Page 24 of Netting the Goalie

“Do you think she would’ve left with you if she were?”

Fuck.“No.Shit.It’s just…” Jesus, what could I say that wouldn’t make me seem even more like an ass?I sighed.“You know what?Never mind.She left while I was sleeping, didn’t leave me a number.If she wants to see me, I guess she knows how to find me.”

Now Cary started to laugh.“Damn, kid.How the hell do manage to be so damn clueless?”He whipped out his phone and started to text.“Hang tight.I’ll get you the number.Then you need to call her.And Shane?”

“Yeah?”

Now Cary looked serious as all hell.“We’re heading into the stretch.Don’t let anything fuck with your focus.”

Shit.“You don’t think I should call her?”

Cary’s shit-eating grin made a return.“I think you’d be an idiot not to.And you’re no idiot.”

Seven

Bliss

“I can’t believeyou didn’t leave him your phone number?What the hell were you thinking?”

I groaned between sips of my too-hot coffee, which I needed to mainline if I was going to be any good today.

“I wasn’t thinking.Remember?Too much mind-blowing sex.My brain was stuck somewhere between ‘Oh my god, I’m never going to get any sleep tonight and be worthless tomorrow’ and ‘Oh god, I want to stay all night and lick his pecs.’I mean, come on, my brain wasn’t exactly functioning correctly.Not after he—”

Faith Donovan took one hand off the arm of her wheelchair and held it in the air.“Nope.Don’t wanna hear it again.The first time was more than enough.”

Grimacing, I fluffed the skirt of Faith’s wedding dress hanging on the stand, waiting for its big day, which happened to be tomorrow.

A Christmas Eve wedding.Just thinking about it made me teary.

Too bad the groom—

Nope, not going there.

“Sorry, sorry.But now I don’t know what to do.Should I ask Lori for his number?I mean, I snuck out of his apartment like I was embarrassed to be there.He probably thinks I’m a bitch.Or worse, he doesn’t care and was happy I left and didn’t have to deal with the morning-after bullshit.”

“From what you were telling me about him, that doesn’t sound like something he’d do.But I never met him so…” Faith shrugged and sipped her own coffee.

“I know.Ugh.Maybe I just have to let this one go.I mean, last night was amazing but I know from talking to Lori that these guys are always on the move.The good ones barely ever stay in one place more than a few months.And from what I’ve heard, Shane’s good enough for an NHL slot.He won’t be here long.”

Faith’s eyebrows rose.“Sounds like you’ve been doing some online creeping.”

A sigh as I picked up Faith’s veil from the chair and hung it on the rack with her dress.“Maybe a little.Just to depress myself even more.”With a huff, I sank into the seat across from Faith.“All right, no more.So, is everything ready for tomorrow night?”

Faith laughed, though I swore I heard a little strain that hadn’t been there before.

“You’ve met my mom so you know the answer to that.”

I had met Faith’s mom, Shelly, at the same time I’d met Faith.A year ago, just after Faith had gotten her chair.My shop had been the third one Faith and Shelly had visited.Faith had been near tears but unwilling to give up in pursuit of the perfect dress.Shelly had been ready to strangle the next person who treated Faith like an invalid.

I had shaken their hands, asked Faith her size and started to pull out dresses, never once mentioning that they could be altered to take her “condition” into consideration.

Faith had smiled and Shelly had burst into tears.And I had gained a new friend who didn’t let her disability define her.Something I had a little experience with.

“So then everything’s been checked at least five times.”

“You know it.”And there was that look on Faith’s face again.“I just…”

I set my coffee cup on the table and leaned forward, concerned.“Just what?”

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