Page 64 of Netting the Goalie

I shook my head.“Not that I can think of.”

“Huh.Well, obviously it means something to Shane.”

Rosie was right.It did mean something to Shane.I just wasn’t sure what and what it might have to do with me.

“So are you going to the game?”Rosie asked.

“I don’t know.”

With a sigh, Rosie finished hanging the dress for a first fitting later this morning before she turned to me.“Honey, I know you said you don’t want to talk about it but…you know you can tell me anything right?It seemed like you really liked Shane.Did he do something?Was he—”

“No.No, it was nothing Shane did.It was me.”

Rosie reached across the counter and patted me on the hand.“Tell me, hon.You’ve been walking around here like a ghost for the past few weeks.What happened?”

I shook my head.“Nothing happened.I just realized I needed to break it off before…” I sighed.“Before he leaves.He’s eventually going to move on.And I’ll still be here.”

“And why do you think you need to stay here?”

“My life’s here.My job, my family.”

Rosie made a face.“Oh, hon.You’re smart enough to get a job anywhere.And your family will always be here for you.There’s no reason you have to stay tied to this little corner of the world.I love working with you and you know you’ll always have a job with me but I don’t remember hearing you talk about wanting to run a bridal salon when you were young.”

“I was always changing my mind about what I wanted to do when I was young.I went to college and got a business degree because…”

“Because what?”

Because I’d had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.Except I’d known I needed to be able to support myself.Especially after I’d gotten untangled from my ex.

Had I been hiding here?Afraid to go out and do something else?

No, that wasn’t it.I loved living here, in this town.Where my parents lived fifteen minutes away and my nieces and nephews ran to hug me when I babysat.Where I lived next door to my brother.

“Because I didn’t know what else to do with myself.”

Rosie humphed.“I don’t believe that for a second.You’re no little lost girl.Maybe you just haven’t found what you want to do with your life yet but that doesn’t mean you won’t ever.And don’t get me wrong.I’m not saying having a man will fix all your problems.I just don’t want you to count them out of the equation totally.”

Shane

“So haveyou figured out where she’s sitting yet?”

Lad sat next to me on the bench, watching me lace my skates.My teammate had waited until I took out my earbuds before speaking.Everyone knew not to talk to me until I’d finished my pre-game routine.

The noise of the sold-out crowd reached us back in the locker room, stoking the players’ excitement even higher.

The final series started tonight.We’d won the first series with a sweep.The second series had gone five games.The semi-finals had gone six.

I was praying we broke the pattern and took this series in five games.That allowed for the other team to win one and for the Redtails to win at home.Of course, a sweep would be nice, too.

“No.I only know she’s using the tickets.”He shrugged.“Don’t wanna know.”

“You sure?Jake could ask Mike—”

“No.I know she’s here.That’s good enough.”

“You really like her, don’t you?”

I pulled my jersey over my head then gave Lad a look, which had Lad holding up his hands.

---