The girl— um, and nowveryhot businesswoman— who gave up on us—on me—over five years ago.The one I never quite got over.
A grueling practice had already taken the wind out of me, but her unexpected appearance knocks me on my fucking ass.If I weren’t already in a chair, I might have collapsed at seeing her in the flesh.Surprise, confusion, and longing hit me hard when I realize it’s her.
What in the fuck is my ex doing in Vancouver?
Cherry.
The last time we spoke was six months before I was drafted.We’d spent the better part of that December and January together.It was our last night together, and we were sitting in my car, trying to keep warm in the frigid Calgary winter.
“Dane… I think we need to say goodbye… It just won’t work with us being so far away… Let’s just part friends.”
Even at eighteen, I knew she was making sense, that this was the best thing for us to do.We were going in different directions—she was leaving for college in the States, and I was going into the draft that June.Our romance had been intense and short-lived, but the relationship was over before it even began.
But knowing that still didn’t stop my heart from breaking when she left me that night and I never heard from her again.Since then, I’ve chosen not to get close to another woman.I don’t want to stick my heart out on my sleeve only for it to be iced.I’ve decided to live free and easy, enjoying the company of women without the hassles of getting involved.Some might call me a player off the ice, but honestly, it’s out of self-preservation.
If I couldn’t be with Halle, I didn’t want to be with anyone.
“I wish we had more time, Cherry,” I murmur, my lips finding the soft warm skin of her neck.“I wish…”
“Just promise me you won’t forget me, Dane.”
And to this day, I never have.She left a hole in my empty heart that I’ve never tried to fill again.I suppose you could say I went off the rails in terms of the number of women I’ve been with.Since that frigid January night, I only want to have a good time and not get hooked.
From his seat next to me, Thorny elbows me in the ribs, bringing me back to the present.Rubbing the spot, I swing my head toward him and grumble, “What the fuck, bruh?”
His look telegraphsWhat’s wrong with you, bro, and he gestures with the universal signal to shut up.“Pipe down, bruh.You just said cherry super loud.”
I blink, realizing that a few of the guys have all turned around and are staring at me like I’ve totally lost my mind.Jesus, maybe I have?I’ve barely heard anything Coach has said in the past five minutes.My ears ring like I just got body-checked into the boards and thrown down on the ice.
When I look back to the front of the room, I intentionally lock my eyes on Karis, our team owner, and tell myself tofocus, goddammit.She’s talking about some changes on the leadership staff and upcoming community events that need team representation from some of us players.
Karis begins rattling off event names, dates, and the players assigned to each one.I cringe and my head lolls forward when she reads off my name for some interview podcast.Thorny makes a noise at the back of his throat, and I throw him a glare.
“Seems like I skated past that one,” he snickers in my ear.“She obviously wants only the camera-ready smiles and those who don’t whistle when they speak.And we all know that ain’t me.”
I flip him off, but Thorny smiles maniacally, exposing the gap from a missing front tooth.
“You got that right,” I murmur, and feel him laughing silently next to me.
Costa, Thorny, Rossy and Wolf have been the guys I’ve hung out with quite a bit in the past year.Since there are only a handful of single guys on the team, they make for good wingmen out at the bars when we go out.Well, except for Wolf.He’s as grumpy as they come, and he never says much unless it’s a curse in German, which we can never understand.
Thorny and I also played a lot of golf together last summer, along with Ballas Keeney, who would join us when he could get away from the new day job.Rossy wisely stayed off the course because he sucks at golf, and Wolf disappeared for the majority of the summer and went back to Austria to visit his family.
Karis ends her speech and leaves the stage to a round of applause, waving at us as she heads off, and Coach returns to the podium.He discusses strategies and line assignments for tonight’s game, then briefly turns to chat with Trevor Wilkes.
“Team, I want to introduce you to our newest staff member, Halle MacAlister.”He gestures with an outstretched arm to Halle, who looks more than a little shell-shocked from her place behind Trevor.“Halle will be responsible for collecting and analyzing all the team’s available data.Welcome aboard our Vikings ship, Halle.”
Applause and the team’sSkolchant erupt through the room.I see a red blush spread over Halle’s neck and face.
Thorny gives a low whistle and leans close to my ear.“Damn, who knew data nerds were so damn hot?”My hand darts out instinctively, and I punch his chest.He rubs a palm over the spot.“Fuuuck, bro… that hurt.”
An instinctive, possessive growl erupts from my chest.“Not cool, Thorn.Show some respect.”
He sniffs and lets out a low grumble.“Whatevs, dude.Like you weren’t thinking the same thing.”
My gaze remains laser-focused on Cherry.I’ve never seen her looking so professional and put together before.When we dated, she was always in hoodies and jeans.Or naked with me.
I shake that mental image free from my head to avoid sporting a stiffy; this is not the setting for that.
