Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“I saw.”
My heart lurched and lodged itself in my throat. The feel of his fingers laced possessively through mine would have made my younger self faint. Now…it sent a strange longing through me that had nothing to do with a juvenile sense of ownership. I knew the person behind the armor. Court wasn’t my secret crush anymore—he was so much more.
We walked hand in hand from the rink into the cold December night, our breaths rising in plumes as we navigated newly dusted sidewalks leaving fresh footprints in our wake. It was a gorgeous evening. The sky was clear now and moonlight glistened on snowdrifts. Court’s palpable excitement buzzed in the air, following us as we made our way toward Main Street.
“Farrell is a good goalie, but he needs coaching.” He paused in the middle of his play-by-play and dropped his bag and my hand to demonstrate the goalie mistake. “If he’d extended his elbow, that shot wouldn’t have gone in. Riley knew and exploited the weakness. Genius.”
I adjusted my scarf to cover my chin. “You looked good out there tonight too. So did the Mighty Mites.”
Court grinned, his white teeth gleaming in the dark. “They can all legit skate backward, and I’m taking full credit for that.”
I chuckled. “You should. Those kids love you.”
“The feeling is mutual. Hey, did I tell you about—”
“Tell me while we walk. It’s freezing out here,” I grumbled.
“Wait up.” He bent to pick up his bag, but stopped and cast a mischievous look my way. “Snow angels.”
“No.”
“C’mon, baby. This is new snow. It’s so fresh, it’s like powder.”
I rolled my eyes, but damn it, he’d called me baby and I was putty in his hands now. “Fine. But we have to make it quick. My balls are shrinking.”
“Can’t have that.” Court grabbed my package, then kissed my nose and tugged my hand. “Ready? One, two, three.”
He flopped onto a patch of smooth snow on the fringe of the park and opened his arms and legs like windshield wipers. I barked a laugh at this big hunk’s childlike exuberance. He should have looked ridiculous, but his investment in his shenanigans was incredibly charming and it seemed sillier not to join in.
So, I fell beside him and made my own snow angel.
Court helped me to my feet, setting his hands on his hips as he eyed our indentations in the snow. “Damn good job, Carmelo. Damn good.”
I grinned. “Gee, thanks.”
He tilted his head thoughtfully and inhaled, holding his breath for a beat before releasing it. “This place is so weird. When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to leave. I wanted to live somewhere warm, but I also wanted to play hockey. Greedy kid, huh? If hockey hadn’t worked out, I might have been a fireman or a police officer or a pilot. Something I could do anywhere…that wasn’t Elmwood.”
I stuffed my hands into my pockets and steeled myself against the rising wave of unease. “But you made it.”
“I couldn’t believe my luck when the Gators drafted me. I assumed I’d play in the minors for a couple of years, get bumped to the AHL, and…that was as far as I got. I didn’t think about what came after because hockey and warm weather? Dream come true, right?”
I wasn’t sure I was supposed to respond, but when the silence stretched a beat too long, I gave in. “You were in Florida for a while?”
“Yeah, then Atlanta and Charleston. And now I’m freezing my ass off in Elmwood again, and you know…I feel pretty fucking lucky to be here.”
“You do?”
He nodded distractedly. “Vinnie’s agent wants to talk to me. He was at the rink earlier today.”
Oh.
I forced my lips into a smile I hoped was convincing. “That’s great news.”
“I guess so. He wanted to meet up today, but this was my last practice with the little kids before Christmas and I couldn’t miss it.”
“So…tomorrow?”
“No, on Christmas Eve. He’s got a cousin nearby he’s supposed to visit first. Vinnie thinks he’ll sign me on the spot ’cause there’s an opening in LA.”
“That’s amazing,” I choked out.
Court shrugged. “We’ll see. McD seems like an okay guy, but agents tend to promise the moon and a few stars. But I practically begged Vinnie to set this up, so I’ll see what he has in mind.”
I swallowed hard and looped my arm through his. “I’m happy for you. Your wish has come true again.”
“Maybe. I don’t know anymore. Wishes change,” he replied vaguely, shifting to face me so we stood chest to chest, our breath mingling like twin dragons in the crisp evening air. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
He tilted my chin skyward and kissed my nose, my cheeks, my lips. “Pick a star and make a wish. Don’t tell me what it is, but make sure it’s a good one.”