Page 18 of Any Second Now (Fort Collins Blizzard Hockey #2)
Zombies Prefer Brains
RALEIGH
I had a high view video on social media yesterday—only like fifteen thousand views, so not even considered semi-viral, but great for me—after I posted explaining a plan for my zombie cross-stitch line.
My video must have found the right people, because I got four new orders overnight.
That’s a record for me in one day. Luckily, I have plenty of hoops complete with flowers so I just have to stitch the quotes.
Before now, I’d posted a few images of my work, and after that one successful post early on, got a meh response. But this was my first video. And people liked it? Should I become a cross-stitch influencer?
Wow, that sounds terrible.
I calculated the profit from selling four items and then cackled. It might buy me a half a tank of gas. I’m not living some high-end lifestyle right now, but I do have to send money to my ex-husband.
Now I’m trying to figure out some quotes related to kayaking and flipping over into the lake.
I bite my lip to contain the grin from the memory as I watch Lachlan and Atticus do one-on-one drills under the supervision of their skating coach.
Another man—who I’m assuming is Coach Jackson as Atticus told me he’d sometimes stop by these summer sessions—walks over and stands next to the skating coach.
Atticus is right. The arena is pretty cool empty of the crowd of fans. Not that I’ve been to a game, so I guess I don’t have much of a comparison, but the stands look packed when I catch a game streaming.
Too bad it’s summer so I won’t get to watch him play.
Them play, I mean.
I don’t need to watch Atticus play hockey. Although… he looks sexy as hell on the ice right now. Yeah, okay, I can’t see much of him underneath the padding and helmet, but he is like a giant graceful monster on skates.
I glance back down at my cross-stitch and complete the final few stitches. I tighten the hoop and grin at the final result, so I hold it up and snap a picture to send to Lucy and January.
Lucy
Sis—are you at the Blizzard arena??
Me
No comment on the hoop?
Lucy
Okay, I’ll play your game. It’s gorgeous, and I want one, but can you make mine about hockey and not zombies?
Me
Sure
Lucy
Now that we got that out of the way… What are you doing there? Are you watching Atticus practice ?
Well, shit, that wasn’t subtle at all. Not that I meant it to be, but I hadn’t exactly planned on telling them I was coming here.
Me
It’s just getting me out of the house, er, the RV
January
Perfectly reasonable to take your cross-stitch project to a professional hockey arena to watch your best friend’s little brother practice
I scrunch my nose and look up from my phone. January’s got a point.
Me
When you put it like that, it does sound a bit ridiculous
Lucy
Kellen just judged you hard when I told him
Me
Can’t we have secrets between friends?
Lucy
Does Kellen count?
Me
Traitor
Wait—did Atticus say something to him?
I cringe and turn my phone over on my lap. My last text is giving middle school does he like me vibes.
On the ice, Atticus is taking slow, graceful strides toward the coaches.
As if he feels my gaze, he turns and looks right at me.
A smile crosses his face that turns him into a complete and utter cinnamon roll with gooey sweet icing.
He lifts a hand to me, and I raise mine back.
My heart basically ceases beating for a moment, then catches up when he stops in front of the coaches with Lachlan.
We just waved at each other.
A twinge makes me realize I’m biting my lip and smiling so wide it hurts my face.
I can’t stop around this man. He makes me laugh, and I appear to have the same effect on him.
He didn’t laugh at me when I told him my sailing story.
I mean, he laughed, but it was with me, not at me, I’m almost positive.
I admit the sailing trip wasn’t my proudest moment.
And these days? Boats—even if they’re kayaks on a serene lake—terrify me.
Maybe one day I’ll get over that. Maybe Atticus will help me.
It’s been about an hour, and Atticus told me the practice shouldn’t be much longer than that. The skating coach leaves the ice and the boys are talking to Coach Jackson. Looks like they should be done soon.
My phone buzzes in my lap.
Lucy
Just that he’s been spending some time with you to make sure you don’t get yourself into any trouble in Fort Collins
January
Raleigh never gets in trouble
Lucy
Bullshit. Someone needs to make sure she doesn’t accidentally get married for a third time
Damn, that hurts, but is also pretty freaking funny. And not far from the truth. Jacob and I met soon after my first divorce was final. We didn’t officially date for a year, but my heart was with him from almost day one.
I definitely get too deep, too fast.
Me
Not funny
Lucy
A little funny. At least I know you’re safe to not accidentally fall into a relationship with my brother
January
Um, she did make out with him on New Year’s Eve. God only knows what they’re doing now, babes
Lucy
Raleigh? Confirm or deny?
Oh. Yeah. Because Atticus doesn’t do relationships.
I consider telling them he’s interested in a girl from the bookstore but don’t want to seem like I’m trying to convince them he is looking for a girlfriend, because they’ll know in a split second I’m interested.
I consider telling them about how we made out on my couch in the Pink Palace while watching zombie movies. They’d lose their damn minds.
I consider telling them about kayaking, or all the presents he’s brought me, or the way my chest warms when he smiles at me.
But I don’t.
Because I’m only here for a few more weeks.
I’m recently twice divorced.
He’s a player.
This is all some lovely interlude while I reflect on what’s happened for the past decade.