Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
His husband, on the other hand, was model handsome. Riley had dark hair, gray eyes, and a trim, muscular physique. He was the athletic director at Elmwood High School as well as a coach for our junior club team. And Jake was one of the lucky kids who’d benefitted from having a former NHL star with powerful connections take him under his wing.
Of course, Jake had worked hard to get where he was, and he could be proud of his season. Too bad it had just ended with a humiliating fight that was entirely his fault, but hey…lesson learned.
I hoped.
I waited with JC and Riley in the corridor outside the players’ entrance, checking messages on my cell as I tuned out my friends’ husband-y banter about driving on from Syracuse to Rochester to visit Riley’s sister.
“The kids are dying to see us. Those munchkins love you, babe,” Riley cajoled. “And it’s only an hour drive.”
“One hour? No way. It’s longer and I love the kids too, but I don’t love their parrot. We are not sleeping with the parrot who sings Star Wars songs. No, thank you. And—ah!” JC pushed away from the wall and opened his arms in greeting. “Jake Milligan, we’ve come from the land of Elms and wood to watch your game. It was a tough one, but you are tougher, oui?”
Jake fist-bumped JC and Riley, smiling sheepishly. “Thanks for making the trip.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” I enthused, indulging in a one-armed hug I figured he wouldn’t try to wriggle out of immediately. “Those two just tagged along.”
“Sorry it turned out to be a bust. I really thought we could beat Toronto,” Jake griped, pushing his longish blond hair from his forehead. “They’re…old. No offense, guys.”
JC rolled his eyes. “Older than twenty-one, maybe. Out of curiosity, how old is Paluchek?”
He aimed his question at Riley, but Jake jumped in first. “Thirty-five, I think. Ugh, I hate that asshole.”
Riley snorted. “I get it, but not to worry…he’s retiring this year. You won’t ever have to play him again.”
“Thank God,” Jake huffed.
“Well, that doesn’t mean you won’t see him again. I’m trying to recruit Smitty to coach for us at Elmwood High.”
Jake froze, jaw open. “What? No way.”
“Yeah, he coaches off-season in Detroit. I’ve seen him in action, and he’s inspiring,” Riley continued.
“He sucks. Don’t do it. Don’t—”
“Relax. He turned us down, but…I’m not giving up!” Riley squeezed Jake’s shoulder and moved to JC’s side. “We’re Rochester bound. See you boys at home next week.”
We said our good-byes and continued at a slower pace, recapping highlights from the game. I grunted and sighed when cued, but Jake’s tension seemed to ease with every step and so did mine. In fact, by the time we reached the exit, he was chuckling over a play one of his teammates had boggled.
That same teammate, Rennie—a skinny guy with a huge beard—stopped for a round of high fives and reminded Jake that they were meeting up for consolation beers, stat.
Jake shook his head. “Nah, thanks. My dad’s in town and—”
“Cool. Join us. See ya at The Anchor in ten, Milligan.” Rennie punched Jake’s biceps, waved at me, and disappeared.
“You should go,” I said, hiking my thumb toward the parking lot.
“Dad, I haven’t seen you in a month and—”
“That’s okay. We have this summer, right?”
Jake frowned. “Yeah, but…are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Go on.” I hugged him impulsively and sneaked a kiss on his cheek. “Hey, I love you and I’m proud of you. I think you were a rock star out there tonight…and all season.”
“Thanks. Love you too.” He hefted his strap over his shoulder and raised his stick. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I watched Jake walk away, bracing against the familiar tide of loneliness. It was such a normal sensation, I was surprised it registered at all. I was used to being alone.
I had two identities—real estate agent and Jake’s dad. One was my job; the other was my heart. One needed my constant attention; the other…didn’t.
Okay, maudlin musings were not my style. Seriously. I was cheerful, upbeat, gregarious, optimistic. Ask anyone. I didn’t dwell on angst or allow myself to get sidetracked by negativity. I was a problem solver, and I liked to think having a positive outlook made me a happy person.
But maybe it was possible to be happy and lonely at the same time.
Ugh. This was what happened when I hung out with JC and Riley for too long. All that happy-couple energy was hard to take after a while, I mused, pulling the keys for my rental car from my pocket.
Twilight painted the horizon in shades of burnt orange, turning to deep shades of indigo in the early spring sky. After two years of traveling to Syracuse for Jake’s games, I knew my way around the city. Well…at the very least, I could drive from the arena to my hotel without getting hopelessly lost.