Page 65 of Unbroken Promises

Wow. He hasn’t said that to me in so long. It throws me off, spoken too soon and under all the wrong circumstances after years of being without them.

“Dude! Let’s go already!” His teammate is moving closer, voice filled with annoyance as he tries to corral his wayward captain.

Theo ignores him, bending down slightly to meet me at eye level. “I know my timing is shit, and we still have a lot to talk about. But I promise we are going to figure it out. Together, okay? Just be safe. Don’t wander off by yourself. And text me. Let me know when you get home. I love you.”

And there are those words again.

“Dude!”

“Fuck off, Robinsky. I’m coming, alright?” Theo’s voice is exasperated as he calls out to his teammate.

The man is mere feet away now, and over Theo’s shoulder I can see the man snicker, throwing me a wicked smirk as he mutters “No you’re not, and I bet that’s the problem.”

Theo steps back from me abruptly, swiveling on his heel to glare daggers at his friend. “What the actual fuck, man?”

The man in question steps forward, holding out his hand to me with a charming smile on his face. “Callum Robinsky. And you are?”

My gaze flicks hesitantly to Theo who is glowering at his teammate.

“None of your fucking business, playboy.”

“I’m Danica. It’s nice to meet you.”

Our words overlap, and I’m not sure if he catches my introduction at first, but he takes my hand graciously, and then seconds later his eyes widen, a huge smile breaking out across his face.

“Danica? As inDanica Ellis?”

Uh. Theo is cringing now and for a moment, I’m worried that I shouldn’t have said anything.

“Oh, my fucking God! Wait until the boys hear about this. Dude!” He turns, slapping a large paw of a hand on Theo’s shoulder, causing Theo to stumble slightly under the unexpected weight. “You’re back together with Danica Fucking Ellis?”

Excitedly, he grabs me and wraps me in a bear hug. I freeze, shoulders tensing at the unexpected contact.

“Dude, get your man-paws off my girl!” Theo is grabbing at his friend, but Callum is unphased as he rocks me from side to side, before lifting me off my feet and spinning me in a dizzying circle.

My arms are constricted in the tight embrace, but I reach over to awkwardly pat Callum on the back. “Yep. That’s me. Danica fucking Ellis.” I laugh at the absurdity of the introduction. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

He sets me down gently on my feet, stepping back an arm’s length.

“Wow! I just have to say, it’s such a freaking honor to meet you! I am a huge fan. I didn’t recognize you outside of the leotard.”

“What the fuck?” Theo hisses, stepping up to my side and placing a protective arm over my shoulder.

“No! Shit! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that! I just meant, I’m used to watching you on television, when you are competing in competitions. I don’t know if I have ever seen you in street attire. Let alone my man here’s hockey jersey.” He winces awkwardly at his words.

“I mean, I don’t watch you like a creeper or anything. My little sister is super into gymnastics, so I have gone to competitions and shit with her for years, and whenever I am home visiting, we always watch them online or on tv when she isn’t actively training. And she is a huge fan of yours. We both are, actually. Your Olympic routine last summer was incredible. Shit! Can I get your autograph? For my sister, I mean?” He pats himself down as if in search of a pen, but comes up emptyhanded.

I smile, trying to hold back my laugh. “I don’t have a pen on me either, unfortunately. But next time I see you, what if we facetime your sister to say hi? I can always sign something for her then too.”

His face brightens at the mention of calling his sister. “Really? You wouldn’t mind? That’s not too much is it?”

I look to Theo and then shake my head. “I’m sure I’ll get to see you after your next home game. I would love to talk to her. And if she’s ever up in the area for a visit, you should bring her by Prism. She could show me some of her stuff and maybe I could give her a few pointers.”

“Wow! Okay cool. Yeah, she would totally love that. Thanks so much! It is so great to meet you in person. You are just. . . wow!” He looks from me over to Theo, and his face falls. “Oh man. I really want to stay and talk with you some more, but I’m so sorry, we really do have to go. Coach is gonna kill us if we don’t get on the bus.”

I nod, smiling politely. “It’s alright, I understand.”

Theo takes my hand in his, pulling me with him down the hallway, and Callum falls into step with us on my other side. “Walk withme?”

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