If you need me.
And he’d included his cell phone, email address, social media accounts, and even his home address—for the home that she was currently in. The note she’d left him all those months ago had given him no way of contacting her. She’d thought that was what he wanted, but with each day they spent together recently, she was beginning to think he’d wanted to be able to find her when he came back to the States.
How the hell was she supposed to have known that? Had there been signs?
Maybe.
She dropped her head, her hangover had started to abate—ibuprofen for the win—and finished reading the note.
Or you can take a vacation day and come over Friday afternoon for my pregame nap. You make a great snuggle buddy.
Happy New Year and I better see you on Friday,
Ethan
Oh crap, the rest of the night came back. Making out on his couch. Him telling her they should sleep off the booze. Her resisting, trying to strip him, and him setting her next to him. She’d snuggled into his side and—and then nothing. Shit. Had she passed out on him? Goddammit. That was embarrassing as hell. Had she drooled on him? Had he tried to wake her up and take her home?
The rapid-fire questions rocketing through her brain were causing her headache to return. Fuck. She had to get out of there. Her feet hit the floor, and she stopped, bracing her hands on the edge of the bed, the soft sheets bunched in her grip. She wanted to stay. She ached to stay.
She could tell herself whatever she wanted, but she’d be at the game on Friday. Seeing him on the ice all hot and happy wasn’t something she was going to pass up, but she’d need reinforcements. Someone who would tell her if she was crazy. Not that Amanda was known for her level head, but she could trust Amanda’s judgment—for the most part.
She would sleep off the hangover and head home. She’d get Amanda’s opinion tomorrow night while they were celebrating the new year. Penny planned to stick to water tomorrow. Her belly rolled just thinking about any more booze.
***
“Oh, don’t you look adorable with his name and number plastered all over you,” Amanda teased as they headed to their seats Friday night.
“You know, I could’ve invited anyone else. And it’s not like you can see it,” Penny said, finding their row and sitting down. They were a little early, so the ice was still empty. She’d wanted plenty of time to browse the pro shop. Not ready to drop a ton of money on a jersey, she’d finally settled on a t-shirt with his name and number on the back, that she’d covered with a zip-up hoodie because it was cold—and winter.
“You should take off your jacket when they come out for warm-ups and plaster yourself against the glass so he can see you.”
“Absolutely not happening,” Penny muttered, again questioning why she hadn’t asked Lexi to join her.
“Did you talk to him at all since your make out-slash-pass out moment last weekend? I still can’t believe you passed out on him.” Amanda’s eyes sparkled with barely suppressed laughter.
“Don’t remind me. I feel awful about that. And we haven’t really talked. A few text conversations, but he was on a road trip.” He had called her at midnight on New Year’s Eve and made kissing noises through the phone, claiming he’d get his New Year’s kiss in person the next time he saw her. It was frighteningly adorable and she couldn’t wait.
Today’s text conversation had consisted of him asking her to join him and some of the other guys for drinks at Crash and Byrne. She’d said she’d think about it, but who was she kidding? Of course she was going. But she was sticking to water. Okay, maybe one drink. A little liquid courage calmed her nerves.
The music changed, and in a rush, the players skated out onto the ice. She refused to acknowledge how her heart raced when she spotted number twenty-two. Ethan, along with a few of the other guys, didn’t wear a helmet during warm-ups. She’d contemplated how risky that was, asking him what percentage of guys got injured during warm-ups because they didn’t have helmets on. He’d reassured her that it was minimal, but as an easily avoidable issue, she didn’t understand why he wouldn’t just wear the damn helmet, as the pucks flew through the air, banging against the glass.
“There he is. Pretty hot, too,” Amanda said as Ethan skated by. He was looking in their direction, but she doubted he saw her.
Until he waved and mouthed, “Hi.” And the butterflies in her stomach jumped to warp speed.
“Looks like he’s happy to see you. Guess you didn’t drool on him that much,” Amanda teased.
Penny groaned. “How about you not remind me of that?”
“Fine. Can we talk about why I’ve never watched hockey? Jesus, they’re hot. It’s like gorgeous lumberjacks on skates.”
Penny let out a bark of laughter. “I guess it is. But it’s also fun to watch. They’re so fast, and it’s freaking impressive. I’ve tried ice skating a total of four times, and I sprained my ankle every time.”
“You’re a little clumsy, my friend. And we went skating when we were in college. You were fine.”
“Uh, no. I hung on to the railing around the rink for dear life while you skated around like you were training for the Olympics. Then I spent the next few days with a taped-up ankle.”
Amanda’s shoulders shook with laughter. “Guess I’d forgotten that. Maybe you could get your new boyfriend to teach you.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Sure he’s not.”
“Don’t you think it’s moving too fast? I mean, it hasn’t even been two months since we reconnected, and for that first month, I avoided him at all costs.”
“Technically, you’ve known him for months, you just tried to forget about him for a good chunk of it. Stop questioning everything and go for it. You were different when you came back from Italy. There was a lightness I haven’t seen in years. If he’s the one who put it there, you need to grab on and enjoy it. Now, tell me about these other players. So many hot men in one room. Good thing I have the ice to cool me down. Think they’d frown upon me marching out there and lying down on the ice?”
Penny laughed, and focused on warm-ups. “Probably not a good idea.”
As the players exited the ice, Ethan skated by one last time and shot her a wink.
Damn butterflies kicked up speed again. But Amanda was right. He made her feel again. Things she hadn’t felt in so long—if ever. Why should she keep fighting that? She’d never thrown caution to the wind before, but a high percentage of people survived it, and so could she.
Chapter 13
“What’s up with you?” Cheesy asked as they prepared to head back out onto the ice to start the game.
“Nothing. Just ready to win. We need the points,” Ethan said, trying to turn his focus to the task at hand and not to the woman in the stands that his eyes were constantly drawn to. She had on a black Strikers shirt, and the inner caveman in him hoped that his name and number were plastered along the back of it.
Now he just had to convince her to come out with him tonight. He’d missed her, more than he wanted to admit, and had felt like a total moron kissing her through the phone on New Year’s, but her laughter had made it worth it. He’d just been grateful that she hadn’t been offended by his note. It’d been a little ballsy to write it, but he hadn’t been able to resist.
“Sure it doesn’t have anything to do with the girl you were winking at in the stands?” Cheesy said. Ethan couldn’t read his tone. Cheesy wasn’t known for teasing the guys. He was always focused on winning. Ethan got the drive to focus on playing, but Cheesy was never “off.” The guy needed to relax.
“You should come out with us tonight,” Ethan said, steering the conversation away from Penny.
“We’ll see. Just make sure you aren’t distracted by her. Chicago isn’t an easy team to beat, and in our last game, they handed us our asses. I’d rather not have a repeat.”
“Then it’s a good thing that I win when she’s in the stands.”
“If that�
��s the case, you better get her season tickets.” A hint of a smile graced the captain’s face. Maybe Cheesy was teasing. The guy needed to work on his delivery.
“If you guys are done chit-chatting, how about we get out there and win,” Baz called out, breaking into a grin that showed just how many teeth the guy was missing. No player ever wore their good teeth during a game. Ethan was lucky he still had all of his.
“Let’s do this,” Ethan repeated, bumping gloves with Baz before following the large defenseman toward the ice.
The crowd roared as the players hit the ice again. And the euphoria of playing the game he loved shot through him. He knew it was going to be a rough, physical game, and Ethan wouldn’t have it any other way.
***
“You have a hot date or something?” Sully asked. They immediately headed toward the bar as soon as they entered Crash and Byrne.
“What are you talking about?” Ethan asked, scanning the room and hoping that she hadn’t decided to go home. Seeing her at the game tonight had energized him. They’d beat Chicago four to three, and he’d scored two of those goals and an assist. She was definitely a good luck charm. Aside from playing like shit in that game before Christmas, he was averaging just over a point a game for the last month.
He’d texted her that he’d be at Crash and Byrne once they wrapped all the post-game media. She responded by telling him how amazing he’d played. Surely that meant she wouldn’t stand him up.
“You rushed through your interviews and shower. Thought you’d leave without us,” Sully said before nodding a hello to Adam, the owner, and Sully’s former AHL teammate.
And then he spotted her. She offered him a quick smile and wave, sitting up straighter.
“That’s the good luck charm, right?” Cheesy asked, with a head tilt toward Penny’s table.
“Good luck charm?” Sully asked.
“Yeah, she was at the game tonight. Harty claims that when she shows up, we win,” Cheesy said. “And since we beat the number one team in the standings tonight, you better give her season tickets.”
“She looks familiar. Wait, isn’t that the girl who ran out on you at the grand opening of Adam’s new bar?” Sully asked, laughter in his eyes.
“Uh, yeah. We got over that.”
“I think I need to hear this story,” Cheesy said.
“Maybe another time. You boys are welcome to join us.” He offered for purely selfish reasons. Sully and Cheesy could flirt with Penny’s friend and then Ethan could keep Penny to himself. It was an asshole move, but he missed her, and she’d finally agreed to meeting him out on her own. Their last dinner had been a result of him dragging her from her office, so it didn’t count.
“Hi there,” he said when he reached her table. He ducked down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, swallowing her light gasp before she could object. He was done with pretenses.
“Umm, hi,” she said after he pulled back, her cheeks a bright red, her eyes dark.
“Hi, I’m Amanda,” her friend said, holding out her hand.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, and then introduced them to Cheesy and Sully.
“Cheesy, Sully, Harty. Do all of your nicknames end in Y?” Amanda asked.
“Most, but not all,” Cheesy stated, his serious face back. Ethan held in his chuckle. For such a goofy nickname, the man was way too serious.
“First round’s on me because of the win,” Penny said, before gesturing for them to sit down.
“I like this girl. Good luck charm and she buys a round,” Sully said, taking the high back chair between Penny and Amanda.
“Good luck charm?” Amanda asked.
“We win when she comes to the games,” Cheesy said, and then turned his stern expression on Penny. “You are now required to come to all our home games. Maybe you could fly out to a few away games.”
Penny laughed. It rolled over Ethan in waves, and his gut clenched with the overwhelming desire to always make her laugh.
“I’ll keep that in mind, and I’ve only attended two games.”
“And we’ve won both, so let’s not question it,” Ethan said, pressing a kiss behind her ear. “Nice shirt, by the way,” Ethan said, loving his last name stretched across her shoulders.
“This thing? I just asked for the least popular player. It’s so sad that they gave me this one. I thought people liked you,” she teased.
“You’re asking for it,” he growled close to her ear, thrilling when she shifted on her seat.
The waitress popped up next to Sully and asked, “You guys want your regular?”
“Of course. Burgers with the works. Do you ladies want anything?” Sully asked.
“No thanks. We ate during the game. I’m surprised the kitchen is still open,” Penny said.
“Sully used to play in the AHL with Adam, the bar owner. On game nights, Adam keeps the kitchen open for us since we’re usually starved by the time we get out of the arena,” Ethan said.
“Yes, and Sara makes the best burgers. Make sure you tell her I said that,” Sully chimed in as the waitress jotted down the order and then left.
“She’s going to spit in your food,” Ethan said with a laugh.
“She loves our mutual flirtation,” Sully said.
“Sure, sure,” Ethan said.
“So…congrats on your goals. Almost a hattie,” Penny said.
“You know those aren’t common, right?” Ethan said, sliding his chair closer to her before dropping down onto it and resting his arm along the back of hers.
“I know. Sully got a hat trick,” she said.
“Uh, no I didn’t,” Sully said.
“Yes. A Gordie Howe one. A goal, an assist, and a fight. I read about it online. I’ve been studying up,” she stated proudly. He couldn’t wait to give her the gift he had in his car. Her fact loving brain would love it.
“Very true,” Sully said.
“Amanda, are you a hockey fan?” Cheesy asked.
“Not really. That was my first game. It’s definitely hard to follow because you guys are so fast. And it’s so hard to see how attractive you all are under those helmets. I know it’s for safety reasons, but you should all at least warm up without them on.”
Ethan tried not to laugh as Cheesy blustered at Amanda’s blatant flirting. Poor guy.
“Interesting theory, but I’d rather not get a puck to my unprotected face during warm-ups,” Cheesy replied.
“Just a suggestion,” she said, holding his gaze intently.
“So, when’s the next game, since I apparently have to show up,” Penny asked.
“We have tomorrow off, but we expect to see you there on Sunday,” Sully said.
As the discussion turned to the next game, Ethan loved hearing Penny’s input and answering her questions. She was taking an avid interest in his career, in what he cared about. He’d never had that before, and as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek, he decided that he wasn’t going to let her run again.
Penny sipped her second drink almost two hours later. The guys had stuffed themselves with mouth-watering burgers and traded stories about hockey, pranks on the road, and how they’d gotten to the Strikers. She was fascinated by their different routes to the big leagues. Hockey players didn’t make it to the pros without pure grit and determination.
Ethan and Cheesy had remained with them for the rest of the night. Sully was at the bar flirting with the cook, Sara. The man was trying too hard in his flirtation attempts.
Penny was a bundle of energy, and she couldn’t blame the alcohol since she’d only consumed two martinis and the handful of fries she’d snagged from Ethan’s plate to offset some of the booze. She just loved spending time with him. When they were together, it was like no time had passed since Italy.
Tonight’s conversation had flowed, and he’d kept her laughing. But on the flip side, all his attention had left her nerves frayed. His hand brushed against the back of her neck, or he linked his hand with hers, pressing a soft kiss to her chee
k. One more touch, casual or otherwise from him, and she would burst into flames.
“How about one last round?” Ethan asked, nodding to Penny’s empty glass.
“One more and then I should call a cab,” she said, hoping she was at least slightly subtle, but knew she’d failed when he grinned.
“I’ll take you home,” he said.
“How presumptuous of you.”
“I wasn’t inviting myself over for a sleepover, but the offer is always open,” he whispered against her ear.
A shudder rocked through her, and she took a steadying breath. “One more drink and we’ll see.” Not that she didn’t know exactly what they were leading up to.
His eyes twinkled as he grinned at her. He took everyone else’s order and turned toward the bar.
“I’ll go with you,” Cheesy called out, following behind Ethan.
Penny pulled at her turtleneck under her Strikers shirt.
“A little hot under the collar?” Amanda whispered next to her, her gray eyes laughing.
“I’m wearing a damn turtleneck, what do you think? And I’m surprised you noticed.” Penny nodded toward Cheesy.
“He’s hot, right?”
“Mmm, I guess.”
“You guess? Right, because you’ve only looked at Ethan all night.”
Penny stammered. “No, I haven’t.” She needed to find less observant friends.
“Of course not.” Amanda grinned.
“I know, and I’m so screwed.” Penny rested her head on Amanda’s shoulder.
“You’re not drunk, are you?” Amanda asked.
Penny raised her head. “Nope. Barely buzzy. And second guessing everything.”
“Stop fighting it. You both want each other, he invited you here tonight and never left your side. He’s funny, attentive, and cute. Stop overanalyzing it and go for it.”
“But—”
“No. Don’t pass this up just because of work or whatever hang-ups you have about him. He’s one of the good ones,” Amanda said.
“I know,” Penny whispered.
Breakout (San Francisco Strikers Book 1) Page 14