Page 29 of Offside for Christmas
"Mac mentioned it yesterday. Something about the guy literally sleeping on a worn-out mattress with nothing but a duffel bag to his name." Sophie raised an eyebrow. "But I'm sure that's not why you suddenly remembered how much you love cabin mornings."
"I've always loved cabin mornings," Ellie protested, feeling heat creep up her neck.
"Mhmm. That's why you're packing cute pajamas instead of your usual ratty college sweatshirt?"
Ellie looked down at the bag, then back at her closet. She pulled out the first sweater again, frowning at it.
"What are you doing?" Sophie asked.
"Just... reconsidering." Ellie held up the cream cable-knit, then the burgundy one, then put them both back.
"Or you don't know what will look best for a certain someone."
"There's no certain someone." Ellie grabbed the cream sweater again, then immediately swapped it for the burgundy. Too cozy. Or maybe not cozy enough?
Sophie set down her coffee and crossed the room, pulling a dark green sweater dress from Ellie's closet. "This one. It makes your eyes look amazing, it's festive without being over-the-top, and it says 'I'm here for a party, not to impress anyone,' while absolutely impressing everyone."
"I'm not trying to impress anyone—"
"Then wear your team hoodie and call it a day." Sophie held out the dress.
Ellie took it.
"Thought so." Sophie's grin was insufferable. "So. Cole's definitely going?"
"Mac said he was." Ellie folded the dress carefully and placed it in her bag, not meeting Sophie's eyes.
"And you're excited?"
"I'm... neutral."
Sophie walked over and lifted the edge of Ellie's bag, revealing the black lace bra she'd tucked underneath everything else. "You're wearing the good bra. You're not neutral."
Ellie snatched the bag closed, face burning. "Can you stop analyzing everything?"
"Not until you admit you like him."
"Sophie—"
"Say it. 'I, Ellie Winters, have feelings for the grumpy hockey player who showed up in my town a week ago and turned my perfectly organized life into chaos.'"
Ellie sat down heavily on the edge of her bed, the fight going out of her. "Soph. Even if I did like him—which I don't—he's leaving in five weeks. Less than five weeks now. He's made it very clear that this town is temporary, that he's just waiting to get back to the NHL. I can't..." She trailed off, picking at the corner of her quilt. "I won't do that again."
Sophie's expression softened. She sat down next to Ellie, close enough that their shoulders touched. "Do what?"
"Fall for someone who's already gone," Ellie said quietly.
His name was Marcus.
Ellie could still remember exactly how he'd looked the first time she'd seen him: twenty-seven, confident bordering on arrogant, absolutely certain he was destined for the NHL. She'd been twenty-four, fresh out of grad school, working her first real job as a physical therapist for the team.
He'd kissed her after his first hat trick. Told her she was his good luck charm. Asked her to move with him when—not if, when—he got called up to the big leagues.
"Come with me,"he'd said, hands cupping her face like she was something precious."When I make it, come with me. We'll get a place in whatever city drafts me. You can find work anywhere. This is it, El. This is our future."
She'd believed him. God, she'd believed him so completely that she'd quit her job, given notice on her apartment, told her parents she was moving.
And then, two days before he left for training camp:"I can't do this. I need to focus on hockey. You understand, right? It's not you. It's just... I can't have distractions right now."
