Page 37 of Cross Check My Heart
“Lilly, these are a couple of the guys on the team. Landon, the team captain. Dean is our goalie.” I raise an eyebrow at that, something my dad doesn’t miss. “Kid might be filled to the brim with energy, but the moment he’s on the ice…” He scratches hishead as he tries to explain it. Dean shrugs and helps him out, shooting me a sly grin.
“When I’m on the ice, everything else fades away and I see nothing but the puck.” He shoots me a wink. “I enjoy finding things to focus on.”
I bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing. Dean’s either brave as shit or dumb as rocks for openly flirting with me in front of my dad. As I glance back toward my dad, I catch the scowl that sets on Dominik’s face. Dad ignores him and moves on, gesturing to the two guys who now lean against the wall behind Dean.
“Those two and this one here,” He jabs a thumb at the grump. “Are some of my forwards, Carter, Reid, and Greyson. And this is our new guy, Dominik.”
It’s an effort to acknowledge all of them, not just Dominik. My heart is racing and it’s finally dawning on me how weird it is to act like we don’t know each other. A blush stains my cheeks as I force thoughts of just how intimately I know Dominik away.
“I just need five more minutes and I’ll be ready.” I nod at my dad and move out of the way for the guys to pass. Landon is the first to turn back once my dad is gone.
“You look familiar?” He questions and I shrug, but Dom speaks up with a chuckle.
“Did you just miss the part where she was introduced as the Coach’s daughter?” Landon laughs but watches me like he’s trying to solve a puzzle. I raise an eyebrow while he mulls it over. As I shrug it off and walk past them to wait for my dad in the corner, I smile over my shoulder at Dom first then the rest of them.
“Nice to meet you guys. See ya around.”
With that, someone behind me snaps their fingers and lets out a loud “ah-ha!” When I glance back over my shoulder, Deanis leaning into Landon as if he just whispered something, and Landon is pointing a finger at me.
“You just moved into the Kings building across the channel last month.” My cheeks heat as I slowly nod my head and avoid Dom’s gaze. Greyson shows his first emotion that’s not scowling as he nods in realization.
“Yes, I did. My dad is letting me stay there for a bit.”
“I live down on the fifth floor, Dean and Grey live two floors up and fancy Dom here lives up on the thirteenth floor.” I smirk at that one, finally facing Dominik.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, floor neighbor.”
“Right back at ya.” Dominik says with a smile, both dimples on full display, as his gaze trails over me. In this moment, even as I blush, I’m grateful I chose a simple purple dress. It’s low cut, displaying just enough cleavage, while still being modest. It’s on the tighter side and falls just above my knees.
Dean steps next to him, throwing an arm over his shoulder as he watches me.
“Well, if you get bored and want some entertai—” Greyson steps toward him, cutting him off as he grabs Dean’s shirt to drag him down the hall to the exit.
“Dude, did you miss the fact that she’s Coach’s daughter? That means off limits.” He glances back at me, offering me a small smile and a head nod. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Dean’s protests echo behind them as he tries defending himself, causing Carter and Reid to laugh as they wave their goodbyes and follow them. While Landon is still distracted, laughing at the guy’s backs, Dominik turns back to me, shooting me a wink before he throws an arm around Landon’s shoulders.
“It was nice to meet you, Lilly. I’m sure we’ll see each other around.” I stifle a laugh as Landon’s goodbye is muffled by Dominik pulling him away to follow the others. I don’t stop smiling as I turn back to go wait for my dad. The encounter withthese guys has helped lighten my nerves and I find myself even more ready to finally talk things through with my dad.
“How’d lunch with your dad go?” Paige asks by way of greeting when I let her in later that night. She texted me asking to go out, and since Dominik is getting together with the guys, I agreed.
She had come over for dinner last weekend, demanding all the details about what’s going on with Dominik. Aside from that, the two of us haven’t gone out since the watch party three weeks ago. We still text every day, but she’s been slammed at work. Such is the way life goes when you have to be an adult.
As Paige heads down the front hallway, she throws a duffle bag into the guest bedroom and heads toward the kitchen. I follow behind, deflecting her question for a minute.
“I take it we’re going somewhere close by if you’re planning on crashing here?” She smiles over her shoulder as she opens my liquor cabinet.
“There’s a bar that’s literally right next door, I saw a sign for margaritas and mai tais.” She states as I pass her two glasses.
“Should I make us a quick dinner or are we eating bar food?” She pauses, heavily contemplating my question before sighing.
“Yeah, let’s make something with rice, maybe some veggies too, I’ve been eating like shit the past two weeks.” I keep moving about, getting out supplies to make some basic chicken, broccoli, and rice as I study her.
“Eating like shit as in you’re eating all junk food? Or as like you’re so busy that you’re forgetting to eat?” Paige shrugs in response, pouring our drinks before cleaning up her small mess.
“A bit of both. Garrett and Sam help a lot during the week, making sure I at least have a filling dinner when we get stuck at the office real late.” She gathers her black hair in her hands, throwing it up in a messy bun before washing her hands and starts chopping the broccoli. “Not like what you’re thinking though.”
I nod in understanding, grateful that she has people at work who remind her to eat, even if they don’t realize how much they’re helping her. While I can get sucked into my work and forget to eat lunch, Paige gets so lost in her work that she’ll forget to eat all day. I make a note to see if she wants me to make her some of my protein muffins to take home with her tomorrow.
