Page 8 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
“Sure. I could really do with a vacation on a yacht right now,” Linc says, earning himself a slap on the head from our captain.
“You should be so lucky.”
We walk around everything that’s up for auction, balking at the figures that have already been written down.
I’m not sure this will ever become normal.
Growing up, things were hard. Dad was a mechanic and Mom worked at our local grocery store. They always ensured thatI had everything I needed, but there was never any spare money. Especially once I started playing hockey.
My hobby was a huge drain on my parents’ finances, and it was something that, even as a young teenager, I never took for granted.
If it weren’t for them working their asses off and putting me and my dream first, I would not have gotten here.
I just wish Dad got to see where I ended up.
We get stopped by a handful of people to talk about the upcoming season, but everyone is polite and they don’t take up too much of our time. It’s one of the things about events like these. Only a certain type of person is invited, and they understand the desire for a degree of privacy, so they mostly leave us to our evening.
“They’re going to be serving dinner shortly,” Fletch says after checking his watch.
“I’ll meet you there,” I say, excusing myself to use the bathroom.
I do what I need to do before standing at the sink to wash my hands and staring at myself in the mirror. I look ridiculous, but then, so does everyone else here.
I take a little longer than necessary, preparing for the small talk that’s sure to fill the next few hours of my life before I leave the safety of the bathroom.
Pulling my cell from my pocket, I find a photo message from Mom of her and Sutton snuggled on the couch, ready to watch a movie.
I’m too busy wishing that I was at home with them to bother looking up, and two seconds later, I collide with someone.
“Oh shit, I’m so sor—” My words are cut off when I find a petite woman in a stunning emerald green dress wobbling on her heels before me.
Without thinking, I reach out and wrap my arm around her waist, steadying her before she hits the floor.
It’s not until she’s back on her feet that my eyes collide with hers.
My breath catches. They’re so green.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. Please,” I say, gesturing for her to continue toward the ladies’ room.
Holding her head high, a sexy smile pulls at her lips before she muses, “It was nice bumping into you,” and walks away.
I blink, watching her go.
“Enjoy your night,” I call before she gets too far away.
She shoots a coy glance back over her shoulder before she disappears.
3
CASEY
Iwalk on unsteady legs toward the main room where the food is about to be served.
My breather in the bathroom did absolutely nothing for my nerves.I almost talked myself out of coming a million times as I was getting ready. I picked up my cell more times than I can count to call my best friend, Parker, so she could either encourage me or talk me out of it.
But I didn’t.
No one knows I’m here tonight. No one knows my intentions, and that is how I intend for it to stay.
