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“So are you gonna see Rake tonight? Or are you running back to Sonoma to hide?” Lucy asks.
“Yes, I’m going to see him tonight. He’s going to teach me some more about hockey.”
“Hope that’s not all you’re going to do,” Gilly says.
“Oh, it won’t be.”
54
PETAL
I pullinto the rink parking garage using the pass Rake got me. He suggested I stop by at the end of one of his practices so he could show me some of the stuff he does with a stick and puck.
Or something like that.
Anyway, it will be nice to see his friends again. I want to make sure they show up for my mother’s party. It’ll be awful for Rake if the party is only my mother’s friends and a bunch of old-time San Franciscans.
I show my pass to security and settle in behind the hockey glass—Rake told me that’s what it’s called—on the first row of benches, and glance around at the handful of other people watching.
Oh shit.
I spot Rake’s father on the other side of the rink.
I wonder if Rake’s seen him yet.
The guys on the ice are doing some fancy stuff with their sticks, doing what must be the ‘stickhandling’ skills Rake actedout for me last night. He looks my way and throws me a devastatingly cute smile.
My heart flips and I feel all tingly inside. I give him a little wave with my fingers.
It appears he has not spotted his father.
I consider approaching Rake’s dad, to see what he wants and also suggest it might not be the best time for a visit. But if I get up, Rake will look for me. And then will find me talking to him.
That could get ugly. But I have to do it.
I quietly get up and walk around the rink when Rake seems to be concentrating really hard, hoping he won’t notice me moving.
“Mr. Hanson,” I say, sliding into a seat next to him, “hello.”
“Hello, Miss Parker. Saw you on the other side of the rink.”
Did he also see how brilliantly his son smiled at me? I suppose not.
“Mr. Hanson, do you think we could chat out in the lobby?”
He looks around and shrugs. “Sure. That’s fine.”
He follows me, and before we exit, I look back to see if Rake’s noticed me missing. He still looks busy.
“Mr. Hanson, I don’t think it’s a good idea you’re here,” I say with all the kindness I can. I don’t mean to hurt the man, but I do want him to know he’s about to walk into an ugly hornet’s nest.
He scoffs, because of course. “Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you.”
No surprise there.
“Mr. Hanson, I told Rake about how you came to see me at the bookstore. He was very upset. I know he wants to talk to you, but this might not be the place.”
“Have you considered what we talked about?” he asks. “What you’re going to do about distracting my son?”
