Page 69 of Stick Play

“I’m careful. No way do I want Coach warning me to walk the straight and narrow, like you.”

I snort. Walking the straight and narrow with an amazing woman like Gina…well, that’s not so bad. My phone rings and I snatch it from my pocket. Disappointment must move over my face, and Roman laughs.

“Dude, go call her.”

I stare at the random number that’s been calling for days, and hit decline. The only one I want to talk to is Gina, and dammit, I’m going to call her. “Yeah.” That’s all I say as I walk to the door and let myself out.

I hurry back to my room, throw myself on my bed and call Gina. She sounds breathless when she answers on the third ring.

“Ash, I didn’t expect to hear from you today.”

“I have a bit of downtime before the game. Just wanted to check in to see if Dad’s been behaving.”

She chuckles. “He’s actually watching Zoe at my place right now. I’m out running errands and getting snacks for tonight. Your dad and I are going to watch the game together and apparently your father makes a mean pizza.”

Shit, he knows better than to be eating pizza.

“Don’t worry,” she adds, clearly reading my mind. “I’m getting plant-based everything and the cheese is low fat.”

This time I laugh. “He’s going to kill you.”

“Don’t worry. This stuff tastes great.” I hear a squeaky wheel and voices in the background. Somewhere in the distance, a child screams. “He won’t even know.” She goes quiet, her breath a bit heavier.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah…” she sounds distracted. “I don’t know. It’s probably my imagination.”

I sit up straighter. “What’s going on?”

“I…I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Clearly, it’s not nothing, judging by the fact that she brought it up and seems out of sorts. “Gina.”

“It’s just, after the pictures came out, I feel like I’m being watched.” Something dings on the other end of the phone. “It’s weird, I know.”

“No, it’s not weird.” My heart jumps into my throat. “You remember what happened to Maeve last year.”

“Yeah, but that turned out to be her jealous friend. I guess I really shouldn’t be calling her a friend, after what she did to Maeve. Maybe I’m just being paranoid because of that situation. I’m sure no one is stalking me, and I’m sure all the frenzy about your new mystery woman, mom, will die down soon. I’m not that newsworthy.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at the grocery store. I’m headed home in a minute. I’m sure it’s nothing, Ash. I shouldn’t have said anything. You have a game to focus on.”

“I care about more than just hockey, Gina.”

A beat and then, “I’m okay, Ash. I’m sure it’s just someone trying to get dirt on Ash’s mystery woman.”

“What kind of dirt can they get on you?” I ask. She’s the sweetest, kindest person I know and if they dig, they’ll see that too.

She doesn’t answer that question, and instead says, “Some places actually put my name right out there, and my café.” She snorts out a humorless laugh. “Maybe it will bring new business to the café.”

“Fuckers.” Okay, that came out loud and harsh and from Gina’s slight gasp, I’m pretty sure she’s sorry she said anything. “I’ll fix this when I get home, okay.” I honestly have no idea how to fix it. People post what they want to post, and people believe what they want to believe. “I won’t let anyone get close, Gina. I won’t let anyone hurt you or Zoe.”

“I know, Ash.” I walk to my window and look out, wanting nothing more than to be home. “I’m looking forward to your game tonight. Promise me you won’t get hurt.”

“I can’t promise that, babe.” My heart misses a beat at the genuine concern in her voice. “But I’ll do my best to get home to you in one piece.”

“You’d better. Zoe would be very upset to see her manny hurt.”

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