Page 21 of Christmas on Ice
“I know, Mama.” I sighed. “How are Mimi and Pop Pop? And Grandpa Silly?”
She chuckled. “I can never hear that nickname enough. I’ve been telling my daddy all my life how silly he is and it just tickles me that his great-granddaughter was the one to dub that nickname!”
I giggled. “Yeah, I can’t ever call him Grandpa Wally anymore.”
“Oh no. Never.” I missed my mother’s musical laugh. I’d lived in Colorado for nine years, but my home and heart would always be in South Carolina. I couldn’t wait to go home with my PhD and live out the rest of my life there.
Notes of deep male voices caught my ear, and I turned toward the entrance. A slew of Voltage players filed in, fresh off another home game win in a row. As they headed for the function room, one broke off from the group, and my cheeks reddened as the familiar, tall, handsome defenseman headed straight toward me.
“Mama, I really gotta go. The players just came in…” I trailed off as Trask dropped into the seat at my end of the bar, his damp hair falling across his forehead as he removed his hat.
“Okay, honey. But you’ll let me know if your plans change?” The wistful tinge in her voice hurt my heart.
“I will. But I just can’t make the numbers work this year. I still have fees—” I caught Trask’s eye and lowered my voice. “I really wish I could come home for Christmas, too. I need you to understand how sorry I am.”
“I do, baby. I do.” She blew out a breath. “Okay, well, we’ll send gifts and video chat, and I’ll be counting the days until your graduation ceremony. Your daddy and I will be there. Come hell or high water.”
“Okay. I love you. Tell Daddy I love him, too. We’ll video-call you on Thanksgiving, okay?”
“Okay, baby girl. I love you, too.”
I ended the call and stared at the phone. I jumped when Trask cleared his throat.
“Sorry,” I apologized, sliding Brenna’s phone into my apron pocket. “Congrats on your win tonight.”
“Thanks. It was a good one. Wish you had been there.”
Our eyes locked, and my cheeks were now burning. It was obvious from the adoring way he looked at me how sweet he was on me. Trask was a ray of sunshine in my stormy life, and that look always brightened me up. I couldn’t remember the last time Sutton looked at me like that. Come to think of it, I wasn’t sure he’d ever looked at me like that.
I liked him, too, more and more every time I saw him. He was turning into a really great friend. I couldn’t think about wanting more, though. I was so close to being done in Colorado. A relationship between us could never work.
But … No. I didn’t think I was ready for another relationship. But I liked Trask, and Ryleigh liked him, too. I was enjoying getting to know him. If something was in the cards for us, it would come together on its own and present a clear sign.
He cleared his throat, and I realized I hadn’t responded. “I’d definitely like to take Ryleigh to another game sometime.” That was lame. True, but lame.
“Just let me know when. I’ll text you the schedule.”
“Okay.” I gestured to the bar behind me. “What can I get you?”
“Um … I couldn’t help overhearing that last part … about you not going home for Christmas?”
My eyes snapped to his. They shone with sincerity, and there was no reason to not talk to him about this. I nodded.
“Well…” He rubbed the back of his neck.
Was he nervous? I leaned in, and my heart thudded against the bar in anticipation of what he was going to say.
“Well?” I prompted.
He suddenly grinned. “My sister is getting married on December twenty-third. Would you and Ryleigh like to be my dates? I’ll cover your flights. It’s at this bee farm right outside Charleston.”
I gasped.No freaking way.
“Ellis’s Bee Farm?” I squeaked. It couldn’t be.
But it could.
OhmyGod.
