Page 66 of The Grinder

Travis blinked, like his brain was trying to process input and couldn’t. Riley started to laugh, which actually made CJ pause with a piece of bread halfway to his mouth.

“Just keep eating, kid.” Riley grinned at CJ. “You’re gonna need the calories for tonight. And Travis, more power to you but if I stay, I think you’re gonna be chasing women without me.”

With a bemused smile, Travis started on the second basket of bread the server had brought. Apparently, Travis was a regular here. “Well, damn, I can’t wait to meet the woman who brought you to heel. Is she coming to the game tonight?”

Riley shook his head, the subject still tender. And one he’d have to shelve until later. “No, she has to work. Besides, I need all my concentration focused on the game tonight.”

“You’re absolutely right. Try not to overthink it. This is your time. You’re gonna nail it.”

Travis looked so damn confident, Riley had to smile even as he shook his head. “Let’s hope I’m not the one getting nailed to the boards.”

“Nah, that’s your specialty, man. You’re a grinder. Go out there and fucking grind them into submission. And if that doesn’t work, you do some of your best work with your mouth. Mind-fuck ’em. New York won’t know what hit them. And if you really want the girl, same thing applies. Talk until she agrees just to shut you up.” Travis shrugged. “Or punches you in the mouth. With you, it can go either way.”

* * * * *

Aly glanced at the clock, her heart pounding a mile a minute.

Six-fifty. If she left now, she’d still get to see the start of the game.

But as her boss droned on about performance issues to one of the men in Aly’s office, she knew she wasn’t going to make it home for puck drop.

Yes, she was recording the game and the pre-game show but she’d wanted to be home to see if Riley made the lineup.

She hadn’t heard from him overnight but he had texted her earlier today. He must have sent it before he left for the arena this afternoon.

Getting ready for the game. Hoping like hell I don’t forget anything. Hope you get to watch the game. Let me know. Talk to you soon.

Since then…nothing.

So why do you feel slighted?

Because she was a bitch who couldn’t be bothered to drive two hours to his first NHL game.

Grr.

Hell, even she knew that wasn’t fair. This, her job, was important to her and so were the people she worked with. Which was why she was in this evaluation. Because her job mattered.

But when her boss finally wrapped up the meeting after they’d managed to resolve at least a few of her coworker’s concerns, she excused herself and took off as fast as her heels would let her.

She was tempted to take off her pumps and run but figured that’d be a little too out of character.

Grabbing her stuff from her office, she swapped out her pumps for sneakers and now she took off at a restrained run. Okay, more like a hurried shuffle because her damn skirt was so tight, but she cleared the building in two minutes and was home in ten.

“Vivi! Do you have—”

“Don’t worry.” Her sister called back from the TV room. “The game’s on. You didn’t miss anything.”

“Is he on the bench?”

Breathless from her sprint from the car to the house, Aly fell onto the couch next to Vivi and started to scan the players on the ice. The game was in motion so she couldn’t tell who any of the players were. She could barely see their numbers much less their names on their jerseys.

“Did you watch the pre-game show? Did they mention him? Did they—”

“I just got home, too. So, no, I didn’t see any of it. And I already ordered pizza so we don’t have to worry about dinner.”

Without taking her eyes off the TV, Aly hugged her sister. “Keep your eyes peeled. I know he’s going to play tonight. I just know it.”

“You know if he plays well, he might not come back, right?”

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