Page 7

CHAPTER

SIX

AMBER

Stepping inside the D.C. Eagles ice plex brings a smile to my face. Actually, a full-on cheesy grin. Being in the icy cold building, finding a seat on the bleachers, brings back so many good memories from when Ford played varsity hockey at our high school.

After shopping, we stopped back at Ford’s place just long enough for me to restock the diaper bag, grab some warm layers for myself and Nella, then head out again. Thank goodness Nella sleeps well in her carrier. My back is aching from carrying her around all morning, but that’s okay. I wouldn’t miss the chance to watch my best friend’s photo shoot for the convenience of putting her down for a nap in her pack-and-play.

Ford points me toward the stands behind the glass where a smattering of family members have congregated, then walks toward the ice where they have lights and camera equipment set up. Today’s photo shoot is for a calendar the team puts out every year. The guys pose with dogs and cats from a local animal shelter, and all proceeds from calendar sales go to the shelter. Ford loves dogs and looks forward to this every year .

I’m about to sit in the front, on an empty row of cold bleacher, when a pretty blonde starts waving at me. She comes toward me like she knows me, and I stare at her in confusion.

“You must be Amber!” she says once she’s right in front of me. She’s just a little taller than me and has shoulder-length blonde hair. Two other women trail closely behind her. One is tall and slim with short, curly hair. And the other looks like a Disney princess, with light brown hair and round, sparkly eyes.

“I’m Andie, Mitch’s fiancée,” The blonde woman says with a friendly smile, gesturing to herself, then juts a thumb behind her toward the Disney princess. “This is Mel. She’s married to West.” The petite woman smiles and wiggles her fingers in an awkward wave.

The taller one steps forward. She seems more serious than the other two, but she’s wearing a kind smile. “I’m Noel. I’m with Colby Knight.” She blushes and Mel nudges her playfully. Noel shoots her a playful glare then turns back to me. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice meeting you, too.”

Mel gets up close and personal so she can get a better look at Nella. “Oh, my gosh. Your baby is a-freaking-dorable.”

I chuckle, finding it refreshing how friendly these girls are. Ford isn’t one to share a lot of details about his friends. I know some of his teammates’ names, mostly from watching games on TV. But I didn’t realize I would meet some of their girlfriends and wives today.

“Thank you,” I say, looking down to discover that Nella isn’t even asleep. She’s just staring at Mel.

Mel is a strange name for such a dainty-looking person. I wonder if it’s a nickname. Before I can ask, she looks up at me with those blue eyes. “Can I hold her? If you don’t feel comfortable, that’s totally okay. ”

I withhold a sigh of relief. The chances I have to give my arms and back a break, are few. I’m alone in Ohio, except for the daycare I started using when I went back to work a few weeks ago. Actually, this might be the first time someone has offered to hold Nella for me just because they wanted to. My eyes begin to burn at the realization, and I have to control my facial muscles to keep my chin from shaking. “Yes, of course,” I manage to choke out.

I unbuckle the baby carrier and carefully hand Nella to Mel. I just met the woman, but now I want to be best friends with her.

Mel cradles my baby in her arms, looking at her with all the adoration this little girl deserves. My chest tightens at the reminder Nella doesn’t have any uncles or aunts…or even a father. Not any she’ll ever know, anyway. It’s surprisingly emotional for me to see her being loved on by someone other than me.

Andie leans in and stares at her, using one hand to smooth Nella’s wispy red hair. “She’s gorgeous,” she whispers.

“She really is. I’d die for vibrant red hair,” Noel says, studying Nella.

I chuckle, hoping it doesn’t sound watery. Because my emotions are definitely getting the better of me.

“Come sit with us. We saved seats right in the middle so we can watch the puppy cuteness,” Noel says, waving a hand for us to follow her.

When we make it up to the center of the bleachers and get comfy in our seats—as comfy as one can get on a metal bleacher—the guys walk out onto the ice. They’re in jeans, tennis shoes, and their jerseys. The team walks straight toward the crates and starts interacting with the animals. The dogs wag their tails, excited to make new friends. And the cats hiss and cower, not wanting to be disturbed. This should be interesting.

Noel stares at Colby and sighs.

“You’re a goner,” Mel teases, then snuggles Nella a little closer. Nella is slowly drifting off to sleep in her arms.

Andie, who’s farthest from me, leans over so she can see me past Noel and Mel. “Noel was a little resistant to Colby’s charms at first, so it’s fun to see her all googly-eyed.”

“Really?” I ask, looking at Noel and then at Colby Knight, who’s walking—no, swaggering—across the ice. “But he’s so dreamy.”

Noel smirks and rolls her eyes again.

“How long are you in town?” Mel asks from her seat beside me.

“I have to fly back to Ohio Sunday night.” Does my voice sound as depressed as my heart feels? Oh yeah, my heart. My stomach dips at the reminder that I have my appointment Monday after arriving back home. My heart begins to race with the possibility of being in an operating room. I breathe in a calming breath and push it from my mind, for now.

“Aw, such a short visit,” Andie says, looking at Nella in adoration. “Can I hold her too?”

With a smile, I nod.

Mel narrows her eyes at her friend briefly, but sighs. “Okay, fine. I’ll share the baby cuteness.”

Andie makes grabby hands as Mel adjust Nella so she can hand her off.

Andie snuggles her close and sniffs her hair. “Why do babies always smell so good?”

I scoff. “Trust me, they don’t always smell good.”

The girls laugh. Now that Nella is closer, Noel studies her. “Wow, they’re just so sweet and innocent at this age. It’s nice to know they don’t come out as cocky eighteen-year-olds trying to get out of homework.”

My eyebrows raise slightly, wondering what the hell she’s talking about.

“Noel is a history professor at Arlington U. She has some difficult students,” Mel explains.

Noel blows out a deep breath, as if sloughing off her annoyance. She leans over Andie and Nella to look at me. “What do you do, Amber?”

“I’m a hair stylist,” I say with a smile. I’m proud of what I do, and I’m really good at it. Sure, I’m not thrilled with my current salon, but I love that I get to be creative every day.

“No way!” Noel ruffles her curls. “I wish you lived here. My stylist just retired.”

Mel combs a hand through her curtain bangs. “My last stylist messed up my bangs.”

Andie looks up from the sleeping baby. “I have a stylist who’s great with hair…but she has no filter. She always asks creepy questions about Mitch.”

They all groan.

“Oh, I hate that!” This comes from Mel.

Noel glances across the ice and bursts into laughter. “Don’t look now, but I think Mitch ‘The Machine’ is a little terrified.”

We all look up and see Mitch, West, Colby, and Ford staring at us. Mitch’s eyes are wide, and his skin is pale. He’s clearly a little freaked to see his fiancée doting over a baby.

Andie grins at him and blows him a kiss before returning her focus to Nella.

Colby says something to Mitch, and they all break into laughter, except Mitch. The joke must’ve been at his expense.

I chuckle. “Mitch realizes babies aren’t contagious, right?” I ask in a teasing tone .

“He’ll be okay.” Andie grins. “It’s good for him to be a little scared once in a while, ya know?”

“When is your wedding?” I ask, having a hard time picturing the large, grumpy athlete marrying this bright ray of sunshine.

“Right after Christmas! I can’t wait.” Her gaze flits up to her fiancé again, who’s now holding a kitten while a photographer moves him in front of the cameras.

Mel snickers. “Mitch with a kitten is something I never thought I’d see. He’s usually plowing into his opponents. Sometimes after a hit the other player will fly several feet before landing.”

Noel and I grimace. But Andie looks on and sighs happily. “I love how powerful he is.”

“Better wear a helmet on your honeymoon,” Mel teases, making Andie laugh.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be prepared.” Andie winks.

“Ew.” Noel rolls her eyes. “Okay, my turn with the baby.”

Noel’s face morphs into a gooey expression as she reaches for Nella. Nella is sleeping through all the fuss. Up until now, Nella had been held by myself…our doctors and nurses, my daycare lady, and Ford.

I kind of wish she was awake to appreciate it all, I think to myself but regret it a few seconds later when she abruptly wakes up. Noel is trying so hard to hold Nella in a way that will make her comfortable, but it’s just not working. I wrinkle my nose and stand to take her from Noel.

“Sorry, she’s probably getting hungry.”

Noel reluctantly hands her back to me.