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“Never eat carnival food before a game,” Troy warned.
“I’ll have to remember that,” I chuckled. Damn. I’d forgotten how much fun youth hockey life was… Everything turned serious when you started playing higher league hockey.
The kids followed me into Craig’s office, and the three of us sat there exchanging hockey stories while the figure skaters finished their ice time. I did check Craig’s security tv’s here and there though.Not to watch Claire, I told myself… But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tense up every time I saw her entering a jump and then almost applaud when she landed it cleanly. She was just so good. She still had that extra oomph on the ice; a certain prowess. She attacked her jumps and landed them with exuberance– almost as if she were daring the audience, likelook what I just did, bet you can’t do that. She jumped higher, spun faster, and just looked strong as all hell.
When the final buzzer went off to signal the end of their practice, I waited on edge to catch a glimpse of her. I’d completely lost track of what Canyon and Troy were talking about, because all I could think about was making eye contact with her…
She was one of the last ones to stroll out. Her hair was in a half-ponytail with the bottom half just grazing her shoulders, and she wore light black tights, lululemon shorts over them, and a crop top that showed off her impressive abs. She probably had better abs than me honestly. I definitely needed to get back in the gym. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair over that thought. For some reason, I still felt an intense need to impress her.
She automatically looked in the office, no doubt for her dad, but instead, our eyes met and locked.
It felt like the whole world stopped for a couple seconds and everything fell away except her hazel eyes.
In my mind, I walked with purpose toward her, put my hands through her hair, and pulled her into a kiss.
But… in reality, there was a thick barrier of tension between us… and I couldn’t walk anywhere, let alone march toward her.
She was the first to look away. Her chest visibly moved with a deep breath as she walked back toward the hall where the locker rooms were, and I deflated.
I wasn’t sure what I expected, or even wanted, but just something more than that. A smile, a nod,something.
“Dude!” Canyon threw a cheetoh at me. “What was that? You simping too?” His eyebrows shot up and Troy snickered next to him.
I shook my head at them and swallowed hard. I wasn’t sure what I could even say to describe the situation between Claire and I, so I just kept my mouth shut.
Next out was Jules Scott, followed by Grey.
“Hi, buddy.” Jules reached across the counter to mess with her son’s hair, then her eyes drifted to me. “Hello!” she said happily.
Looking back at her, it made sense why Grey was in such a happy mood all the time– I’d be pretty damn happy too if I was married to a MILF like her. She had a bright smile and wore her long hazelnut brown hair under a baseball cap.
Grey snapped his fingers in front of my face and regarded me with an unimpressed look. I internally cringed. I guess I had stared at her a little too long.
“Duke, right?” she asked intently.
“Yeah, nice to meet you,” I reached over to shake her dainty hand.
“Heard you’ve got a concussion. Sucks.” She looked up at Grey’s large frame and smiled knowingly.
“She knows the signs better than anyone,” he said, not taking his eyes off her. He grabbed her hips and pulled her into him for a hug. He patted her head against his large chest and whispered something down into her hair before lifting the brim of her hat and kissing her forehead.
I looked down at Canyon who rolled his eyes, but you could tell he had a little smirk on his face, like he was proud to be their son. “Simp,” he mouthed at me while nodding at them, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Did you drink enough water today?” Grey asked her.
“Yes,” she smiled up at him amusedly.
“Did you eat enough?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Feelin’ good?”
“Yes, babe,” she said with a laugh.
Yeesh. He really was totally wrapped around her finger. Although, itwaskinda nice seeing how much he loved her and wanted to take care of her.
She reached up and put a hand at the base of his neck to pull him closer. She whispered something in his ear and then kissed him full on the lips.
