Page 9 of Hooking a Firefly
Chapter 4
Sweat dripped down Harrison’s forehead and trailed down his entire face.In fact, there wasn’t a place on his body that wasn’t drenched.It had been a hard workout, and one that would be repeated for several months.Hockey season had started, and it was their first practice before the official beginning of the regular game schedule.
He’d been required to show up for training and a few exhibition games, but his heart hadn’t been in it.Harrison had to get himself straight and soon.The opening game was in a few days and if he messed up coach might lecture him.Loudly.He couldn’t help it, though.His mind was on Linc and Zoey.The little girl was still missing, and two weeks had passed.Zoey must be so frightened.Linc was healing and home, but he wouldn’t be able to return to the team for another couple of weeks.
That was driving Linc nuts.He’d gone stir crazy and if he didn’t find something to occupy himself with, he might actually lose his mind.Linc was injured and worried about his daughter.Harrison didn’t know what he could do to help him.He dropped by to visit with Linc as often as he could, but he didn’t think that actually did much to ease his friend’s mind.
“You ready for the first game?”One of the defensemen asked.His name was Ivan Volkov, and he had platinum blond hair he shaved short, and ice-blue eyes.His face was all hard angles and lines.When he stared at another player on the ice, the mean gaze was so intense it made lesser men piss themselves.Most of the ones that were still terrified of Ivan were rookies.
“I am,” he answered.And maybe if he said it to himself often enough, he’d believe it too.“You have plans?”
“Nah,” Ivan said.“Alek suggested we go to My Alibi later, but I don’t know if I want to.”
Faith Penn’s nightclub was a popular haunt of many sports teams in Sparkle City.It wasn’t a sports bar, but it appealed to everyone.It was easy to blend in and enjoy the music…have a few drinks and dance if one was so inclined.Harrison had gone in often enough since Faith had opened the club.Maybe he would go to My Alibi later, after he stopped in to visit with Linc for a little while.
“Let me know if you decide to go.”Harrison stripped off his shirt and tossed it in his gym bag.He needed to shower and bad.“I am going to Linc’s, but I wouldn’t mind a few hours to unwind later.”
“Tell Linc we are all thinking of him.”Ivan scratched his head.“He has to be so worried.Poor little Zoey…”
Harrison nodded.“Yes,” he agreed.“I couldn’t imagine it.”He didn’t have children, but if he did, he would do whatever he could to protect them.
“Same,” Ivan agreed.“I wouldn’t have the strength to handle any of it.To be injured too?”Ivan shook his head.
Alek walked over.“So?”He lifted a brow.His light brown hair slick from his shower.“Are we going to the club tonight?”
Ivan sighed and shook his head.“It might be best to stay in for the night.We have hockey to consider, and we do not want to mess up the season before it even begins.”
Alek rolled his eyes.“You worry too much.”He glanced at Harrison.“What about you?”He wiggled his hips.“Want to dance?”
Harrison rolled his eyes and laughed.Alek was a little much at times.“Not with you.I prefer my dance partners curvier, and they smell a hell of a lot better than you do.”
“Hey,” Alek said in an offended tone.“I showered.”He turned to Ivan and asked.“So?Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to My Alibi with me?”
Ivan sighed.“I’ll consider it.”His tone held a hint of exasperation in it.“But for now I am going home.”He held up his phone.“I’ll call you and let you know what I decided.”He grinned.There was a hint of evilness to it.“Later.”He waved at Harrison and exited the locker room.
After he blew out a breath, Harrison finished undressing and then headed to the shower.He let the hot spray fall over him for several minutes before washing.It felt good on his sore muscles and helped to clear his mind.He had so much to consider, and most of it he couldn’t control.Harrison wanted to go see Ashlyn.She was on his mind more and more.He hadn’t seen her since he stopped by her place, and she’d had that migraine.There was something she knew and refused to tell him; however, he couldn’t force that information out of her.Perhaps he would go visit her again soon.Not that night, but another less stress filled one.
Hell.Who was he kidding?He wanted to go see her because he needed to.He’d always been drawn to Ashlyn, and nothing had changed over the intervening years.Harrison still wanted her, and she still pushed him away.Talk about insanity… Clearly he had a few missing marbles, or he’d have let that obsession go over the last decade.
Harrison sighed and turned the shower off, then grabbed a nearby towel to dry off.He strolled back to his locker and slid on some clean clothes.Once he was dressed, he grabbed his bag and left the locker room.He would stop by to see Linc, then go home to rest.If Ivan called him, then he would go to the club later.Once they started playing, they wouldn’t have as much freedom to go out and have fun.It might be their last night to let loose.
He slid into his truck and started the engine, then slid it into drive.It wouldn’t take long to reach Linc’s.Another couple hours of feeling useless and then he’d be free from that obligation.He felt like a complete ass, but what else could he do?
Ashlyn did not knowwhy she was at Faith’s club.She clearly had lost her mind.The club scene was not something that had ever appealed to her, but for some reason, she let Scarlett convince her it was a good idea.My Alibi, as usual, was packed.Especially so because a rumor had been spread that Scarlett would be there.Ashlyn had a feeling that it had been leaked on purpose as part of Scarlett and Remy’s marketing scheme for their album.
“Here,” Faith said and slid a glass of Riesling at Ashlyn.“I stock this for you.”
She turned toward her sister and frowned.“I don’t come in often.Why would you do that?”
Faith shrugged.“Because you are my sister and you only like certain things.I wouldn’t want you to not have something you liked.”
Ashlyn took the wine and sipped at it.She loved a good riesling.Not that she drank alcohol often.It messed with her visions and made them more intense.“One glass won’t hurt.”
Scarlett came over and hugged Ashlyn from behind.“Thank you for coming.”
“Of course,” she said nonchalantly.“There was no reason not to.”She hadn’t had a vision since the weird ones a couple of weeks ago.Those weren’t real visions, either.They were memories more than anything else.Memories she hadn’t particularly wished to relive.Especially the ones involving Harrison Thoreau.
Scarlett smiled.“I’m glad you’re not as rigid as you used to be.This is nice.”
