Page 31

Chapter 30

Annette

I f I was being honest, I hated going to hockey games.

Everything was so fast, and at Terry’s games, you could really hear each and every bone-crushing hit. It wasn’t until hearing it firsthand that you realized why it was called a bone-crushing hit. I constantly winced.

I wouldn’t hate the games if they didn’t fry my nerves so much. I was so afraid Terry would get hurt after each and every hit. Why couldn’t it be more like Eric’s games, where the players weren’t allowed to touch the other players?

Regardless, the whole no-contact rule didn’t stop me from worrying about Eric, either.

Natalie came up to me and passed me a glass of white wine. “Here. It looks like you need this.”

That was when I let go of the railing. As I held the stem of the wine glass, I realized how white my knuckles were since they were now turning back to a more pinky color. After I took a sip, I said, “Thanks.”

The dry liquid felt so good. But I reminded myself that I could only have one.

I didn’t want to get drunk around Eric, and I still regretted the last time I let Natalie ply me with alcohol, even if it did break down some of the walls with Terry.

Natalie’s eyes were fixated on her boyfriend, but she still asked me, “How was the afternoon with Terry’s friends?”

“Loud,” I answered.

I thought Terry could get loud when he hung out with the two Spencers and Cartsy, but I realized that was nothing. I didn’t know if it was because there were four guys at the house today or if Cartsy was just a calming force in the group.

Natalie laughed. “What is it about hockey players and their inability to be quiet?”

Eric turned his head away from the game and chimed in, “It’s because we’re awesome.”

I bit my tongue to keep a giggle from coming out.

Natalie didn’t even attempt to contain herself. But she lowered her voice so little ears couldn’t hear our conversation. “He’s really like your man.”

I sighed.

My emotions were all over the place with Terry. I loved him, but I wasn’t fully over everything I’d been through. Terry and I were getting so much closer, but he was not mine yet.

“Terry and I aren’t together,” I reminded her.

“Says who? You’re calling him Terry, and he’s always calling you Annie or my love. Pet names like that are only used for lovers or your kid. Besides, you kept at least one eye on him all night long.”

The last thing I wanted to explain was that we were still just dancing around our emotions thus far. I was grateful that Terry had really been one to keep everything on my level. Other than when he was drunk, he hadn’t even tried to kiss me. Sure, he had been wooing me, and I was falling for him all over again. However, it had been absolutely platonic thus far.

“But we’re not actually anything,” I insisted.

Natalie gave me that look that said I was so freaking naive. But I wasn’t naive.

“It’s only a matter of time,” she said.

Did she hear herself? Like, for real?

“Weren’t you fully against Terry going through partners? Why are you suddenly rooting for the two of us?”

“It’s because it’s different with you. I wouldn’t have believed he could settle down or be a dad, yet he’s amazing. He’s not a crazy horndog anymore, and it’s because of you.”