Page 30 of Two Minutes for Holding

“It was good.”

“What about Vermont? I saw they kicked the Ice Hawks’ ass.”

“Yeah, it was a good time, and I finally patched things up with my brother. He was happy to hear things are over between Tor and I.”

“Good, I still can’t believe that you and Tor are over. What brought that on?”

The memory of Clay invaded my mind. His words that night in the bar in Vancouver, and everything that had happened afterward, had been the start. If it hadn’t happened before, it would have happened after this past weekend. I could still feel the way he’d gently caressed my cheek and ran his fingers through my hair while gently kissing me. The way his eyes had skimmed my naked body, right down to his touch and the way he’d slowly fucked me until I came. Never one time had he come before I did, and he never cared how long it took either. Not that it ever took long with him.

“I don’t know, just tired of his games, I guess.”

Elsie looked over at me. “No, no way, there’s something else?” she said, pointing the knife she had in her hand in my direction.

I shrugged. I could feel my cheeks heat and gave her a small smile.

“You met someone?” she said, her eyes growing wide with excitement.

I shook my head, looking away.

“Peyton, don’t hold out on me!” She laughed as she bent over and looked at me.

“I’m not, there isn’t…there isn’t anyone to talk about,” I said, hoping she’d drop the topic.

“Come on, just tell me about him. I know there is someone. I can see it in your eyes.”

Taking a deep breath, I looked over at her and slowly nodded. “Okay, fine, I met someone, and while there isn’t anything otherthan a few amazing nights together, I realized maybe I don’t need to be treated like trash, that maybe there really are good guys out there.”

“There are good guys out there. Sometimes, you just need to weed through the shit to get to them. Do you think if you were to move to Vancouver, you might see this mystery man again? I mean, I’m only guessing that is where he is.”

I nodded. “Well, I shouldn’t say a definite yes, but I know I’d want to see him again. Not sure what he wants, though.”

“Are you going to give me any other details about him?”

I shook my head; not sure I wanted to divulge it was one of Knox’s teammates. I was still feeling odd about the whole situation in that regard. Especially after Knox admitted to me that he heard us the other night. Not that he knew it was us, but it still made me uncomfortable. Plus, I knew Knox was overprotective of me. He always had been after my father had left. He’d often tell me he didn’t want to see me grow up without a father like he had, so in his own way, he’d stepped into the role.

“Fine, make me wait to find out about the guy who pulled you away from Tor. Something the rest of us have been trying to do for many months. It was becoming exhausting to be honest, so I’m glad it happened.” Elsie giggled, letting out a sigh. “He must be something. While we wait, why don’t you pass me that bag of spice there?” she said, pointing to a small clear bag containing yellow powder.

“What’s that?”

“The magic spice—the curry,” she said, winking as she drained the potatoes and quickly mashed them, then added a couple of teaspoons of spice to the potato mixture and then to the chicken that was simmering.

“Take a smell of this,” she said, moving out of the way for me to come in.

The moment I leaned over the pot a rush of saliva filled my mouth, and my stomach turned. I tried to swallow but couldn’t and bolted toward the bathroom off the kitchen, slamming the door shut behind me, making it to my knees in front of the toilet just in time for me to be sick.

I heard Elsie knock on the door, but between being sick and trying to catch my breath, I couldn’t answer her.

“Peyton, Peyton, are you okay?” she cried, cracking the door open a bit.

I looked over at her and shook my head. She stepped into the washroom, came over and gathered my hair, holding it back in time for the next wave of nausea to hit.

I’d gottena bit of clear broth down, but the smell of curry that still lingered throughout the house was still making me feel sick.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Elsie asked.

She’d profusely apologized, but I assured her it wasn’t her cooking that had made me sick, since I’d not even tasted it.

“I’ll be okay. I don’t know where that even came from,” I said, relaxing in the chair in the living room with a cool cloth across the back of my neck.

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