Page 19 of Any Second Now (Fort Collins Blizzard Hockey #2)

New Teammate, New Friend?

ATTICUS

“ H ow’d you feel today?” Coach Jackson crosses his arms across his purple and yellow Blizzard hoodie and examines me with too much kindness in his eyes. We’ve stepped off the ice onto the rubber mats—safe for the blades of our skates—that lead to the locker room.

I grind my teeth together. I don’t want to be treated like I’m breakable.

“Great,” I say, my voice too loud. “One hundred percent.” I pull off my helmet and push my curls off my forehead.

“You don’t have to shout, mate. We believe you.” Lachlan snorts next to me.

“Shut your face, dude,” I growl at him and turn back to Coach Jackson. “Seriously. I’m fine. I just gotta get out of my head.”

That kind of weakness is not something I would admit in front of almost anybody, but Lachlan is well aware of my challenges and I know Coach Jackson is always on my side.

“Glad to hear it. And I agree. I’m seeing you hesitate for a split second when you should be going for it. That’ll cost you the puck in a game.” Coach Jackson reaches over to rest his hand on one of my shoulders. “But in terms of fitness, you’re in better shape than you were last summer.”

It’s true. Last summer I spent half the time at a bougie lake resort with a couple of the guys, during which time most of us did zero working out. I paid for it when I got back to Fort Collins in August, a month before preseason.

Coach’s words release some of the tension in my body.

I sneak a glance at where Raleigh is sitting in the arena.

She’s got her feet propped up on the seat in front of her, a cross-stitch hoop resting on her thighs, and is watching me intently.

She turns away with a smile when she realizes I’m looking back.

I look down and press my lips together. Last thing I need is Lachlan noticing and having more ammo to make fun of me with.

But he’s already got a smirk on his face. Damn perceptive bastard. Or maybe me inviting her to practice was the more obvious clue.

“One last thing before I let you both get on with your day.” Coach Jackson removes his hand from my shoulder and looks between me and Lachlan. “I’ve got a favor to ask.”

“What do you need, Coach?” Lachlan says.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard that we acquired Barrett Steele.”

I cannot stop a groan. Coach looks at me with raised eyebrows.

“Problem, Atticus?”

“No, of course not, sorry, had something in my throat.”

Lachlan chuckles.

“Anyway, he arrived in town this week. Normally I’d have Kellen reach out to make sure he’s settling in and meeting everyone, but as Kellen’s out of town, I was hoping you two would do it. I know it’s often your group that is the welcoming committee for new players.”

Wait, what?

Surely Coach isn’t asking us to hang out with Barrett Steele.

“You want us to be his… friend?” I spit out the last word.

“Yes, basically. Call him, text him, get him to meet up. Make him feel welcome in Fort Collins and with the Blizzard. That kid is good—he’ll be a great addition to the team.”

“I dunno, I’ve got a lot going on.” My attempt to push off the request is met by laughter from Lachlan.

“What, your dating lessons with Raleigh taking up all of your time? Your workouts too much? All that time sitting around your apartment by yourself?”

“Shut up, lover boy. Do you think your little girlfriend will let you hang out with Barrett? That kid has a worse reputation than I do.”

“Don’t lash out at me,” he says, but some of the humor has fallen from his face.

“Well.” Coach Jackson looks back and forth between us.

“I don’t want to know anything about any of that, but it sounds like you two have some things to work out.

Atticus, I think you could be a good role model for Barrett.

He’s young and could use some guidance. He reminds me of you a few years ago.

Lachlan, you too.” He raises his eyebrows.

“I’m texting you both his number now. Do your thing, okay? ”

And with that, Coach turns and disappears through the arena doors leading to the locker room, where his office is.

“This is going to be fun,” Lachlan says as we follow him.

I just shake my head. This is not happening. No way. I am not being friends—or even friendly—with Barrett fucking Steele.

By the time we’re out of the showers, I have a text from Coach with Steele’s contact details.

I flash back to that moment when I fell during that last game and felt the sharp twinge in my groin.

What I really wanted to do was go after Steele and pound him, but instead, I limped off the ice, knowing the season was over for me and picking a fight would only hurt the Blizzard’s chance of winning.

After he’s dressed, Lachlan picks up his phone and chuckles.

“Does he really think we’re going to hang out with that guy?” I say as we walk back into the arena .

Raleigh sees us and stands, sliding her cross-stitch stuff in her canvas bag and heading our way.

“That must have been so boring to watch,” I say, smiling at her as she approaches us with her bag slung over her shoulder.

“No way, it was fun.”

“You are clearly lying, but it’s okay,” Lachlan glances down at his phone. “Up for a drink? Melissa’s out of town again this weekend, back tomorrow morning.”

I look at Raleigh, who shrugs. “Sure. My fingers are killing me anyway.” She wiggles her red digits at us.

“I’m in.” More time with Raleigh is only a good thing, even if I have to share her with Lachlan.

“Let’s do Horsetooth Brewing.” Lachlan types into his phone. “Now?”

I nod, and so does Raleigh.

“Great, because Barrett Steele is going to meet us there.” Lachlan holds up his phone for us. “He responded yes instantly.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I groan. That was a trap. He had me—and Raleigh—agree before revealing he’d invited my nemesis.

What a smart, conniving asshole.

“Who’s Barrett Steele?” Raleigh asks, looking between us with raised eyebrows.

“He’s the guy who flipped Atticus over during the last game and hurt his—” Lachlan looks pointedly at my groin.

“Ohhhh, no.” Raleigh covers her mouth with her hand.

“Also the player who the Blizzard just acquired.” Lachlan practically giggles with glee.

“No!” Raleigh’s eyes widen.

“And why are we going to get a drink with him?” My voice is tight. Can I bail? Shit. But Raleigh would probably still go and I’d be leaving her alone with Lachlan and Barrett.

“Because we’re supposed to be nice to him. Coach Jackson asked. Also, Kellen already texted us saying we should take him out. ”

“Fuck that.”

Raleigh laughs. “How bad can he be?”

I give her a look.

It’s gonna be bad.

Barrett Steele is charming the shit out of Raleigh.

Not hitting on her, exactly, but he’s smiling and witty and I fucking detest him with every bone in my body.

He looks fit. Like, ripped. Taller than I am. Bright blue eyes. Straight blond hair sticking out from underneath a baseball cap.

A backwards baseball cap.

Is that what I look like? Fuck.

I want to punch him.

And he still hasn’t apologized for that last game. Not that it would help. Not that I’d accept his apology.

“I’m the second of four kids.” Barrett leans back and links his hands behind his head, his triceps popping out.

Well fuck you, Barrett, I have impressive triceps too.

“My older sister plays pro soccer and my younger twin brothers are playing hockey in college.”

“So there’s going to be another couple Barrett Steeles in the NHL soon?” Lachlan is captivated by the kid. He should be making fun of him with me, not starting some kind of bromance.

“Before I know it.” Barrett adjusts his baseball cap and Raleigh watches him do it.

I really, really want to punch him.

I excuse myself for a second and head to the bathroom to throw some water on my face. Leaning on the porcelain sink, I stare at myself in the mirror.

Pull it the fuck together, dude.

This isn’t about Barrett Steele. Not really. It’s about me getting in my own head about so many things. The fact that I suddenly don’t feel as confident as I have my entire life. With hockey and with women.

With Raleigh.

I walk back out and stop at the bar for another round of drinks.

The brewery has open, tall ceilings and wooden paneling on the walls.

One side of the room has a mural painted on it that I haven’t noticed before, depicting Colorado mountains and blue skies.

Raleigh’s RV needs a paint job, so I ask the bartender about it and she gives me a business card of the artist.

I feel much calmer, but I walk back to the table and sit just as Barrett asks Raleigh a question.

“What about you, Raleigh? What’s your story?” Barrett leans back in his chair, hands folded on his stomach.

I imagine he was talking about himself the entire time I was gone. But now? Asking Raleigh about herself? Fuck me. He is really risking his life right now.

Women must see through him.There’s no way Raleigh will be interested in him.

“Well,” Raleigh says, her cheeks rosy. From the alcohol? Or Barrett’s attention? It better be the first one. “I’m on sabbatical from my job and driving an RV around.”

“That’s amazing. I’ve always wanted to do that.” Barrett reaches for his beer and takes a long swig, and we all watch him.

He sure as fuck has not always wanted to do that.

“Yeah?” Raleigh says. I don’t like the interested look on her face.

“Maybe next summer in the offseason I’ll rent some ridiculously luxurious camper. Visit all the national parks. Star gaze, hike, you know.” Barrett winks at Raleigh.

Winks at her. I clench my hand around my glass of beer.

“My RV is definitely not luxurious.” Raleigh chuckles.

Lachlan snorts softly and I whip my head to him. He’s looking back and forth between Raleigh, Barrett, and me with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face .

“You alright, mate?” he says to me.

Barrett and Raleigh stop talking and look over.

“Of course. Why would I not be alright, mate ?”

“No reason.” But Lachlan smirks and turns his attention to Barrett. Thankfully, my friend does something useful and asks Barrett a series of boring questions about how he’s settling in.

Raleigh leans over to me and places a hand on my forearm.

“Hey,” she says in a low voice, only for me. “I had an idea.”

I lean in, loving her attention on me. Loving her hand on my arm.

God, I’m such a brat.

“Tell me.”

She holds up her other hand. “A hockey cross-stitch series. Starting with something like hockey is the only love I need or boyfriend requirements: hockey player .”

I chuckle. “Sure, but can you can handle an onslaught of more orders? Aren’t you still buried underneath zombies?”

“Is that an undead joke?” Raleigh twitches her mouth to the side.

“An unintentional one.”

“And you’re cute in assuming I’d get a slew of orders.” She cocks her head at me. “Or something like I only date hockey players .”

“Do you?”

“Clearly not.” Raleigh laughs and leans back, regrettably removing her hand from my arm. “As I’ve never dated a hockey player.”

“We can fix that,” Barrett says, butting his big fucking head into our conversation.

Honestly, I am going to body slam this guy.

“Raleigh is on a dating ban.” I immediately regret the words as everyone at the table turns to me, Lachlan with a smirk, Barrett with raised eyebrows, Raleigh with narrowed eyes. “Self-imposed,” I rush to add. “Right, Raleigh? ”

“I wouldn’t say that exactly, but…” She turns to Barrett. “I recently got divorced.”

“Oh, sorry to hear that.” His face crumples in manufactured empathy. His fingers twitch on the table and I picture him reaching over and squeezing her hand.

He better fucking not.

I curls my toes. I shouldn’t care if he touches her, laughs with her, dates her, etc. I shouldn’t care what she thinks of him. Or of me, for that matter.

But I do.

For fuck’s sake, I do.

I want to spend more time with Raleigh.

I’m gonna ask her to hang out again. And again. And again.

That feeling of this being a big deal—spending time with her this summer—is heavy on my shoulders.