Page 127 of My Lucky Charm

I open my mouth, hoping the right words will come out, but I just shrug, feeling helpless and annoyed that I can’t figure this out.

She nods once. “Awesome.”

She walks over to the elevator and pushes the button.

The elevator opens and she steps inside, but before the doors close, she blocks one with her arm and says, “Look, I don’t know if you’ll believe me or not, but I hope you hear me when I say that you’re more than just a hockey player. That’s what you do, but that’s not who you are.”

She watches me so intently, it’s unnerving.

“And yeah, caring about people hasn’t always worked out for me, but I wouldn’t change that about myself.” She steels her jaw. “I think it’s my best trait.”

Before I can respond, she pulls her arm back, and the doors close, leaving me standing there in the wake of words that hit a little harder than they should.

I lean my head against the cold steel of the elevator doors and think: What. Am. I. Doing.

Chapter Thirty

Eloise

Ithink it’s my best trait.

I believe those words. I do care about people. I don’t care if it hurts, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Unfortunately, my willingness to care has also been a huge source of heartache. Maybe Gray is onto something, keeping everyone on the outside.

But even as the thought filters in, I reject it.

I could never live my life that way. People are everything to me.

Which is why, when a text comes in from Raya asking me to meet for coffee before work, I respond immediately.

Eloise

Is everything okay?

Raya

Yes, just wanted to have a quick chat before we start our days.

That can’t be good. Raya doesn’t have “quick chats.” Especially not with me. The truth is, my oldest sister and I are very, very different. Raya doesn’t really get me. She doesn’t understand anyone who doesn’t keep dates in a planner or want to conquer the world.

I most definitely don’t want to conquer the world.

And I don’t have a planner.

The older I get, the more I think, all I really want is a simple life.

Why am I embarrassed to admit that?

I shake the thoughts aside and drive into the city. I park in the garage near Gray’s building and walk around the block to the coffee shop where I told Raya to meet me. When I walk inside, I see her sitting at a table in the back.

I make my way through the crowded space, thankful that she got here early and ordered me a chai.

I have no idea why she asked me here, so I just say, “Morning, sunshine. What’s the meeting for?” I sit and then add, “Couldn’t this just have been an email?” I try to joke with her, but oftentimes it goes over like a large rock dropped in a vat of pudding.

“Funny,” Raya says. “I just wanted to talk about a few things, to see how you’re doing.”

“Uh-oh. Am I in trouble?”

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