Melting Away The Ice (THE ICE SERIES)

by Smith, Mary

  “I am not in the mood, Max.” I didn’t have to open my eyes to know it was him that sat down next to me.

  “Hey, in all seriousness, I think it is great.” I opened my eyes and looked over at him. We both had been in the league together for many years and he was a good friend. Even though we’ve known each other, for what seemed like forever, we had only played together these last five years. When we became teammates we instantly hit it off. On the ice we seemed to be unstoppable. Off the ice he was a great person. However, he was more of a ladies man than I was.

  “Thanks number five,” I smirked at him.

  “Really, still with the number five? Have you watched ESPN, I am number one,” Max would never really brag on himself. I knew he was messing with me. Nonetheless, he wasn’t lying. He was number one in the league for blocked shots and goals of the defensemen.

  “It’s still early. A lot could change in the season.” I was trying to be serious but I was teasing.

  “Jerk,” Max whispered. “So, tell me about the girl? I mean, it must be something if you had Amy hunt her down.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “Hey, I have my ways,” he laughed.

  Even though I had already told my mom all about her, I took a deep breath and told him about Sara, what I knew. She didn’t like hockey, she was an attorney, and she had a rocking body. Even though it was not a whole lot of information, Max listened to me. I wasn’t one to party and have a lot of girlfriends. My focus was always on hockey. I had goals and I wanted to achieve them. This year’s goal was to win the Cup. I knew with the team we had, it was possible, even if they were young.

  Max knew me better than anyone else on the team. “Hey, Luc, as long as you are happy, then I am happy.” He slapped me on the shoulder as he headed back to his seat. I laid my head back and thought about Sara, the green-eyed beauty. I still could not get over what happened last night. Never had I had such a weird experience. I can still see the shocked expression on Sara’s face when her friend, Rachel, barged in, and threw me her card. I chuckled to myself.

  This is going to be interesting.

  Ugh! I was replaying the game in my head as I flopped onto the hotel bed. How did we lose that game? My body was hurting all over. All I wanted to do was jump in the shower and go to bed. I was about to get up and head to the shower when my phone beeped. I am not in the mood.

  I was sure it was my mother telling me to keep my head up. That woman was my lifeline sometimes. I looked at the display on the phone and didn’t recognize the number, but I knew it was a Chicago area code.

  “Hello?” This conversation better be quick.

  “Um, hi, Lucas?” The voice on the other side sounded familiar.

  “Yes?” Who the hell is this?

  “It’s Sara.” I bolted straight up out of the bed.

  “Sara? Yeah, hi.” I was trying to sound nonchalant, but my adrenaline was pumping now.

  “Hi,” she said back.

  “Hi.” Smooth, Lucas.

  Sara giggled, “I think we have established the ‘hi’s’.”

  I smiled. “Yes, I suppose. Why are you calling? Not that I mind.”

  “Oh, I wanted to apologize for Rachel’s behavior. Her heart was in the right place, but her mouth doesn’t have a filter. I sometimes wonder if her brain does.” She giggled then was quiet. I closed my eyes and imagined her green eyes.

  “I think she is a great friend and no reason for the apology.” I was actually glad that I got her number, even if it was her friend throwing it at me.

  “Yeah, well, I also wanted to call about Thursday. I was wondering where I should meet you.”

  My heart was pounding so hard I knew she could hear it through the phone. “Thursday?”

  “Our date? The team schedule said you had Thursday off. Is that a good day for you? Or if you want to forget the whole thing, that is fine.” I could tell that she was nervous.

  “No, Thursday is perfect.” A huge smile spread across my face. “I just had not really thought about it since last night.” That was untrue because I had thought about her and our potential date a lot, but something told me not to push her.

  Then it hit me. “Hey, how did you get my phone number?” I heard her giggle, again. It sounded so pure and fresh. Other girls always sounded fake when they giggled. That is the greatest sound.

  “I have my ways, Mr. Sharp,” she teased.

  “I’m sure you do,” I teased back.

  “So, if you want to go, um, Thursday, call my office. Have a good night, Lucas.” And just like that she was gone. Well, that was short conversation, but to the point.

  Now, I had a date to plan.

  Chapter 9 – Sara

  It took Charity all day, but she was able to find Lucas’ phone number. I’m not sure how she did, but she did. The CIA has nothing on a legal assistant. I didn’t tell Rachel what I was doing because I wanted to do it on my own terms. Calling him was the scariest thing ever. I stared at the paper forever when I got home.

  Could I do this?

  After two glasses of wine, an internal pep talk, and a long deep breath, I called him. When he answered he sounded a little rough, I almost hung up, but I didn’t. I tried to keep the call short and simple. It was when I started flirting with him that I panicked and practically hung up on him. I am sure I seemed like a crazy person to him. Although, I did accomplish my task. I talked to him and we had a date set up.

  I can do this.

  After that I took a long hot bath and headed to bed.

  I woke up renewed. Well, maybe renewed was the incorrect term, but I felt better. I got out of bed and prepared for my day to start. My date was several days away and I was already a ball of nerves. Fun-Sara can do this, I thought as I looked at myself in the mirror. I can do this.

  Almost an hour later, I was dressed and ready. I walked with a little bit more confidence straight to work and right into Rachel’s office.

  “I flirted,” I announced as I opened the door, as if I was making some huge declaration of importance. In my case that was what I was doing.

  “Just now?” Rachel looked up from her work sprayed all over her desk. The girl was the most unorganized person, but had a great win-loss ratio.

  “No, last night when I was on the phone with Lucas,” I told her.

  Rachel squeaked as she jumped up to hug me. “Tell me everything.”

  “Well, I called him. I asked about our date. Then I flirted, he flirted back, and then I pretty much hung up on him.” Simple and to the point.

  “Wow, you’re out of practice,” she giggled, “I don’t hang up on a guy until after I sleep with him.”

  I rolled my eyes at her. She was everything that I was not. Even though she acted like she slept around, she really didn’t. I don’t think she’d had a boyfriend in months. But, she always let people know that she was available and flirted like crazy. She could get away with it because of her killer good looks.

  “I need to thank you,” I could feel the tears in my eyes. “I don’t think I could have made it through without you.”

  “Look, Sara,” she took a deep breath and looked at the ground. “I am going to tell you something. You are strong and you can do this. I believe you can move on. I know it is hard. I am not saying I understand everything that you went through, but I know it’s hard.” She looked up at me. “With that being said, you can’t sit at home every night watching Friends re-runs on Nick at Nite. I am not saying you should become a slut, either.” She smiled and I did too. “But go on this date and bring out Fun-Sara. Please?”

  I looked at Rachel. She was right. It was time for me to move on. I wasn’t sure if I could be the girl I was before that night, but I was going to try. “I think we need to go shopping this weekend.” I grinned.

  I think Rachel and I went to every single store on Michigan Avenue. There were a couple of problems though; I had not heard from Lucas since we talked and I didn’t know what we were going to do on our date.
r />   Rachel told me not to worry and to go out with her that night. I explained that I just wanted to rest and headed home. I walked into my apartment, sat my items I had purchased down and saw the boxes in the corner. This is my home and it needs to be my home.

  I changed into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, then threw my unruly hair into a messy bun on top of my head. I walked into my living room and turned on the TV, to have some noise in the background. I took a deep breath and opened the first box. There were memories in each box. Some were good and some were not, but through the sweat and tears I pushed through.

  Almost four hours later, all the boxes were empty, everything was hung and it was beginning to look like a home.

  “In hockey news, the Chicago Eagles have won their last three out of five games on the road. Captain and forward, Lucas Sharp leads the league with twenty points. Not too bad considering it is still early into the season.” The announcer on the TV beamed when talking about Lucas. I stared at the screen watching Lucas skate around and scoring highlights. Wow he is amazing on the ice.

  “The Eagles will finish out the week long road trip in Pittsburgh before heading back home.” I flicked the announcer off.

  Pittsburgh? Lucas was going to be in Pittsburgh?

  I rushed to my phone and dialed Rachel.

  “Hello,” she cooed.

  “The Eagles are going to be in Pittsburgh,” I stated.

  “Well, sure they play all teams. Why?” She gasped. “Oh my stars, we will be there when they are,” and hung up on me. What? Does she know how much she drives me insane?

  I looked down at my phone. I tried to call her back but it went to voicemail.

  Twenty minutes later she called back with giddiness in her voice.

  “I got us tickets, they are not great seats, but I am sure we can see Lucas. Pittsburgh doesn’t have great security for visiting teams.”

  “What are you? The NHL mafia?” How could she possible know this information?

  “I’m a fan, sue me. We have a problem, though.”

  “Which is?” I could not imagine what the problem would be considering I was almost stalking a hockey player right now.

  “If you’re going to be Lucas Sharp’s girlfriend you need some Eagle gear,” she firmly stated. Girlfriend?

  “One, I am not his girlfriend. Two, he has not talked to me in a few days. Three, I don’t need any gear, because I don’t like hockey and four, you are nuts. I just asked if they were going to be in Pittsburgh when we were. Not that I wanted to go.” Rachel and I were heading to Pittsburgh to speak at a seminar. Deep down I did want to see Lucas.

  Oh stars, I am stalking him. I will have Charity look up the laws on that before I end up in jail. It would be my luck that he thought I was some crazy stalker and have me arrested.

  There was a knock on my door that brought me out of my thoughts. I walked over and looked through the peep hole. There stood Rachel on the other side with the phone to her ear.

  “What are you doing?” I asked as I opened the door pulling the phone from me ear.

  “One,” she looked at me sternly as she put the phone in her pocket. “You will be his girlfriend. Two, he has been busy with his job. Three, this is for you.” She handed me a large bag with the Eagle’s mascot on the front. “You will need to like hockey soon. Lastly, I am not.” She then turned and walked away.

  “Do you enjoy giving me whiplash from your craziness?” I shouted down the hall. She flipped me off as she entered the elevator.

  Chapter 10 – Sara

  “I don’t think I have answered that many questions before about law,” I said as we slid into the booth. We had found a bar and grill not too far from the hotel that we were staying at. The seminar was more intense than I had anticipated. All the students were asking great questions, but seemed to never stop.

  “Me too, but some of the students were hot,” Rachel cooed.

  “Really? We were there to discuss the new statues due to the outcomes of the Supreme Court rulings not flirt with the students.” I scolded her in my lawyer voice.

  “Don’t speak Lawyer to me, lady.” She pointed her finger at me. “All I know is I need a drink and we are off the clock.” She tapped her watch and waved down a waiter.

  The waiter came by and we ordered drinks and appetizers. The bar and grill was a little bit crowded; everyone was talking and laughing. We chatted about work, TV shows, and little things. I was starting to feel incredibly relaxed from the drinks, the food and the atmosphere, when the waiter brought us another round.

  “Sorry, we didn’t order these.” Rachel tried to give the drinks back. We had to do another seminar in the morning and we both didn’t want to have hangovers.

  “No, you didn’t. That guy did.” The waiter pointed over his shoulder and walked away.

  “Oh my stars,” Rachel breathed. Her eyes got wide and she grinned like a Cheshire cat. “You aren’t going to believe this.” She looked at me with the brightest smile on her face.

  “Ladies, I don’t think you look like Pittsburgh fans,” a male’s voice said behind me. Instantly, I stopped breathing. I turned to see Lucas’ blue eyes looking back at me.

  “I’m an Eagles fan,” Rachel stated firmly. “But she might need some convincing.” She pointed right at me as she was speaking with Lucas. I whipped my head at Rachel and gave her the meanest look I could muster. It didn’t work because Rachel just laughed at me.

  “May I join you or do you have others coming?” Lucas asked me.

  I could not form words. The words were on the tip of my tongue as he stared at me, but they would not come out. I did the next best thing; I nodded and slid over in the booth. Talking with him on the phone was easier than face-to-face.

  “Would you look at the time?” Rachel said looking at her watch. “Looks like I need to run and get some beauty sleep. You two should enjoy yourselves,” Rachel stood up.

  “What?” I almost shouted it. Oh, sure now I decide to speak.

  “Sara, I need to prepare so I can finish the seminar tomorrow.” She declared like I should have already known that.

  “Do you need to leave also?” Lucas asked me in almost a sad voice.

  “I-“ I am so confused.

  “No, she is staying. She was not asked to do the seminar tomorrow. She is completely free. Her only plans were to go to the game tomorrow night,” Rachel jumped in. I knew she was lying because we both were supposed to do the seminar tomorrow and she was going to the game too.

  “You are going to the game?” Lucas was still peering at me. It was then I see a small smirk on his face and a glint in his eyes.

  “I, um,-“ Why can’t I say anything? I sound like a babbling brook.

  “Yep we are,” again Rachel spoke. “I am leaving now.” She looked over to me. “Try to form a sentence, sweetie.” She patted my hand and I felt my face flush. Leave it to Rachel to embarrass me with the truth. She then looked over to Lucas with a stern look. “And you,” she pointed her perfectly manicured finger at him, “I don’t care if you have been my favorite captain for the last five years, you hurt her and you die. Bye” She waved her fingers and walked away.

  “Your friend is a crack up,” Lucas laughed with a huge grin on his face. It was the most beautiful grin and it made my knees weak.

  “Yes, she is.” Then I blurted out. “Why haven’t you called?”

  Why did I just do that?

  Just stamp crazy person on my forehead and put me on Jerry Springer. I must have been hanging around Rachel too long because my filter was gone, now. Lucas laughed, as if he enjoyed my moment of crazy.

  “My phone had a small mishap when Marc and Max grabbed it from me and tried to text you. They cracked the screen. Now, for some reason, it won’t charge. I will have to get it fixed when I get home.”

  “Sorry, I just-“

  “It’s fine.” He put his hand up to stop me. “I didn’t have your number memorized and the card is back at my apartment, so I could not call from t
he hotels.”

  “I shouldn’t have asked like that. I was just wondering.” Because I have recently become a crazy person.

  “I normally don’t do that. I mean, not call when I want to. My schedule has been crazy, especially when I get into Canada. I have more personal appearances and I have to stop and see family.” He must have felt that he owed me an explanation.

  “You are from Canada, correct?” I asked. My heart was returning to its normal rate as we sat there and began to talk. Just try to act normal.

  “I am. I was raised outside Montreal.”

  “You speak French?”

  “Oui je parle français.” He said most sweetly. “Avez-vous?”

  “I’m not sure what you said because I don’t speak French.” I smiled. I still couldn’t smile too wide because of the plate, pins and screws. However, I wanted to. There was something about a hot, hockey player speaking French that made me smile.

  “I figured. My mother made sure that I spoke French. She would not have it any other way.”

  “Why is that?” I asked puzzled.

  “Heritage, history and mainly because she said so.” He laughed.

  “You must be close to your family,” I said sadly. I wished for that more than anything.

  “I am very close to my mother, my aunt and my cousin. My father left long ago. My mother’s family is very tight and I love them all.” He beamed with pride as he talked about his family.

  “That is amazing. No sisters or brothers?”

  “Nope, you?”

  “No just me,” I said sadly.

  “Parents?”

  “They are currently in Florida or Georgia. I am not sure really, somewhere south. They moved down there when they both retired from their jobs. Rachel is really the only family I have.” Could I sound anymore pathetic?

  “I am assuming you aren’t close to your parents, eh?” he asked, and I shook my head.

  “So, why are you in Pittsburgh?” He changed the subject. Maybe he saw the sadness on my face as we talked about family, but I was grateful for the subject change.