Page 25 of Lucky Shot
“I like that one. Suits you.”
I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an insult and I don’t stop to think about it.
“Why are redheads the only ones tormented for their hair color?” I ask.
“I’m not sure.” His gaze flicks up to my hair, then slowly moves down as if truly examining my face for the first time.
Goosebumps dot my skin and I shiver but this time not because of the temperature.
“Still cold?” he asks, quirking that damn brow again like there might be something wrong with me.
I nod. “Since I arrived. Does it get warmer here later in the summer?”
He shrugs. “Sometimes.”
There are no straight answers with this guy.
The same woman who greeted us when we walked in arrives at the end of our table with two drinks and menus tucked under one arm. Her nametag reads Annie.
“Iced tea, no sugar,” she says as she sets one glass in front of Nick. Then she looks to me as she sets the other down. “Here’s a water. Do you want anything else?”
“Water is fine.” I’m afraid if I say yes, she might spit in it.
She nods and sets the menus down between us, looking back to Nick. I don’t know if she intends to hit on him, but her body language is solely focused on him. Angled so she basically has her back to me, jutting out one hip, and smiling. “The usual for you?”
“I think we need a minute,” he says as he picks up the top menu and hands it to me.
“Right.” Annie lingers another second before turning on her heel with flair. Nick is either clueless or purposely avoiding watching her dramatics to get his attention.
“What all is good here?” I ask as I scan the menu.
“The only thing that’s good here are the burgers.”
“Good thing there are so many options.” One entire side is dedicated to burgers – from double patties of beef to veggie.
“Stick with something simple.”
“Why did you pick this place if the food is bad?” I ask, smiling despite it all – this bizarre day, the reminders of Matt everywhere I turn, and now sitting across from this grumpy man.
“We come here a lot.”
“We?” I ask. “You and your girlfriend?”
He gives me a dry, apathetic look like the idea of him having a girlfriend is stupid. Maybe he’s not into women. “My teammates. It’s close to the rink and the atmosphere is nice.”
I glance around at the place. It has a real sports bar vibe. TVs are mounted along the walls and behind the bar. A variety of sports games are on. I smile when I see the Mustangs game on one. They’re playing a Montana team in Arizona. I pull out my phone to snap a picture of the TV. Olivia will get a kick out of it.
Nick swivels around to see what I’m taking a picture of.
“That’s my brother-in-law,” I say.
“Where?”
“The guy pitching on the TV.”
“Flynn Holland is your brother-in-law?” he asks with a hint of surprise and possibly interest.
Pride zips through me. “You know him?”
