Page 5 of Austin

She looks up and makes eye contact, and I’m tempted to walk over there right now so I can finally talk to her again. If it wasn’t for the scrimmage—and the fact that I just talked to those kids about being dedicated to what we’re doing here—I’d already be sitting next to her.

A cheer from the crowd instantly focuses my attention back to the ice. Our team has just scored another goal, and I missed it because I was too busy thinking about the things I want to do outside of this arena. Things I want to do with the pretty bookstore clerk.

Just focus on the game for a little while longer. She’ll still be there when it’s over.

I shouldn’t have to remind myself to do the job I signed up for, the job these kids are counting on me to follow through on. They should be my number one priority right now, and theyare.

But the minute this game is over? I’m making a beeline for my goth princess.

4

CASSY

The hockey game was loud and intense and pretty physical for what I assumed would be a kids’ match. These kids are tough, though. Maybe it’s all the padding and gear they have to wear, but they really do look like professional, grown men out there on the ice.

I stand up as soon as the game is over and look around for Felicia. She moved closer to the ice during the last few minutes of the game so she could cheer for her son—who, if I’m being perfectly honest, I still can’t pick out from the sea of nearly identical uniforms—and now I don’t see her at all.

“Great,” I sigh, collecting my things and moving with the flow of the crowd toward the exit. “Just great.”

I know Felicia won’t leave without me, but I also know she has a tendency to get swept up in the excitement when any of her kids win one of their sporting events. I’ve heard plenty of stories over the years about how she chaperoned a team party until the wee hours of the morning or how her husband had to be ejected from a game for loudly disagreeing with a referee. I can’t imagine being that invested in any game, but I’d probably feel differently if it was my kid out there playing.

Regardless, I’m not going to fight through this crowd to find her. I’ll just wait outside where I can at least get some fresh air and sunshine.

I walk out into the parking lot and take a moment to get my bearings. I don’t remember exactly where we parked, but I take off in what I think is the general direction and self-consciously wonder how clueless I look right now.

“Cassy?” a familiar, dreaded voice calls out, but I pretend I don’t hear. Without looking, I know it’s my ex, Dale, and he’s the very last person I want to talk to right now. Or ever again, for that matter. “Hey, Cassy! Over here!”

Seriously, Dale? Is he that bad at taking a hint? Or that determined to make me miserable?

Of course he is. Why do I even doubt it? He’s my ex for a reason, after all.

I want to turn and tell him to leave me alone. In my head, I picture myself casually flipping the bird as I walk to Felicia’s car with my head held high. Unfortunately, I’m a lot braver and a heck of a lot more confrontational in my head than I’ll ever be in real life, and Dale knows it.

Hating that I have to deal with him and belatedly wishing I’d put a little more effort into doing my hair and makeup this morning before I left the house, I turn and squint against the sun, faking a smile and raising my hand to wave in acknowledgment when I realize Dale isn’t alone.

Ugh, why is he doing this?

Putting my arm back down to my side after the world’s most awkward half-wave, I take a deep breath and try to mentally prepare to make stilted small-talk with my ex and his new girlfriend, Britney.

Britney, my polar opposite in every imaginable way.

Britney, with her blonde hair and sun-kissed tan. With her small waist and perky boobs and designer wardrobe, it’s not hard to see why she attracts men like flies to honey. I’m not sure what she sees in Dale, but I should probably be thankful that she revealed his cheating side before I made the mistake of spending any more time with him—or, God forbid, marrying him.

Seeing the two of them together right now does make me feel a sudden surge of something, but it isn’t thankfulness.

“Hi,” I say as soon as I’m within earshot and don’t have to yell. “How’s it going?”

God, I feel so awkward right now. I don’t care how they’re doing and I don’t want to talk to either of them. Why can’t they just do the polite thing and pretend not to see me? Isn’t that what exes are supposed to do when they see each other in public?

“We’re great,” Britney giggles, nestling in closer to Dale. “Aren’t we, love bug?”

Ew.

I seriously just threw up a little in my mouth.

“That’s right,” he nods, smirking. “How about you, Cass? I never knew you were a hockey fan. I thought you were allergic to sports.”

He chuckles and Britney giggles again, making it really hard to resist smacking both of them. “I guess you were wrong,” I say, biting back another, more sarcastic reply about how the only thing I’m actually allergic to is his cheap aftershave.

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