Page 53 of Stick Play

When he skates away, but not before casting one last glance my way, we all sit down, and a soft sigh escapes my lips.

“Girl, you got it bad,” Melanie says, and I steal a glance at Grant again, to make sure he can’t hear us.

Brighton nods in agreement. “Real bad.”

I swallow down the lump punching into my throat and stick to my story. “We’re friends.”

“Friends with benefits,” Brighton says, and my gaze flies to hers.

The fight drains out of me, and honestly, I find myself wanting to talk about Ash, wanting to tell these two what’s going on even though we agreed to keep it a secret. “Friends with benefits.” I set my popcorn down. “That’s what we actually agreed on.”

Melanie nods her approval. “About time.”

I nibble my lips and focus back in on the ice, although I’m not seeing much as my mind races. “I have a daughter to consider. Ash and I are just having fun, and I don’t want her to get attached.”

Melanie glances at Zoe. “Looks like it might be too late for that.”

I exhale as my shoulders sag. “Yeah.”

“Too late for you too, huh?” she adds.

“Ash and I want different things,” I tell her, reminding myself how last summer, he was quick to point out that we weren’t a good idea, and again just last weekend when he asked me to come to a game. I said I didn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea about us, he straight up said he didn’t want that either. He’d been betrayed and is too afraid to put himself out there.

You’ve been betrayed too, Gina.

But Ash isn’t like my ex. He’s not hiding anything from me. Right?

“Oh God,” Melanie shrieks and grabs my arm. I turn to her and her focus is on the ice. I gasp as two guys come flying down the ice, passing the puck back and forth. The next thing I know, Ash is moving, liquid lightning, his big body barreling toward the player with the puck and bam, they hit the boards so hard, the whole rink practically vibrates. They both go down, and without realizing it, I stand, my heart in my throat.

The refs skate over, and a second later, Ash is on his feet, his gaze seeking mine, and he gives me a devilish grin. I suck in a fast breath, refilling my collapsed lungs as I sink back into my seat.

“Is it always like this?” I ask, my insides still shaking.

“Always,” Melanie tells me. “You’ll get used to it.”

“You think?”

“Mommy, did you see that?” I take in Zoe’s excitement. “Ash stopped that guy from scoring.”

“I saw it, honey.”

Her eyes shine bright as she hugs her jersey. “Ash is my favorite, Mom.”

Yeah, he’s mine too, kiddo.

Little Miss Camryn—seven going on seventeen—whispers something into Zoe’s ear and my stomach tightens. I’m sure whatever it is she’s saying, it’s not something I’m going to like. Zoe claps her hands, and they both turn back to the glass.

“The guys leave tomorrow morning for Tampa. We should plan a girls’ night out. Go out to a nice quiet dinner, no kids. My treat, Gina. For watching Camryn and Tate.”

“An adult dinner sounds perfect, but I don’t have a sitter.”

“I can watch Zoe.”

My head swivels toward Grant and I find him staring at me with a big smile on his face. How long has he been listening? Or more importantly, what did he hear? Before I can tell him I don’t think it’s a great idea, he bends and takes Zoe’s hands in his and starts swinging them. “Want to hang out with me this weekend? We can play that old board game Trouble that you love.”

“Where I pop the six,” she screams with joy.

“Yeah, we can make popcorn and watch movies. It will be fun.”

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