Page 135 of The Shot You Missed
“I’m fine. Really. Just had a weird experience today.” I sigh, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Screw Ryland for showing up like that. Today should have been all about Bash and the game. It should have been a fun time with Lola and the women in this room who are becoming my friends.
Instead, my mind is on the guy I dated for a year because he seemed perfect on paper and I’d resigned myself to the fact thatI’d never end up with the man I truly wanted. The man probably stressing out in the locker room.
Blair gives me an understanding smile. “Want to talk about it? I know a little something about weird experiences.”
“She does,” her brother Reed interjects. “Like having psycho stalkers pull a knife on you and then burning your apartment down.”
“Luckily, my experience wasn’tthatweird. Just…” Sighing, I decide it can’t hurt to let them in on it. I’ll simply ask them to keep it quiet from their guys so I can talk to Bash about it myself on my own time. “My ex showed up on our doorstep today.”
It’s like a record scratches, and suddenly all eyes are on me.
Lexi frowns. “Are you okay? Need us to take him out?”
Obviously she’s joking, but part of me almost believes her offer is genuine, and for some reason, it allows me to take my first full breath of the night. “No, he’s my dad’s personal assistant, so that would be inconvenient for him.”
Lola barks out a laugh. “Your dad would deal. Does he have any idea that his little errand boy showed up today? I know he and Vivian thought the sun shone out of Ryland’s ass, but youareRobert’s daughter. I doubt he’d be pleased.”
“I have no idea. He must realize Ryland’s out of town, but does he know Ry’s here? Your guess is as good as mine.” I’m not sure it’s worth saying anything to my dad. Not only because I can’t imagine Ryland being masochistic enough to stick around after I shot him down, but because my dad loves Ryland. He was genuinely sad when we broke up. “It doesn’t matter, though. I’m sure he’s long gone by now.”
“That little bitch better have run with his tail between his legs,” Lola says. She catches Reed looking at her and smirking, and she winces. “Sorry. I forgot there were kids in the room.”
“I’m thirteen,” Reed says. “And he does sound like a little bitch.”
“Reed.” Blair pinches the bridge of her nose, but she’s fighting a smile, so she can’t actually be mad.
“What?” The teenager shrugs. “Showing up at your ex’s house without consent isn’t cool.”
“True that, Reedster.” Lexi extends her fist for him to bump, which he does with a grin.
“Well, we’re here for you,” Isla says decisively. “And all the guys are too.”
“And my team doesn’t drop gloves as often as the men do, but we know how to throw down. I could rally the troops.” Megan’s attention is on me when she makes the offer, so she doesn’t notice the way Lola looks up at her with ooey-gooey heart eyes, but I do.
My best friend is falling hard.
“Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate that.”
The lights in the arena change as the ice crew finishes resurfacing the ice and both teams skate back on. Pushing Ryland from my mind, I watch my boyfriend as he scuffs up the crease with his skates, getting everything just the way he likes.
Even from here, I can see that he’s locked in and focused.
“Come on, guys. You can do this.”
forty-six
SEBASTIAN
I let three goals through.We lost because I let three through.
“Hey.” Indie’s soft voice breaks me out of my funk, and I realize we’ve been sitting in the car in my garage, car off, for the last thirty seconds.
“Sorry.” I hop out of the SUV and open her door for her. “I’m in my head a bit. Just replaying all the things I should have done differently.”
“It was a tough game, babe. Florida’s offense was relentless, and the Rogues’ defense wasn’t what it needed to be. This isn’t on you.” She smiles up at me, and, linking our fingers, leads me into my house.
It’s always on me when we lose. At least to a degree. But I can’t say that to Indie, because she’ll try to convince me to go easy on myself.
“Thanks, Rosebud. Come on. I want to hold you.” There’s almost no downtime during the finals, and we have to get on a plane tomorrow at eleven, which means I need to take advantage of every minute with my girl tonight.
