Page 62 of Center Ice

“Brandon gave me your address.”

“That makes me feel better.” I looked around the car. “Nice ride.”

“It’s Chloe’s old and forgotten beater.” She smiled at her own joke.

“Yeah, rough life.” Being the recipient of Chloe’s hand-me-downs was far from a hardship. She had excellent taste, and Erik helped to make sure she didn’t ever want for anything before she married Reese who took over that job.

“I really like it. I might ask to buy it off her. If I can afford it,” she hesitated, “and we stay.”

I opened my mouth, but she kept going. “But we aren’t talking about that today.”

“No?”

She shook her head. “Nope. Today you’re showing me around your city.”

“I am.” I felt a little guilty I hadn’t volunteered to do this sooner. “Do you want me to drive?”

“No, I learn faster when I’m the one driving. I can memorize a route if I drive it once, but in the passenger seat, it doesn’t sink in at all.” She patted the steering wheel. “So where to?”

“Um, I don’t know. What do you want to see?”

She hesitated. “Well, the best grocery store and gas station are a priority.”

“I don’t know Brandon and Sydney’s area that well. You would have better luck asking them.”

She nodded. “Good point. Okay, how about your favorite restaurant?”

“That I can do.” I told her the directions as we drove to Los Gatos Mexican grill. It was owned by a former Fury player and had the best shredded beef chimichangas I’d ever had.

“Mexican food?” She burst out laughing. “And here I thought I finally got away.”

I laughed and held up my hands. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that. You asked what my favorite was, and this is it. There’s a good Chinese food place down the street I like too. Oh and a Thai restaurant I order from a few times a month.”

She sighed. “There better be other good options, Jake.”

“It’s not like that was the only thing to eat at the resort.” I paused. “I don’t think I ever even ate anything Mexican. Oh no. We had fish tacos.”

“I know.” She smiled. “It was just funny.”

She was right. She’d been here for one full day and was already being reminded of the life she’d left behind.

“Where’s the arena from here?” she asked, and I gave her directions. We were only a few blocks away, and she drove around the entire building before pulling over.

“So this is your home away from home, or do you have a practice facility?”

“The team used to when we shared the arena with the basketball team, but they got a new one.” I pointed in the general direction of a few streets east. “It’s bigger, so most of the concerts and events happen there, so we’re able to keep the ice installed almost year-round.”

“You live pretty far away.” It was a true statement, but I could tell she was curious.

“My building is just up the street from the cancer treatment center where my mom went. It was easier for her.”

She nodded.

“But I’m looking at moving.” Her eyes widened, and I realized what that sounded like. “I mean, I was thinking about it before the offer. Separate from Indiana.”

“Oh, okay. I thought you were just dropping the bomb on me like that.”

“Sorry, I still don’t know about that, but I guess whatever option I go with will involve moving. I want to find something closer to the arena now.”