Page 41 of Pucking Tangled
“Yo! Rookie! Time to roll,” Owen called out.
“Sounds like my ride’s leaving. I wish I could stay longer and we could talk this out.”
“It’s okay.” She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “Go. Have an amazing game. And I’ll see you tonight. One way or the other.”
“Promise?”
Mia forced a smile. “I promise.”
“Atta girl.” Luca winked.
“Come on. I’ll walk you out and wish Case and Owen good luck too.”
Luca took her hand and walked to the foyer with her.
Three sets of eyes zeroed in on their joined hands before meeting their gazes. Waylon’s nostrils flared. Owen and Casey both fought back smirks. Mia quickly let go and tried to play it off.
“All right, boys. I already warned Luca—if you lose this one, I think Skeeter might put himself up for adoption.”
Skeeter ran down the stairs with a toy hockey puck in his mouth and dropped it at their feet.Woof!
Leave it to her four-legged buddy to break up the tension.
“So. Yeah. Good luck and all that,” Mia added.
Casey grinned and shook his head. “Thanks, Mia.”
They each gave her a quick hug, a habit that quickly seemed to be becoming a ritual all its own, and then they were out the door.
Leaving Mia alone with her thoughts.
She rested her hand on top of Skeeter’s head and sighed. “I don’t know how you’ve put up with them all this time.”
Woof!
“Come on. Auntie Mia needs a nap. Maybe then I can get my head on straight.”
Skeeter followed her back upstairs and hopped into bed next to her.
“You know, I could have used your company last night,” she said, rubbing his belly. “It’s a shame I can’t take you to the game with me. You’d keep me safe, wouldn’t you?”
Woof! Woof!
Mia giggled and closed her eyes.
Sleep finally pulled her under, but her dreams tangled into wicked fantasies—four hockey players, all vying to claim her, each one finding delicious ways to make her theirs. When her eyes blinked open a few hours later, her heart was racing, her shorts were soaked, and she wasn’t sure if she was more embarrassed or disappointed that she was home alone.
“Ugh.”
She checked the time and sighed.
Game time was quickly approaching and she had a decision to make.
Forcing herself out of bed, she retrieved her phone from the nightstand and scrolled through her contact list, carefully analyzing each name and weighing both their love of hockey and the ability to be an ally if she needed one.
Brooke Sullivan.
Mia’s finger hovered over Casey’s cousin’s name. Tickets were waiting for her and shereallywanted to go, twisted memories be damned.
