Page 55 of Scoring Grey

I’m just about to smart back when a mark behind his ear catches my attention. “Did you hit your head on something?” I say, gently rubbing my finger over the spot in question. I move some of his hair to the side for a better look.

“No, I’ve had that mark my whole life.”

“It’s a birthmark?” I question as its shape becomes apparent. “It kind of looks like an upside-down heart.”

“Yeah, that’s what my mom said. I can’t really see it, given its location.”

“Hmm…” I say, tugging his beanie over the mark and his ears.

“Why did you say that? Is it that hideous?”

“No, not at all,” I answer as my brain searches for a connection that’s scratching at the recesses of my mind. Why does his birthmark feel familiar?

“Do you have a birthmark?”

“I do. It’s not a cool, upside-down heart like yours. It’s on my ankle and very faint. If anything, it looks like discolored skin.”

“That sounds repulsive,” he says with a gag.

“Shut up. You’ve seen my bare legs multiple times, and you’ve never once noticed it.”

“You’re right, but I wasn’t looking at you like that. Next time you take your pants off, I’ll be paying close attention,” he teases.

“Hahaha, very funny,” I say before I pinch him hard.

“Ouch!” he says as he readjusts his hold on me.

“Hey, did Roe ever text you back?”

“No, but we still have a four-hour drive home.”

I groan in annoyance. I desperately want a shower.

“Look, we made it. There’s the truck.”

Thank God for small miracles. Now, if only I could keep this good juju pointed in my direction all the way home, that would be something. I could really use a break right now. I’m going to need all the good fortune I can get once we return.

17

ELOISE

“Impressive,” I mutter as the car pulls into the roundabout in front of what looks like a gray stone castle. I know hockey franchise owners have money, but this place is next level.

“Is this the right place, ma’am?” the driver questions somewhat peevishly as I gawk at the house rather than taking care of my fare.

“Oh, yes, sorry.” I pull out my phone, open the app, pay my fare, and leave a tip. “We should be even.”

“Thank you.” The pitch in his tone is noticeably more pleasant after he sees my tip. “Would you like me to help you get your things from the back?”

“No, I can get it. Just pop the trunk when I get out.”

I curse as I step out of the SUV onto the cobblestone roundabout in front of the Bronson Estate. In my haste to make it here on time, I didn’t think about wearing appropriate shoes for my back injury. The last forty-eight hours have been a mess. One thing I never should have done was take a walk through the woods with Dash. I should have known better. He’s too adventurous, and I’m too curious. My back and thighs hate me today. Dash and I left the old hunting cabin at sunrise just as planned, leaving the secrets we shared with it. Besides Quinn, who is technically my sister-in-law and therefore obligated to endure my presence, I don’t have a ton of close girlfriends. The girls I know back home in Copper Falls are acquaintances who, if I’m being honest, had ulterior motives in our friendship. Everyone was always trying to land my brother. Now that he’s locked down, I’ve seen them less. The only friendships that have stuck are the ones I have with men like Arlo and Dash. If you had told me Dash Westin would be the guy I spilled my heart to, I wouldn’t have believed it. Not because he isn’t great, but because it’s not our dynamic. We’ve been friends for a long time. He’s guaranteed to make you smile, he has the best stories, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for someone he cares about. The guy is a catch. He’s just not my catch. Hell, I’m not even sure I have a catch anymore.

Looking at the mansion before me, my stomach knots. I last spoke to Cal on Friday night when he hung up on me. It’s now Sunday. Yesterday, once Dash and I got down the mountain, we made a pit stop at the first place we came across, which happened to be a diner. After freshening up in the bathroom, we had a big breakfast before getting back on the road. I called Cal the second we got on the road, but it rang until finally going to voicemail. On the last leg of our four-hour drive home, the highway was shut down after a logging truck lost its load, causing a massive accident. There were fatalities, and the road had to be cleared of debris and trees. When I tried calling him again, knowing I’d once again not make it home, it went straight to voicemail, and the texts I sent him went unanswered. But I’m here today because I’m showing up for him. His words haven’t left my mind since they were spoken. He is the one thing I’ve never wanted to lose. He puts up with my crazy, and I’m pretty sure the man I left two days ago would have stood by my side if the world came crashing down around us. The conclusion I’ve come to is this: I want that man, the one who’ll stay through thick and thin, but I’ll never know if Cal’s that man if I never give him a chance. Time to show him I’m all in.

As I reach into the trunk to grab my stand-in grand gesture, an unfamiliar voice startles me. “Let me help you with that.”

“Oh, it’s okay…” I say, only for my words to die off when my eyes land on my visitor.

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