Page 22

A guitar philistine

Remy

The team hadn’t been taking all three of us goalies to away games.

The cost/benefit ratio of needing an additional backup goalie with the time it would take to fly somewhere in North America tilted to only flying the third guy in if something happened to one of the other two.

But in Europe, with the time changes involved, all three of us went.

I was relieved to get some space from Sophie. I was afraid she’d be upset after that kiss. I’d had a lot to drink, and the details were a little hazy. But just because I’d enjoyed the kiss didn’t mean she had. Being away would give me time to stop freaking out over it.

She was kind and striking-looking. Tolerated Beast and me. And had seemed okay after. But she was Otts’s ex, and I wasn’t ready to shoot my career in the foot just yet.

We had a special plane reserved so everyone could sleep on the way to Europe.

They’d scheduled an overnight flight to try to help with jet lag.

Getting older, that jet lag sucked. And damn, Finland was cold.

Lappy started the first game and Constantin the second, and we flew back to Austin with two losses for our troubles.

Lappy seemed to take it hard, but as a goalie you had to move past a bad game and start fresh for the next.

He tried to ask Keats if he was upset about the loss. Keats frowned and said of course he was, but Lappy wasn’t asking because he thought Keats didn’t care.

“Losses get to all of us, but we have to shake it off. Do something to get rid of the stress—bad feelings—and be ready for the next game.” I paused to see if Lappy was following.

Keats nodded, but I wasn’t sure Lappy understood—either the language thing, or the getting rid of stress part. I was trying, but not sure I was helping him the way the team hoped.

I didn’t see much of Sophie when we got back, nothing more than hello when we crossed paths in the driveway.

Had I just imagined that kiss? Goober showed up almost daily at the top of the stairs.

And anytime the door was open, she’d slip in.

Beast grew accustomed to her, and wasn’t aggressive beyond occasional growling and chewing on the towel.

Goober would grab some high ground and pretend to ignore Beast and me.

I’d got Beast new towels, hoping to replace the mangled mess the current one was, but Beast was committed to what he had.

I’d offered to drop the replacements off at the shop, but Sophie messaged that I didn’t need to.

Both Sophie and her brother could afford a cheap cotton towel but it seemed like I was taking advantage.

However, forcing her to accept a towel she obviously didn’t want felt wrong too, especially if she was avoiding me.

Instead, I folded it up on the counter where Goober hung out so she’d be more comfortable.

Yeah, I was making the cat who snuck in to harass my dog more comfortable.

The team was on the road for another couple of games and I was left in Austin.

After morning workouts with the other healthy scratches, I spent the afternoon at the shelter.

Beast was now tolerant enough of Bob that I could walk the two of them on my own, and the dog walks kept me from fretting too much over my lack of game time.

I stayed to clean up for a bit and talked about the animals with Delores.

When we came back to the carriage house, as soon as I opened the truck door for Beast he headed for the workshop, quicker than I could grab him.

He was a fast little fucker when he wanted to be.

“What…Beast?” Sophie looked up just as I appeared in the doorway. “You lost someone?”

“I assume Goober is here?”

Sophie jerked her head toward a table at the side of the shop, and there was the cat. Beast sat down where he could keep an eye on her. “They’re still getting along, then.”

“I may have put a towel on the counter for her to sleep on when she’s upstairs.”

Sophie glanced at the animals. “She’s getting into the apartment? I’m sorry, she shouldn’t be bothering you.”

I leaned on the doorframe. “I’m not sure you could do much to stop her.”

Sophie’s lips twisted and I tried not to stare. “I can at least try a little harder.”

“Don’t. Not unless it bothers you. I think they’re each a little lonely.” I took a breath. “And speaking of that, I think we have to talk about that night.”

She looked down. “Do we?”

I wasn’t going to stop now that I’d started. “I like you. I mean…I thought we were almost becoming friends?”

She met my eyes for a moment, nodding.

“So far the people I’ve met in Austin have all been hockey people, except for a couple of people at the animal shelter, and one of those guys won’t talk. It’s nice to know someone outside of hockey.”

She set down the planer in her hand. “Do you kiss your friends? Or people at the shelter?”

Howie flashed into my head and I almost shuddered. “I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have?—”

She lifted her hand. “Don’t apologize, it was a mutual kiss. But we can’t go there, for a lot of reasons.”

“Then can we take a step back to being friends?”

She tilted her head. “You’d still like to be friends. Just friends.”

“I would.”

A smile spread across her face. “I’d like that.”

“Me too.”

“Would you like to join Diane and me for dinner, friend? We were planning to meet up, but nothing special. I have to return that to her—” She pointed her head to a guitar neck at the end of the table, with a spray of stars running over it.

They left a trail of glitter behind them as they spread out from the top as the neck widened.

There had been nothing there when she started, I knew, and how she’d done such fine, detailed work on a hard surface like that was beyond me.

“That’s incredible.”

Her cheeks flushed. “You don’t have to?—”

“I know I don’t have to but it’s beautiful.”

Her hands fluttered. “Thanks. So, anyway, we decided to eat and talk.”

“I don’t want to be a nuisance.”

“No, she’s going to pressure me to take over the shop, and I could use the buffer.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay, I need to shower. I was walking Bob today and he drools.”

“Imagine that.” She held back a grin as she looked at Beast, who of course was drooling.

“Anyway, just let me know when you’re leaving and I’ll take Beast out to pee so he’s okay in the apartment for a while.”

“Are you worried about Goober upsetting him?”

“Who’s going to hear?”

She grinned. “Fair point. Okay, I’ll need maybe an hour.”

Sophie estimated well. She stopped at the carriage house with her Honda just short of an hour later and carefully wrapped the neck of the guitar before laying it in the back seat.

We drove to String Theory, the route familiar to me after my trips to the shelter.

She asked how that was going, and even though I didn’t usually talk a lot, she laughed as I told her about Howie and Bob and some of the other dogs I’d walked with Beast.

“You think it’s helping him?”

“I’m not sure if Goober is making him social so he’s getting along with the other dogs, or the other way around.”

“Maybe it’s because of you.”

My cheeks warmed as I shook my head. My talents stopped at the rink. And fortunately for me, we’d arrived at the shop.

Diane didn’t seem to mind when we both stepped in the door. Sophie unwrapped the guitar neck with the star inlay. Diane held it up to the body, to see how it would look when assembled.

“That’s gorgeous, Sophie. They’re going to love it.” Diane was right if even a guitar philistine like me could see how beautiful it was.

“Thanks.” Sophie was smiling widely, pleased to have her work appreciated by someone who knew what they were doing.

“I told her it was beautiful. Though what I don’t know about guitars could fill a couple of books.” My compliment might be less awkward when Diane had already backed up my words.

“Here, let me show you something.” Diane pulled out a guitar and carefully set it on the table.

“Wow.” I didn’t know guitars, but this was impressive.

Sophie shot me a glance. “It’s a classical guitar, in case you’re wondering.

The back and sides are made of rosewood, and the top is a special European spruce.

The grain pattern on this one is incredible.

” Her fingers just grazed the surface. “The wood is expensive, but Diane can be trusted to do the material justice.”

Diane smirked. “I’m not the only one, Sophie.”

Sophie ignored the comment. “I can’t wait to hear how it sounds when you’re done.”

Diane set it back in a stand. “I’m looking forward to that too. Which reminds me, have you thought more about taking over?”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”

“But you’re not sure.”

Sophie sighed. “You’re a tough act to follow. I’m afraid people will be disappointed with what I can do after they’ve been working with you.”

Diane’s mouth pulled down. “I wish you had as much confidence in yourself as I do.”

Sophie huffed. “This isn’t just insecurity. Anyone taking over for you would have high expectations to meet.”

Diane narrowed her eyes. “While you’re considering, why don’t you do a custom build guitar, just to see how it goes?”

“What?”

“Make a guitar. Test your skills. Face your fears.”

Sophie’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t have the supplies or equipment. My shop is fitted for repair work, not building instruments.”

“Come over here every week, work on it for a while, and we can talk. I’ll tell you what you need to know about the business and you can ask questions.”

“We could carpool when I’m coming to the shelter,” I offered.

Sophie glared at me. “I don’t need more pressure, thank you very much.”

Diane, however, gave me a big smile. “I like this guy.”

“So, are we eating or what?” Sophie obviously wanted to change the subject, and Diane let her. But the expression on her face showed she thought she was winning.

By the time our food arrived, Diane had convinced Sophie to at least make a guitar.