Page 38 of Lucky Shot
I stare at it like a poisoned apple.
“Take it,” he says.
“Oh no, I couldn’t. I’m fine.” My mouth is salivating as the smell wafts closer to me. I wave both hands dramatically in front of me again. Nope. Not taking this man’s coffee no matter how badly I want it. He’s agreed to help me and let me stay at the cabin but I’m still not certain he wouldn’t also poison me.
He keeps it held out a moment longer, then nods and takes it back. He still doesn’t drink it. What is he waiting for?! I swallow down all the saliva collecting in my mouth, then force a smile and head toward the parent section.
“Where are you going?” Nick calls after me.
I point, as if it isn’t obvious.
He motions with his head for me to walk toward him. “Come with me.”
He has me sit on a bench next to the ice, in front of the plexiglass. I’m so close to the ice it feels like the cold is radiating off it.
Nick changes into his skates and grabs his hockey stick. The kids are still filing into the rink, getting dressed and slowly entering the ice.
“Do you have more questions for me?” he asks. “I probably have five minutes before we start.”
“Yeah,” I answer then stifle a yawn. I stayed up late, showering to get warm (and because I felt disgusting after the motel), then reading over our notes from yesterday and brainstorming follow-up questions. I’m a weird mixture of cold and tired that has my brain moving slowly. I scan the list of questions. “Let me think where to start.”
He nods. “I’ll be right back.”
I watch the kids when he’s gone. They’re cute. I recognize a few from yesterday and note they look more comfortable. When I spot Aidan, I’m astonished all over again by the resemblance. Even the way he skates is similar to his dad. Same athletic presence and easy movements, like they were born with skates on their feet.
Nick comes back a minute later with a sweatshirt in one hand and a coffee cup in another. He holds them both out to me.
“Here,” he says, voice gruff. “So you don’t get hypothermia.”
My heart does a funny little flutter thing in my chest. I stare at him, more than a little shocked.
“Concerned about me?” I ask as I take the sweatshirt. The material is soft and smells faintly of his laundry detergent. It’s big and baggy, but as I pull it over my head, my body warms instantly, like I’m being wrapped in a big Nick hug. Or what I might imagine his hugs are like. Which to be honest, now that I really try to picture it, I struggle with the visual. He has a kid so he must like hugging someone, at least occasionally.
His response is only a slight uptick of his lips—his version of a smile, I’m learning. I take the coffee next. I’m nearly giddy as I wrap my hands around the cup and take a tentative sip.
It’s a little stronger than I usually take mine, but it tastes heavenly right now.
“Thank you.” I don’t know what to make of this nice, accommodating version of Nick. I’ve had glimpses of it before, but something seems to have shifted since last night.
“You’re welcome.” He gives me a curt nod, then looks away.
The ice fills as more kids arrive. Travis waves to me from the other side, then skates by.
“Ruby. You’re back!” He’s about the same height as Nick with similar dark brown hair, but everything else about them is different. Travis is unfiltered enthusiasm. He smiles with his entire face. His lips pull wide and his eyes crinkle at the side. Even the way he faces me, angling his body to give me his full attention, is friendly and inviting.
“I am a glutton for punishment.”
His easy grin moves from me to Nick.
“Interesting night?” he asks his friend.
Nick sighs heavily, then levels him with a glare that’s not very convincing, thanks to the way he fights a smile.
Travis skates off as quickly as he came. Nick turns back to me.
“I thought we’d have more time this morning,” he says.
“It’s okay.” I knew it would be a long shot that he’d answer all my questions, but I was hoping to get a few more in.
