Page 78 of Hot Shot
Caleb is holding the Stanley Cup above his head, an expression of pure joy on his face, but standing off-center is Jenna, staring at him with a look of equal joy.
“This is my favorite photo. Five minutes later he proposed to me. I was kind of pissed.”
I tilt my head. “Why?”
“He’d just won the Stanley Cup, and now I had to share my engagement with a million people. He claims he did it that way so he’d never forget the date that we got engaged. Now, I can admit that it was romantic. We’d only been dating for three months when he proposed. That was five years ago.”
“Oh.” I’m shocked at her revelation and also not sure why she’s telling me this.
“To be fair, I’d known him my entire life.” She pauses and turns to face me. “As my older brother’s best friend.”
I smile at her, unsure of what to say.
As if reading my mind, she continues, “Sometimes when you know, you know.”
“That’s a sweet story.” I take a deep breath and swallow back the emotions that threaten to spill out. It’s like the universe keeps giving me signs about Hunter and I and where we’re heading.
“Anyway, come on, let’s sit.” She gestures to the open doorway of what I assume is her office.
The walls are painted a light pink, and an L-shaped desk takes up a lot of the room. One wall is all shelves that are filled with books of all sizes. Jenna heads to two pink wingback chairs that take up a corner.
Her words echo in my head—sometimes when you know, you knowas I sit down.
Chapter thirty
Hunter
Iglancetowardthehallway where Jenna and Madison disappeared a few minutes ago.
“Stop worrying, man.” Caleb claps me on the back.
I try to focus on the conversation in front of me and not the woman in the other room whom I’m in love with, but it’s hard. I’ve been wanting to say those three words to her for a little while now, but I haven’t.
There’s still a big what-if staring me in the face—what if at the end of the season the Storm don’t offer me another contract? It doesn’t feel fair to tell her how I feel knowing I might have to leave Orlando at the end of the season.
Her family’s here. So is her job. It’s not like I could ask her to come with me. We barely know each other. We’ve only been dating for a few months.
It feels too soon to be saying those three little words or asking her to give up her life to move with me.
How can I already know she’s it for me?
As if reading my mind, Caleb says, “You’ll be here next year. Don’t worry about it.”
“What?”
“I can see the wheels spinning in your head. If you keep analyzing and worrying, you’re going to stress yourself out and fuck up your rookie season. Ride it out. Your ice time keeps increasing, and you got two assists in the last game. Don’t worry so much about it.”
“I know. I—“ I shrug.
Before Caleb can reply, Brody walks in with a woman on his arm. I blink rapidly a couple of times. Am I seeing things? I’ve never heard Brody talk about a woman or about dating. I half expected him not to show up at all tonight.
Interesting.
“Hi guys. This is Aubrey. Aubrey, you know Caleb. This is Hunter, my linemate,” Brody says when they come to a stop in front of us.
“Hey, Aubs,” Caleb says, pulling her into a hug.
I remain silent, watching the interaction, still unsure of who she is to Brody. Clearly they know each other well since she knows Caleb too, but I don’t see a resemblance so I rule out them being siblings. Is she his girlfriend?
