Page 5
COLE
NOAH: #GHOSTHOCKEYDADDIES unite!
HUNTER: That’s not a thing.
I snorted. Like a puppy who didn’t know how to give up when you tried to get it to stop jumping up on you, the goalie was growing on me. Text chat, on the other hand?
Not my favorite thing.
NOAH: You can make anything a thing, FLYBOY.
HUNTER: Nope.
NOAH: Iceman
HUNTER: Max Vaughn has claim on that one.
COLE: Are you trying to give Hunter a nickname?
NOAH: Add to the conversation, Romeo, or stay out of it.
HUNTER: Theo should be Romeo with his damn romance book crap.
NOAH: Nah, Romeo fits. Or it will.
COLE: What the fuck does that mean?
NOAH: I have a second sense about these things.
HUNTER: It’s sixth sense, LeCav.
NOAH: OH! EINSTEIN.
COLE: Nope.
HUNTER: DUDE.
NOAH: Daddy?
COLE: From what I’ve heard, that’s also Theo.
NOAH: HOCKEY DADDY? Shit, the #booksta world loves a single dad trope!
HUNTER: Are you speaking english? Or is this some crazy French Canadian thing?
NOAH: We could go French, but Cole just got here. Let him flounder a little longer before we clue him in on the learn another language thing.
COLE: I’m out. See you at practice.
NOAH: Seriously, do you guys need a ride to get to the creepy trailer?
COLE: THE WHAT?
HUNTER: He means where we’re getting our spooky on for the haunted house. English, LeCav. Not Noah speak.
There was no fucking way I’d miss a second of watching Eden arrive or leave. No #ghosthockeydaddies carpool for Romeo.
Shit. Did I just use Noah’s nicknames? Definitely losing my shit.
COLE: Meet you there. I have something to take care of before.
I shoved my phone in the pocket of my track pants and grabbed the keys from the hook next to the door and did a quick scan of my place. The new furniture arrived the night Noah spilled about Eden to me over lunch after practice, and the once empty open floor plan living area had a sectional couch positioned in front of the flat screen mount on the wall but still took advantage of the floor to ceiling windows and the view that cost me more than my place back in Seattle. The fuzzy blankets and marshmallow Yankee candles were supposed to be delivered tomorrow. Yet another detail, beyond the Junior Mint addiction, Noah spilled about Eden.
My phone pinged, and instead of Noah’s face popping up, the one person I’d been avoiding for over eight years invaded my world.
My father. I ignored it for a few moments, texting the barista at the cafe just around the corner that Eden frequented, making sure she had her favorite pink drink ready to go the moment Eden walked through the door.
Strawberry pink dragon fruit lemonade. Minimal ice. Fuck, just picturing her lips wrapped around the straw had my dick ready to fuck drop the puck. Center ice. Fucking face off.
Thumbs up received with a smiley face. My tip on top of the standing order also included keeping who ordered it for her a secret.
I ignored the other text. The fifth one since the game, and I still wasn’t in the mood for fake apologies or mending fences bullshit. Fuck that. We might be in the same city, but he’s never been to even one of my games, even when I played in the pee wee leagues. And when I played in college? He was more concerned about the damn Dean’s List.
And then it happened, and we haven’t talked since then.
Clad in my team rain-proof coat, I headed out to the garage and hit my key fob, lights flashing in the fluorescent lighting. I tipped my chin at the guy who lived below me with his partner. Thank fuck he seemed to be the kind of guy to keep to himself. Not that I ever ignored the guy, but we exchanged a nod here and there. The light rain fell as the blades swished back and forth in a rhythmic pattern. Cars passed by in a blur as I mentally went over my schedule for the next few days. Skills practice, conditioning, a few late night errands, playlist for the haunted house, morning skate, and the media insanity Laney texted me about earlier this morning to help hype up the Halloween event.
Fingers drummed an impatient rhythm on the steering wheel as I waited at a red light just around the corner from her house. One quick stop, and then I could breathe a little easier. This insane need for Eden had me doing fucking things I’d normally never even dream of, The light turned green, and the car behind me honked. I waved my hand, and made the turn toward where Eden and Zoe lived. Which just so happened to be a few doors down from Noah.
After making sure no one was around that might notice, I parked and pulled the small folded piece of paper from my pocket and climbed out.
And left a little something to let Eden know I was watching out for her.
As I drove past the cafe, I caught a glimpse of bright pink hair through the front window, and fuck if I didn’t love the satisfaction of seeing my girl holding the drink I had ready for her.
Eden would be mine. After this weekend, there was no doubt in my mind.
I had a plan. And nothing would stand in my way.