Page 29 of His Jersey

“Can I have your number?” I ask.

She sinks back slightly. “No, I’m sorry.”

“What—?” I ask, taken by surprise that she wouldn’t give it to me, especially after that kiss.

“I had to sell my phone, but I kept the little chip so I could get my family photos back someday.”

My gaze dips to her mouth, to her neck, and to her collarbones where the ruby red heart necklace sat that first night I saw her—the night she must’ve met Slater.

She stares at the floor. “I’ve had to make some hard choices.”

“The necklace, too?” I ask, guessing that she regrets it.

She nods and liquid fills hereyes.

“I’m sorry. Please, don’t be sad. I didn’t mean to?—”

“The necklace was my mom’s. The only thing I had of hers. My phone went first. Then clothes. I got rid of everything before the necklace.”

A surge of determination rushes through me. I’ll scour the entire island and get it back. Then again, I’ve heard stories of newlyweds losing wedding bands and other guests losing jewelry to the briny deep. What the island wants, it takes.

She says, “All of this was generous of you. I’m sorry if I seem entitled. The necklace was special to me and?—”

“Ella, you don’t seem entitled at all. I almost tore my father’s head off when I thought he’d given his new wife my mother’s favorite diamond. The red one I was telling you about before. Trust me, I get it … and it’s not about the bling. It’s because it was special to someone we loved and it’s a way to remain connected to them.” I chuckle. “Though, it would be odd if I went around wearing my mother’s jewelry.”

Ella exhales a laugh. “Thanks for understanding.” She hesitates and then says, “There’s one more thing. In addition to giving you the fake name, remember when I said I was looking for my lost contact lens?”

I recall every moment of that night.

She bites her lip. “I don’t wear contacts. Thankfully, I have great vision.”

So do I and I really, really like what I see. Ella is beautiful and vulnerable and so real.

A moment charged with magnetic electricity passes between us again, but this time her eyes droop like she’s tired. Exhausted, probably from having to make decisions and get by in a way I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Maybe except for Slater. Even though there are worse places to be homeless, I’d like to kick him into the resort’s sewer.

“You should get some rest. Prepare yourself for room service tomorrow morning.” I wink.

The corners of her lips lift into a grin like a kid on Christmas Eve. Her eyes shine with hope and it’s the most splendid thing I’ve ever seen.

If only we could continue to exist in this fantasy world. I’ll do what I can to take care of her, but I have to return to my real life tomorrow night. It’s an exceptional one, but I have a hockey career to save. Though, I don’t see how that’ll happen with the Storm. My other option is the Knights. I can’t compare my tough decisions to Ella’s, when hers have been a matter of survival, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s still hard to know the right thing to do.

Unless …

An under-rested, overstimulated fledgling plan comes to mind. If I want to remain on the ice, I need to find someone—anyone—to wear my jersey which will demonstrate that I’m serious.Committed.Maybe Ella is the answer to all my trouble.

“I have a question …”

She looks up at me with sleepy eyes and a half smile.

“Will you wear my jersey to my next game? Possibly my last one.”

“Your what?” Confusion flickers across her features.

“My hockey jersey.”

“Like of your favorite team?”

“No,myjersey. Number ten. Center. Carolina Storm. NHL.”

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