Page 21 of When Alec Met Evie
Devon had that effect on people. He drew people into his orbit and kept them close, and we all stayed there because it felt like such a privilege to have been chosen by someone so talented, so magnetic. We liked what he liked, listened to what he listened to, ate whatever he was in the mood for.
It was even easier for me because I was his favorite. The one he fell in love with and married on a warm summer day exactly one month after my twentieth birthday.
A part of me wants to go to Alec’s hockey game just to spite Devon. But a bigger part wants to go just because of how much I miss it.
But Juno makes everything more complicated. Navigating the crowds and the cold and the often rowdy fans at a hockey game can be challenging when youdon’thave a baby along. Not to mention the noise.
“I’m just now comfortable taking Juno to Target,” I say. “I don’t think I’m ready for a hockey game yet. But thank you for offering.”
Alec nods. “Another time then.”
Later, when Juno has nursed and fallen asleep again, I lay in my bed for a long time thinking about the conversation withAlec. How easy and natural it was to talk to him. How good it felt to have him invite me to a hockey game, even if I couldn’t take him up on the offer.
I am still absolutely positive that a relationship is the last thing I need right now.
But I can’t seem to stop smiling anyway.
CHAPTER 6
ALEC
I don’t seemuch of Evie over the next few days.
This early in the season, our practice schedule is still pretty intense, so I’m not home much, and it seems like she’s lying pretty low, which makes sense. She and Juno are both probably exhausted after all their traveling. But I still find myself looking for her car whenever I pull into the driveway or spending a little more time than usual in the common areas of the house.
Not that I need to see her.
I don’t. I have zero reason to keep track of where she is, and she has zero reason to give me a play-by-play of her plans. I texted her the code to the front door the first night she was here, and I added her to the security guard’s list so she’s free to come and go as she pleases.
On Saturday morning, I spend an extra long time making breakfast, but she never comes downstairs. I must have missed her altogether because when I leave for practice a few minutes later, her car isn’t even in the driveway.
Where could she be at nine-thirty on a Saturday?
Better question. Why am I thinking about this so much? And why am I disappointed?
As I pull into the parking lot at the Summit, I try to muster up some enthusiasm for the day ahead. We aren’t actually practicing today, though I will be on the ice. Today is social media day, so the team will be filming videos and taking photos with Parker, the Appies’ social media manager.
She always has a long list of stuff for us to do at the beginning of the season, and since our social media presence is such a huge part of the Appies’ success, we all know better than to protest.
I usually don’t mind most of it. It’s part of the job. But I’m not much in the mood today. Partly because I’m still feeling off about all things Appies. Partly because I can’t stop thinking about Evie.
When we were talking at the counter the other night, her knees tucked in between mine, she didn’t feel like a sister at all. I was much too aware of the warmth emanating from her skin and the freckles dotting the bridge of her nose. But she didn’t feel like a date either. There was no pressure, no expectations, which made it easy to be honest, to say things I haven’t said to anyone else.
Maybe that’s why I can’t stop thinking about her.
It was nice having someone to talk to whoisn’tconnected to my team.
After three hours and two different viral dance trend videos, we’re almost done.
On the other end of the rink, a professional photographer is set up with lights and an Appies backdrop and has been taking solo shots of each of us, but Parker has been filming too, catching what she calls B-roll footage that she’ll use in the many videos she puts out every season.
She has one last thing she wants to film though. And from the way the other guys are looking at me, it has something to do with me.
“Okay, I need Alec and Nathan,” Parker says, confirming my suspicions as she skates across the ice, camera in hand. “And where did Felix go? Wasn’t he just here?”
“I’m here,” Felix says, stepping back onto the ice, his goalie gloves in hand. “I had to grab a new glove.”
Parker lines us up, Felix standing in front of the goal, with Nathan and I flanking him on either side. “Alec, turn to the left a little so I can see your captain’s C,” she says. I reposition myself on the ice, and she nods as she skates around us. “Perfect.” She films for a few seconds before dropping her camera and looking back across the ice. “So here’s what’s going to happen,” she says. “It’s everyone else against the three of you. A dozen pucks on the ice, and your goal is to stop as many of them as you can. There’s been a lot of talk about this particular defensive pairing, so let’s show everyone you’re as good as they say you are.”
