Page 69 of Falling Back to You

Khia might have had a point about the jersey thing.

Thousands of women wore his jersey, and it didn’t mean anything. So why couldn’t I?

Gratitude. Friendship. I could do this, right?

Cal smiled at me softly and dipped his head in thanks.

Unsure of what to do, I waggled my fingers in an awkward wave. Pull it together, girl. He seemed to read my nerves because he lifted his glove to the glass. My stomach tightened. Shouldn’t have had that extra chicken nugget earlier. Swallowing, I touched my hand to his. It used to be our thing when I came to his games. “Go get ’em, Cap,” I mouthed.

The grin he flashed was dazzling. The perfect candidate for a toothpaste commercial. I’d buy toothpaste just because of that smile. With a parting wink, he skated off.

“C’mon.” Juliet motioned up to our seats, and I willed my pulse to return to a regular rhythm.

You’re a grown woman, not a teenager.

The game started, and our guys played their hearts out. Khia wiggled in her seat between Juliet and me, swinging her pink polka-dot boots. “Hit him, Daddy, hit him!”

I choked on a laugh and glanced at Juliet. Humour lit her own expression, but it faded when we made eye contact. Like there was too much between us to even share a joke.

Juliet did a good job at explaining the game to Khia in simple terms for her to understand. Namely that icing had nothing to do with cake. And she was effortlessly polished, even in an oversized jersey and jeans.

After the second period, Juliet stood and groaned, hand to her back. “I’m so ready to be done.”

“When do I get a new cousin?” Khia asked, scrunching her nose. “Tomorrow?”

“Christmas.” Juliet shot me an almost shy look.

“Congratulations.”

She dipped her head. “I heard you were a nurse. Labour and delivery by any chance?”

“Emergency.”

“Given the hospital is thirty minutes away, that does make me feel better.”

“Hey, you must be Noelle!” Lavender space buns popped up beside us. “I’m Bells, the PR manager for the Chargers.” The woman radiated sunshine and rainbows. “You’ve been the talk of the team!”

I sighed. “Trust me, I’m ready for a new subject.”

Genuine surprise crossed Bells’s face. “Why? Everyone’s happy to have their New York star back.”

Not everyone. “That’s kind of you to say.”

She smiled ruefully. “You don’t have to pretend with me. I can sniff out a story, and I know there’s some history with you and Cal.”

That was putting it mildly.

“Jingle Bells!” Khia interrupted. “Can I get popcorn?”

Bells glanced at me. “Do you mind?”

I shot a look at Juliet. I had no idea if Bells was a trusted adult.

Juliet nodded. “It’ll give us a minute to chat.”

Bells led the chattering little girl away, and a fine sheen of sweat swept over my body. Broken bones, car accidents, and emergencies didn’t rattle my nerves, but my ex-fiancé’s baby sister saying “we need to talk” had me breaking a sweat.

“What’s up?” See, I could be easy breezy.