Page 31 of Buzzer Beater

But why did it feel like I had just gotten slammed into the glass by a three-hundred-pound defenseman?

No. That would hurt less. I’d be expecting it on the ice.

Not here.

“You okay?”

I nodded and turned to face Grant. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“Me neither.”

“I should have. She’s beautiful and available, why wouldn’t some guy take a chance?”

Grant stood there letting me talk. Maybe he didn’t know what to say either.

When I was done, he patted me on the back. “I’m sorry, Colin.”

I blew out a breath. When was the last time I faced rejection like this?

The day Lucy ended things.

Why did my greatest pain and my greatest joy come from her? It didn’t make sense.

“I’ll let everyone know we found her,” Grants said. “We can meet up before our reservation.”

I nodded and followed him in silence.

It didn’t matter anymore. I wouldn’t get the chance to talk to her.

9

Lucy

Last night I did it.

I let go. I was the one that stayed out late and danced the night away.

It helped that Elena had met Alejandro and Thomas at the pool and invited them to come out with us. Those two men were sexy, smooth and kept the compliments coming all night. What girl wouldn’t love that?

I laid in bed smiling at the jumbled memories.

“You awake?” Elena asked.

I sat up and smiled at Elena, who was wrapped in a robe. “You already showered?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Yes, the day is halfway over. It’s time to get up and get some sun.”

“Wait. Seriously?” I looked to the clock that read twelve-fifteen. “I can’t remember the last time I slept in this late.”

“That’s why I didn’t wake you. I thought you would need to recover after getting in at four this morning.”

I smiled. “I appreciate that.”

I’d been dead on my feet last night, but it seemed like the rest of the girls, well maybe not Elena, could have stayed out for another three hours.

I raised my hands over my head and stretched. “What’s the plan for the day?”

“Amber reserved a cabana on the beach.”