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As soon as I shimmy my way down the row, Mom wraps her arms around me. “Hey, sweetie. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
Her gaze slices to my roomie. “Hello, Carina! I’m so glad you could join us.”
“She’s here to support her stepbrother,” I add, knowing it’ll irk her.
Mom flashes her anAww, aren’t you the best stepsister in the worldlook.
Carina gives me a bit of side eye before grumbling, “He’s my ex-stepbrother.”
“Is there really such a thing? You can’t divorce siblings,” Mom adds.
“Sure, you can. I did it. Successfully, too.”
“You’re so funny,” Mom says with a chuckle and a pat on her arm.
When I shoot her a grin, Carina glares at me.
And the best thing?
I’m not even thinking about the players who are circling the ice for warmups. I’m focused on my family and Carina. Hopefully, that’s exactly the way it’ll stay for the next three hours.
Ryder who?
That’s right.
That’s exactly right.
I hug Stella and we chat a little bit since I haven’t run into her on campus lately. Carina settles between the two of us.
“We should have gotten snacks,” my roomie says, leaning closer to be heard over the blare of music and the noise of the crowd. “I’m starving.”
I shake my head. I have no idea how Carina stays so slender. This is one chick who doesn’t survive on leafy greens and diet soda. Sure, she spends hours a day in the dance studio, but the bitch can eat.
I’m envious of her metabolism. Sometimes it feels like all I have to do is look at a piece of chocolate cake and I gain five pounds.
“I’m going to run to the bathroom before the game starts. I’ll stop at the concession stand on my way back.”
“Want me to come with you?” she asks.
“Nah.” I rise to my feet. “I’ll be back in five. This will give you time to watch Ford.”
“Shut up.”
With a chuckle, I shimmy past the line of seats to the aisle. Unable to help myself, I glance at the ice. The entire team is out there warming up. That’s more than fifty guys. And yet, my gaze slices to Ryder. His stick is resting across the blades of his shoulders and his arms are hanging over the length as he takes long strides, stretching the muscles in his legs.
The sight of him is almost enough to steal my breath, and my heart picks up tempo in response as an unwanted rush of longing floods through me. As soon as our gazes collide, a zip of electricity sizzles through my veins and I rip my attention away, swinging around and hurrying up the concrete stairs to the concourse. First, I hit the restrooms and take care of business before locating the concession stand and ordering three bottles of water and two large boxes of popcorn to share with Stella and my parents.
With my arms loaded down, I head back to the bleachers.
“Hey, stranger,” a deep voice says.
I flick a glance to the side and find Sawyer grinning ear to ear.
For just a second or two, his presence throws me off. “Hi! What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d check out one of Mav’s games.”
