Page 22 of Back On Ice

When she gave me the note Carter left me explaining what had happened, I had thought we still had a chance. He promised to make it work. “It’s you and me, Soph,” he had said.

What a load of shit.

What was supposed to be one of the best nights of our lives had turned into one of the worst.

Once I’ve dried my hair and got dressed, I crawl into bed. Tomorrow is a new day, and soon the rink will be rebuilt, and he’ll ride off into the sunset with whatever team he’s signing with this season.

We can meet occasionally to go over stuff for the Twin Rinks, but that’s it. We will have platonic meetings, and absolutely under no circumstances will I let him kiss me again.

Even if I really,reallywant him to.

Chapter Ten

CARTER

“Areyou sure it’s okay for me to be here?” My question is directed at Tom when I slide into the booth across from him and Jordan.

“Yeah, man, it’s fine. Sophie has to be at the flower shop this morning anyway.” He brushes my concern off and flags down a waitress for a couple of coffees and a juice.

It’s Monday morning, and that means breakfast at the cafe, the New England Nook. It’s a tradition that Tom, Sophie, and I had throughout high school, and continued even after Tom graduated. Clearly, they kept it going after I left, bringing little Jordan into the mix.

It hasn’t changed a bit since I was here last, the round tables in the same position, memorabilia lining the walls from various state sports teams. For hockey, it’s the Boston Reapers, football has the New England Blue Coats, and baseball, it’s the Boston Pioneers. The tan leather booths along the windows, the same little carafes for syrup lining the end of the tables. It’s well loved, but not shabby by any means.

If Sophie had been here, I would have kept my distance, if only to give her some room to breathe after last night.

I can’t believe I kissed her. One moment, we were screaming at each other, and the next, my mouth was on hers, desperate for her touch. I hadn’t even planned on kissing her, but now that I have, she’s on my mind even more than she was before, if that’s even possible. All I know is no other woman has made me feel the way she makes me feel.

I want her back.

“How was the contractor meeting?” Tom asks once the waitress comes over with the coffee.

“Surprisingly well,” I say, almost laughing at the unintentional double entendre, “he’s drawing up plans and really, I think he’s the guy for the job. It looked like Sophie liked him, and he seemed to have an innate sense of what we’re looking for, and as long as his plans line up with that, I think we’ll hire him.”

“How come I didn’t know you were working with Aunt Fee?” Jordan asks, bewildered. I can imagine it would be hard to reconcile an NHL hockey player knowing your aunt. I love seeing the excited look in his eye when he discovers something new.

Tom grins and elbows him. “They’re going to save the rec center.And, did you know that Carter and Aunt Sophie used to date in high school?”

Jordan’s whole face lights up. “No way! Are you kidding? How cool would it have been to have Carter as an uncle?”

I can’t help my chuckle at his excitement. “Yeah, she’s always been pretty amazing. Ever since we met when we were seven. You never know,” I shoot him a wink, “I may still become your uncle.”

A throat clears behind me, causing Tom and Jordan’s eyes to jump up to the source of the noise. I can tell by Tom’s semi-guilty face that Sophie has decided to join us. Who knows how much she just heard.

Despite my light hearted tone, I almost hope shedidhear me. Maybe she’ll realize how much that kiss we shared meant to me.

I turn around and give a slight wave. Based on the bright red hue of her face, I’m assuming she heard at least the last thirty seconds.

Welp, I guess I’m done tip-toeing. Not like that was going to be an option for much longer anyway, seeing how my old, long-buried feelings for Sophie Hartwell are coming back from the dead with a vengeance.

If only I could get her to listen to me for more than two seconds without her losing it.

“Hey, Soph.” Tom tries to sound nonchalant, but I hear the guilt underneath. “I thought you had to be at the shop this morning to get the morning orders done before it opened.”

“I did,” she says, playing with the strap of the bag on her shoulder, “but Kerry’s appointment got rescheduled and she was able to come in so I thought I’d try to catch you guys.”

“Come sit, Aunt Fee!” Jordan says cheerily, “We haven’t ordered yet.”

Sophie smiles tightly at Jordan, and awkwardly slides into the seat next to me. The close proximity gives me a prime view of the blush on her cheeks. She’s in a purple work shirt today, her deep auburn hair pulled half-up.

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