Page 5 of Christmas on Ice
I took off my coat and strode into the back room to meet the team.
“Wow, the ladies went all out,” I said to Craig Ward, our backup goalie, as I took in the decorations and fanfare in the room.
“When you gonna get a girl, Tiger?” He clapped me on the back. “Svetlana and the rest of the Pack could really use some help with these events and all this—this—decoration stuff.”
“You know he has a girl back home, Warden,” Brendan said, joining us. “Maybe she’ll come to visit?”
I had a girl back home? That was news to me. “What are you talking about, Trotter?”
He shrugged. “Sorry if I outed you, man. Didn’t know it was a secret.”
“Really, dude, I have no idea what you’re talking about. What gave you the idea I had a girlfriend back home?”
“Sure, okay.” He grinned. “Saw you video-chatting before the game with your earbuds in. You called her sweetheart, told her you missed her, and blew her kisses. Sounds like a girlfriend to me.”
I almost laughed but sipped my drink smugly instead. I’d been talking to my four-year-old niece, Mylee.
I slung my jacket over a nearby chair and helped myself to the buffet. I sensed Kami before I saw her, and once my plate was full, I headed back to my seat to wave her over.
“What can I get you?” she asked. A rosy blush crept up her neck, and I liked knowing that I had the same effect on her that she had on me.
Or she was overheated. She was working hard.
I opted to go with the former hypothesis.
“How’s your car?” I asked.
“It was the alternator, just like you suspected.”
She sounded cheerful, but I caught a sad undertone. “I’m sorry. That’s a pricey fix.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Our eyes locked, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away. Hers were a deep brown with light flecks that seemed to make them sparkle, even when she seemed troubled.
“Um.” Kami broke the spell. “It’s okay, really. Last week’s tips covered it.” She flashed a grin that didn’t meet her eyes. “Can I get you a drink? Your usual or water?”
I cleared my throat and straightened up. “The usual. Thanks.” Brewski’s wasn’t just a restaurant; it was an operating brewery with half a dozen unique beers. “And can I try a sample of that new peanut butter one?”
She flashed a grin. “Sure thing. If you like peanut butter, you’re gonna love it.”
“Sounds great.” I watched her go, and when she was out of sight, I realized I’d been oblivious to the silence around me.
“Yeah, Trotter, no decent guy with a girl back home would look at another woman that way,” Craig said, elbowing me in the shoulder.
“Huh?” I looked at my teammates to explain.
“You and Kami,” Brendan said. “You got it bad, Tiger.”
I swallowed and pasted a fake grin on my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I hardly know her. “
“Seems like you wouldn’t be opposed to knowing her better,” Craig said. “You can double date with me and Svetlana anytime. Right, Letty?”
His wife wrapped her arm around his waist and raised her eyebrows teasingly. “Sooner than later. I like her. Will be fun.”
A date with Kami? The thought swirled in my head. It had been a long time since I’d been on a date, and I had to admit I liked the idea.
4
Kami
