Bella was asleep when Gen’s mom came home.The key in the door was always a reminder to quickly stash away any trash, and make the place look a little less lived in.Mom had always said she hated to come home to a dirty house.
“How was work?”
Mom complained, as she often did, but Gen had learned this was more her mother’s way of decompressing from the day.On Friday nights she cleaned at a local dentist after her regular shifts, and was always tired.
“How about you?”
“It was okay.”Apart from those unsettling couple of glimpses she’d had of Kyle before.What was wrong with her that she was seeing him everywhere she turned?First at the hospital, then outside in a seat.It was like he’d infected her brain.She’d even imagined she’d glimpsed someone who looked like him on her street!
She glanced at her mom.Should she say anything about seeing Kyle lately?Probably.But if she did, Mom was sure to get mad and start climbing her high horse about how that man had got away with everything.And after the stress of the week it was just so nice to sit here, feeling calm, relaxed for once.
That conversation could wait a little longer.Even if she had a strong suspicion that it probably couldn’t wait too much more.
CHAPTER9
“Hey Kyle!Good to see you man.”
Kyle settled back on his chair, his iPad propped up against his bent knees so he could see the faces of the Northwest Ice crew.“Good to see you all.And I mean, all.It feels like forever since we’ve all been together, huh?”
“Way too long,” Ryan agreed.
“Ah, but that’s what playoff schedules can mean.”Luc clasped his fingers and stretched, releasing a solid crack as the others laughed and teased.Winnipeg were in the Western Conference finals for the first time in years, and tomorrow night was the decider against Vancouver, who’d knocked out Edmonton in round two.
“Surprised to seeyouhere, Luc,” Mitch said.“Aren’t you supposed to be tucked up in bed, ready for the most important game of your life?”
“Please.That’s game four of the next round.”
Zac’s chin lifted.“Them’s fighting words.”
“And it’son.”Tom Chavez grinned.“Who needs to go actually watch the game live when we can watch them battle it out tonight, huh Kyle?”
“Right.”Unlike most of the guys here, he’d been forced to watch the games on TV, unable to fly to watch games live thanks to another infection.Doc Cheloff had packed him back to Dr.Winthrop who’d put him on a new round of antibiotics.Fun times.
“Not gonna lie, though,” Luc grinned.“This is pretty awesome.And yeah, Bails wanted me to sleep but the bub woke up so I’m here instead.”
Kyle’s heart twanged.While he was excited for Luc, it seemed Winnipeg’s captain either had or was on the cusp of everything Kyle had hoped and dreamed.A wife, a baby, and the chance to play for the Cup.He swallowed envy.“Hope you do well tomorrow.”
“Hey!”Zac’s teammate, Drew, protested.“Remember us?”
Tom rolled his eyes.“You never let us forget.”
“Must’ve been bittersweet to see Seattle get as far as they did,” Mike sympathized.
“True.”Kyle barked a laugh.“Didn’t seem like they missed me though.”
“Aww, poor dude,” Chris teased.“You’re the reason you guys couldn’t beat us.Without Kyle’s sniper shots, Sam and the rest of your Seattle bros were lost.It must’ve been tough.”
“You got no idea.”
“Nope.They don’t, seeing as Vancouver always make the postseason,” Franklin said.
“Can we help it if we don’t love playing golf in May as much as some of you do?”Chris chirped.
“Wow, that’s just rude,” Tom Chavez said.
Mitch shook his head.“I hope Luc’s guys take them down a peg or two otherwise the next big storm is gonna see Chris and Drew’s gigantic egos sailing right across the Pacific.”
The guys laughed, including Chris and Drew, and Kyle’s heart eased for what felt like the first time in months.It had been nearly five weeks since he’d been released from hospital, and it had been tough watching Seattle make it to game seven of the first round, only to be knocked out by Vancouver.The past few weeks of light exercise had left way too much time sitting on his hands, wondering what to do.And seeing he’d been forbidden from participating in the game he loved as he waited for the injury and infection to heal, his thoughts had turned to the other thing forbidden in his life.The one that—honest talk—was fast becoming an all-consuming passion.
