“Ah, yeah,” Frankie said, looking down her hands, unable to hold Jules' curious stare. “Unfortunately the trip didn’t work for them this time but they were all really sad to miss it.”
She didn’t know why she felt the need to lie, but she supposed it was easier to shrug it off right now than it was to open herself up and bare the scars of old wounds that had healed a long time ago. Maybe there would come a time when dredging up her past was worth the pain that knowingly came with it but that day was not today.
“I’m sorry, that must be really disappointing for you but hey…you know what?”
Frankie finally looked up again to find Jules smiling at her and the sight of it filled her with relief, because what she’d come to know about Jules was that she seemed to know when to leave something alone and hold her curiosity.
“What?”
“Tonight you have me and I’m honestly pretty amazing company.”
And that was a truth Frankie couldn’t deny.
They held each other's stare for a long moment before breaking into a fit of hushed laughter, not wanting to draw attention to themselves but Frankie glanced around to see if anyone noticed just to be safe. Satisfied that the people surrounding them were lost in their own conversations, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the puck.
”I know it’s kind of silly but…this is for you. You asked me for it and I didn’t want to let you down.”
It felt even sillier to borrow a silver permanent marker from the equipment manager before they left the arena earlier in the evening and scribbling the littleinscription followed by her autograph, knowing it was done especially for Jules, made her feel oddly self-conscious.
Even if it was only meant as a fun gift, something you’d give a supportive friend to mark a special occasion, Frankie couldn’t help but feel like it meant something more as she held it out for Jules.
Their fingers brushed as Jules accepted the puck and the slight contact was enough to make Frankie’s pulse jump. Jules' features softened and she smiled, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.
“To Jules,” she whispered, reading the inscription aloud. “My biggest fan.”
”Like I said…I know it’s silly.”
“No. It’s…it's not silly, Frankie.” Jules lifted her eyes from the puck as she traced the signature with her index finger. “I love it.”
“Nice!” Cam said, the unexpected sound of his voice breaking the spell that had grabbed hold of Frankie and Jules. They both turned towards him and he fixed his eyes on the puck Jules was cradling in her hand. She hugged it against her chest like it was a secret meant only for her and Frankie. “I snagged a puck for you too," he said. "Now you’ll have a whole Harbour collection.”
Frankie sat up straighter in her seat, feeling like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn't be doing and the acknowledgement of it was so sudden that it nearly gave her whiplash.
She was a coach, a professional, and it was far too easy to linger next to Jules and risk getting lost in her orbit again, far too easy to lose sight of the people around them, where they were and why they were there in the first place.
”I’m going to go make some rounds,” she said, pushing her chair back to excuse herself from the table, not missing the way the brightness in Jules' eyes dimmed immediately. “I’ve got to chat with Neil about something and then I might head back to the hotel, I’m getting a bit of a headache. I think the events of tonight are catching up with me.”
“Really? Already?” Jules asked, her brow furrowed, voice pleading. “You didn’t even eat. You must be starving.”
“I’m okay.” Frankie waved her off. “Really.”
Jules pushed her own chair back then stood and the three other sets of eyes at their table were on them instantly. “I’ll go back to the hotel with you. I know we’re staying at the same place.”
God, this woman was so sweet, so kind. But Jules going with her was abadidea because Frankie knew, she could feel it as she looked at Jules, whose face had concern etched into her features, that being alone with her was a test Frankie wasn’t sure she’d pass tonight.
“No, no. I’ll be okay,” she said, smiling at Cam, Mason, and Charlie before fixing her gaze back on Jules. “You stay and celebrate with your brother. You guys deserve it.”
Jules opened her mouth to say more but finally, she acquiesced.
A line had to be drawn between who Jules was and what Frankie had already begun to feel and even though there was no written rule to keep her from falling more, sheneededto write her own rule or she’d risk not being able to pick herself back up when it all went wrong.
Chapter 16
Christmas
“Ican’t believe you’re taking this woman with you to Miami. You've known her for what, two weeks?”
Cam walked into his bedroom and tossed a pair of sandals into the open suitcase next to where Jules was lounging on his bed.
