Page 11 of Offside Attraction

Jordan pushed off the wall and clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I have a shift tonight, but if you want to come by tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Stay with Chubs and Nate tonight.”

Steele sniffed. “Thanks.”

“We’ve got you.” Jordan followed him back into the locker room.

After packing up and saying his goodbyes, Jordan walked down the hall, climbed the stairs and pushed through the rink doors. He exhaled and watched his breath billow out like smoke into the night air as he walked to the parking lot. His shoulders eased. It was always a rush at practice, but now that the adrenaline had done its job, the fatigue settled in. No sleep tonight. He’d be raiding the hospital’s supply of energy drinks within the hour.

He pulled his keys from his pocket, but his fingers froze when he spotted someone standing next to his truck. Jordan's steps slowed. Standing on the passenger side, a thin figure shivered in a too-thin hoodie and jeans that looked two sizes too big. Her hair was bleached blond, and she had a ratty backpack slung over one shoulder.

Jordan clenched his jaw. "Claire.”What the hell was she doing here?She turned, her eyes darting as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Did you drive?"

Claire shook her head. "A friend dropped me off."

Jordan took a step closer. "Who's the friend?"

"Just . . . a friend."

"What's his name?"

"It’s a she, and you don’t know her."

Jordan stared her down, but Claire looked away, her breath coming out in quick puffs. "Get in the truck."

He unlocked the doors, and they both climbed in. Jordan turned the key in the ignition and cranked up the heater. Claire held her hands up to the vents. They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the fan blowing warm air.

"It’s been . . . what? Three months?" Jordan finally said.

"Four, I think." Claire nodded, her eyes fixed on the dashboard. "I'm staying with a friend. I can't go there until Wednesday, though."

Jordan frowned. That was two days away. "Where've you been staying?"

"Here and there."

Jordan ground his teeth. Here and there meant she'd been sleeping in places he didn't want to imagine. He ran a hand through his hair, then gripped the steering wheel. "Alright. Let's find you a place for the night."

Jordan pulled out of the parking lot and headed down Macleod Trail, his mind spinning. He should've been more surprised to see Claire, but considering the last few months, it wasn't a shocker that she'd show up unannounced. Especially since she didn't answer his texts. Hard to do when your phone was being shut off every couple of weeks.

His hands tightened around the wheel. He couldn't take her home. Not because he didn't want her there, he did. More than anything. But he’d learned from past experience that he couldn’t have her around when she wasn’t sober. He talked with his patients about healthy boundaries all the time. Harder to implement in real life.

"You still playing with the same team?" Claire broke the silence, her voice hoarse.

"Yeah, Pucks Deep. Same crew."

"How's Cam? Still working that landscaping job?"

Jordan tensed. "Yeah, but he's been talking about going back to school. Something with engineering, I think." He hoped the message was clear.Cam’s doing well. Don’t mess with him again.

"Good for him." Claire smiled faintly.

They drove past a Tim Hortons, and for a split second, Jordan was tempted to pull in and get them both a coffee. Just to drag out the time they had. But Claire never seemed to turn up on a day off. It was like she had radar attuned to the brief moments between his other responsibilities.

He turned onto seventy-second and headed toward the industrial area where he knew there was a hotel that wouldn't ask too many questions. Jordan pulled into the parking lot, wincing at the neon sign. “This place, okay?”

Claire nodded. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

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