Page 61

Sixty-One

SUNNY

“Let’s go!” Ellie throws up the devil horns, and to appease her, I do the same.

She giggles, and I can’t help but laugh alongside her.

Rhodes, being the very last to climb on the ice, skates over to us and small ice chunks spray the side of the glass.

He winks, and my stomach dips.

A few young boys and their dads bang on the glass from a couple seats down. Rhodes taps his stick against the glass, nodding at them.

They lose their minds. Ellie and I hide our smiles.

“Daddy is popular,” she whispers.

She knows that Rhodes doesn’t like her in the limelight, and she takes that very seriously–never indicating to anyone who her father is.

But she’s right. He’s popular.

To more than just young boys and their hockey-loving hearts.

The Volkova jersey that I’m wearing doesn’t stand out at all. There are so many other women wearing Volkova jerseys in the stands that I can’t help but feel a little jealous.

But for all they know, I’m just another fan of the game.

The other team comes onto the ice, and the boys beside us start to boo.

Ellie grins and starts to do it too. “Booooooo!”

I snap a picture of her with her thumb pointing down and her lips forming an O. I send it to Rhodes, knowing he’ll get it during intermission.

The game starts off without any issues.

Both teams are fast and aggressive.

I wince each time the puck flies in our direction. At one point, Rhodes slams against the glass in front of the boys, and my heart leaps in my chest.

Ellie, unworried, jumps to her feet and claps.

Rhodes ends up making a connection with the puck and sends it to Malaki.

The whistle blows, and the play stops.

Off-sides.

The guys reposition, and they look tired already. It’s been four minutes and only one line change—one that Rhodes wasn’t a part of.

We win the puck drop, and it flies to the left, heading in the right direction.

“Yes!” I shout, grabbing onto Ellie’s hand.

She squeezes mine, and then we both sit and wait for the play to unfold.

I keep my gaze pinned to Rhodes.

Watching him play hockey is captivating. He is focused, driven, and patient. With his chest rising, he glances to the bench and nods, taking off in that direction.

I follow him like a magnet. I selfishly want him to look at me, but I know he’s too into the game for me to pop into his head like he continues to pop into mine.

My cheeks warm when I slip my gaze to the hallway that leads from the bench.

What we did earlier was so uncharacteristic of the both of us, but walking back out onto the ice during Family Day, I don’t think either one of us regretted it.

I bite my lip and find him on the bench again.

To my surprise, he’s staring right at me.

His eyebrow lifts, and I roll my lips.

He caught me.

There’s a quick shake of his head paired with his smirk, and suddenly, he’s standing again to get back on the ice.

I cover my smile with my hand and shift my gaze over the rest of the team, only to pause.

My smile falls along with my heart.

The entire arena blurs. Panic rushes to my fingertips.

I grip the sleeve of Ellie’s sweatshirt.

I hear her voice, yet I can’t pull away.

I’m pinned with shock, and reality comes crashing around me like I’m in the middle of a burning building with no way out.

The devil himself smiles at me.

What is he doing here?

What is he doing behind the Blue Devils bench in a suit, like he’s coaching?

My heart stumbles back to life, and I turn toward Ellie.

“Sunny? Are you okay?” Her eyes grow wide, and worry lines curve around her little mouth.

I swallow past the lump of dread and confusion.

Is this a coincidence?

Too many questions hit me from every direction, and my thoughts spiral.

“I think I’m sick.” It’s not a lie. I’m so sick to my stomach that I have to grab a hold of it. “Let’s go get you to the box so you can be with Scottie. Is that okay?”

Ellie nods quickly, more concerned with me than she is the game at this point.

What am I going to do?

He’s not even supposed to be near me, yet he’s here? Coaching?

There was no flicker of surprise on his face when he saw me, which is beyond concerning.

And then there’s Rhodes. What do I tell him? That I used to nanny for his new coach, and he’s the reason why I left Washington?

I feel the blood drain from my face.

Is he still stalking me? Did he find out that I was living in Chicago, and that’s why he’s here?

“Hey, girls!” Scottie and the other wives cheer when Ellie drags me into the box. Scottie rushes toward me when she sees the look on my face. “Whoa, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“She’s sick,” Ellie answers for me.

“You’re sick? Here, come sit.” Scottie grips my hand and guides me to sit. I’m so nervous that I’m shaking. I don’t want her to let go.

“Here’s some water.” Someone hands me a bottle of water, but I make no move to drink it.

Scottie places her hand on my forehead. “You’re cold and pale.”

My eyes are watery, and the shaking gets worse.

“Hey.” She bends down and gets on my level. “What’s going on?” She keeps her voice low, somehow knowing that something is really wrong, and it isn’t that I’m ill.

“I need to leave,” I whisper, afraid Ellie will freak out.

She glances around before swinging her attention back to me. “Okay. I’ve got Ellie.”

A tear slips down my cheek, and I angrily swipe it away.

“Did something happen?”

Not yet, and it’s going to stay that way.

I suck up my emotions and shake my head, knowing I have to remain calm for Ellie.

She’s shown such improvement lately, and the last thing I want to do is ruin it by panicking in front of her.

I pull her in close. “Are you okay to stay here and enjoy the game without me? I’m not feeling well, and I don’t want to get anyone else sick.”

I don’t want to leave her, even though I know she’s perfectly fine with Scottie. There’s a nagging thought in the back of my head that keeps rearing its head, making this harder than it should be.

I can't leave her.

“Yes, I’ll stay here and root for Daddy.”

I force a smile.

Ellie’s face turns serious. “If you need to borrow my puke bowl, it’s in my bathroom, okay? Daddy cleaned it the last time I got sick.”

Puke bowl? An abrupt laugh leaves me, and I welcome the quick break from my worries.

After saying goodbye, I turn and walk out of the box, knowing it’ll probably be the last time I’m in there.

I send Rhodes a quick text.

Me: I’ve come down with something, and I’m not feeling well. Ellie is with Scottie in the box. She’ll get Ellie to you after the game.

I call an Uber since Marco is still recovering from the wreck.

My thoughts spin, and although I know Nicholas is standing behind the Blue Devils bench, coaching, I’m convinced he’ll leave and follow me throughout the arena.

I still feel his gaze pressing against me.

It isn’t until I’m tucked away safely in a stranger’s car that I feel safe again.

I pull open my phone, and there are two texts waiting for me.

My finger shakes as I open the first.

Unknown: What a coincidence. I had no idea you were in Chicago.

My heart breaks when I open the second.

Rhodes: I wondered where you went. Stay in bed. I’ll take care of you when I get home. If you need anything, text me and I’ll pick it up on my way home.

If I need anything?

What I need is to tell him the truth.

But what I’m going to get is something so much worse.