morning of teaching. She had the little kids today, then a couple private coaching sessions. Weekends were her busiest time.

She walked in and put her bag down in the back room off the skate rental room. She checked the rink schedules, hoping she would be able to get out of there before open skate started. It looked like it. The meeting started in two minutes, but she couldn't bring herself to go into that room. The mere idea of laying eyes on Cash Hawthorn had her heart racing.

She took a deep breath like she was getting ready for a competition. Her body was buzzing like it used to before a competition. This was insane. But then when she turned the corner and saw Cash and Wes sitting at the long conference table in the meeting room, she realized she was not in the least bit prepared for this.

"Oh good, Evie's here. Let's get started," said Owen, the rink manager.

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