Page 48 of Searching for Sadie
"No, I grew up in Detroit. I came to help Conner with a hockey workshop for the team here and met Kate...and here I am. During the season I split my time, but during the summer I just get to live the small-town life, besides training."
As they were chatting Mrs. Fipp made her way back with two giant soft pretzels and two large hot chocolate. "Do you like pretzels, dear?"
"Oh, thank you," she said as she took the food and drinks from her and helped her to get situated.
"So, what do you think of your first hockey game?" she asked.
Sadie took her drink and her pretzel from her as Lucas caught her eye again and gave her a wink. "I think I'm a fan."
The woman leaned over to her and said softly in her ear, "And I think my son is smitten with you."
Sadie just took a sip of her hot chocolate unsure of what else to say. Because the truth of it was, she was finding herself just as smitten with him. But she had a whole mess to deal with before she would be ready for a relationship. Yet as she watched him on the ice, she was feeling closer to ready than she had been in a long time.
As the game went on the other team scored, and Sam Smith had scored making it a tie game. Sadie was surprised at how invested in this game she was, but as Lucas got the puck on hisstick and started making his way down the ice, she found herself on her feet cheering just as loudly as his mother next to her.
Then she held her breath as Lucas sent the puck to the net. When it made it past the goalie and the light flashed, she was cheering louder than she ever thought she would at a sporting event.
The rest of the game passed in a blur, the time wound down and Lucas's team won. When the game was over the crowd started filtering out, but Sadie was still there. She was anxious to see Lucas. The more time she spent with him and even just in this town she was starting to see a real home for herself, and she was anxious to move things a little further along with Lucas.
After a while he came down a hallway. His hair was slicked back from his shower and even though he was only wearing a t-shirt and jeans, she thought he was quite possibly the most attractive man she'd ever seen. His mother hugged him close and kissed his cheek before telling him how good he did. His father clapped in on the back and congratulated him on the goal before they left. Sadie politely said goodbye, but all her attention was still on the handsome man in front of her.
He turned to her fully and their eyes connected. It was as if everything else fell away and all that existed was them. It was a feeling she could get lost in. And as he got closer and the fresh scent of shampoo and cologne hit her, she was hoping to get lost with him somewhere else.
"You came," he finally said.
"I did. You’re a hockey player."
"I don't know about all that," he said with a shrug.
"You got a goal."
"I did," he said, stepping closer.
Someone pushed past her, reminding her she was still in a public place. Lucas reached out and steadied her, and her body shivered with desire. She was wound tight. She needed him.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded.
"We're headed to Smoky's, should I save you a seat?" Sam asked as he was on his way to the door.
"No,” Lucas said.
"No?" Sam said, turning to look at him, but Lucas's eyes stayed trained on Sadie.
"I think I'm going to go home."
Sam gave the two of them a knowing glance, but right now Sadie was far from caring. "Okay, I'll see ya next week," Sam said as he turned and pushed open the door to the parking lot.
"Did you walk here?" he asked.
Sadie could only nod.
"Do you want a ride home?"
"Yeah, that'd be nice."
They turned and made their way to the door. Lucas held it open for her as he slung his hockey/murder bag over his shoulder. Then with his other hand he took hers and guided her to the car. He was holding her hand. It was such a small gesture, yet somehow it melted her right there in the summer sun. He was claiming her right there in front of everyone, and she didn't know just how much she needed that until now.
