“Okay, Mandy, thanks.” I take a giant step away from her and make a beeline for the car. “I really have to go.”
I don’t even take a moment to look behind me to make sure she’s not following me. I swap one of the bags over so I’m clutching them in one hand while the other fishes in my pocket for the keys.
Once I’m safely inside my car, I shake my head as I look around the parking lot and make sure Mandy’s cleared the area.I’ve dealt with pushy fans before, but having one place their hands on me in public is a first.
Most importantly, though, I have learned something from this run-in with her.
There’s only one woman I want to see wearing my jersey…and it’s not Mandy.
ELEVEN
Riley
“So you got a dog and managed to almost kiss the sworn enemy.”
“I wouldn’t call him the enemy,” I say, standing up and shielding my eyes from the midday sun. The Sweetkiss Creek Dog Park isn’t too busy today, which is good for me. I wanted to bring Becks here so I could start getting him socialized. Luckily, I have a couple of girlfriends with dogs, so they agreed to come, too…and apparently they also brought their friends Judgement and Opinion, too.
“You said you never wanted to date or deal with hockey players again,” Dylan manages to say while laughing. She whistles, calling her terrier, Max, back up the hill with Becks and Toto, Georgie’s Rottweiler, trailing along after him. “You’re dealing with one to the point that your lips almost touched.”
“But she says he has some sexy tattoos,” Georgie says conspiratorially, winking at Dylan. “That’s pretty big stuff right there.”
“Wow, talk about reading into things.” Giggling, I cross my arms and turn around to face the pair, leaning against one another on the park bench in quiet hysterics. I point a fingerat Dylan. “I expected you to be a little more open to this idea, considering I was one of your besties who helped you figure out you were in love with your best friend.” Taking a sweeping bow, I put on my best fake British accent. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“She has a point,” Georgie agrees. “And it is kind of cool that you and your best friend are now husband and wife.”
“But we’re not talking about me,” Dylan says, her tone clipped as she points a finger back my way. “We’re talking about the commitment-phobe here, the woman who loves her turtle and was forced by one of her oldest friends to get a dog.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s a trial basis, anyway.”
“Jake?” Georgie asks.
“Becks,” I say, smacking her playfully. “Levi texted me that he would take him back if it didn’t work out.” When he’d made the offer the other night, it had made it a little easier to settle in with Becks, I’ll admit, but watching him run down the hill with Max and Toto beside him, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth and basically smiling, there’s no way I’ll ever take this away from him. “However, I also invested a nice chunk of change in a memory-foam dog bed so he could sleep like a rockstar, now that he’s retired from truffle farming at an early age. And he’s really cute.”
No sooner are the words out of my mouth than Becks tears up the hill, stopping on a pin at my feet, and leaning his full body weight against me. Sighing with pleasure, I glance over at my friends, who are both watching like a proud mama bird whose baby took flight from the nest.
“Look, Dylan,” Georgie whispers. “It’s responsibility and she’s taking it so well.”
“I know. It’s very sweet to see.” She turns to Georgie, placing her hands on her lap like she’s a lady of high society at tea. “Andshe may also be opening her heart to possibilities, too. It’s like a first-quarter of the year miracle.”
“Har, har. Look, my side hurts I'm laughing so hard,” I say as flatly as I can. As the two smack each other on the leg and laugh at their own stupid jokes, I shake my head and scratch Becks behind his ears. “Earmuffs, sweetie. This is when we ignore them. They’re like the two little old men in the balcony of the Muppet Show.”
“I still need to see that show,” Georgie murmurs as she stands up and stretches her arms over her head. “Anyone know what time it is?”
I reach into my back pocket to check the time, and I’m more than a little surprised when I see I’ve got a text…from someone I don’t want to hear from.
“You guys,” I say, holding my cell phone. “Todd messaged me.”
Dylan’s eyes widen. “What?”
“Read it,” Georgie demands. She’s bossy, this one.
I tap open the bubble and scan the message. I get two words in when Georgie huffs. “I meant out loud.”
Acquiescing, I sigh and begin. “Riley, you’ve been in my thoughts a lot lately. I haven’t felt right about how things ended and I want a chance to make it up to you, if you’ll let me. We’ll be playing in Virginia next week. If you’re open to talking, please let me know and I’ll get you tickets to the game. Maybe you could wear my jersey?” Pulling my eyes up to meet the two pairs watching me, I gag. “He added a little winky face at the end there, but come on. How narcissistic do you need to be? Little does he know I gave his jersey away.”
“Delete, delete, delete,” Dylan says, wiping her hands in the air. “We all know you’re better than that. Is he still sending flowers, too?”
“He sent a bouquet a few days ago; I gave those to Frannie,” I say with a shrug. “But they tapered off, finally. Figured if I didn’t acknowledge them, he’d get the hint.”
