AllFreeNovel
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“I grew up in a world full of hockey, surrounded by professionals. Maybe the natural inclination should have been to step into my dad’s shoes, but he’s a legend in his sport. My mom didn’t get the chance to do that in hers, even though she had the ability and the passion for figure skating. So I went left instead of right.” It’s a tidy explanation for why I chose door B.
Winter fingers the end of her braid. “Why didn’t your mom get the chance? Did she hurt herself or something?”
“No.” I tap the wheel. “Financial constraints.”
“Oh.” Her tone implies surprise. “That’s shitty.”
“She didn’t let it hold her back. And it tipped the scales in her favor when I was deciding between hockey and figure skating. Besides, living in the shadow of my dad and all his friends seemed like an unforgiving path. Sometimes the road less traveled is the better one.”
“Less potholes?”
I glance over and find her eyes fixed on me. “Something like that, yeah.”
She points to the windshield. “You can turn right at the T-intersection.”
I flick on my blinker and slow the Jeep. “You must live close to the Kingstons. They’re on this road too.”
“I haven’t had a chance to meet many of the neighbors yet.” She smiles, but it looks strained.
“You will if you play with us again.” Which I hope will happen sooner rather than later.
“That’d be cool.” She taps restlessly on her knee. “You can pull over here.”
We’re in the middle of a dark stretch of road. It’s packed gravel, off the main road that connects one side of the lake to the other. “Where’s your driveway?”
“Just up there. It’s narrow, though, and the trees need to be trimmed back. I don’t want you to get stuck. Plus with my bike on the roof rack, it’ll make all kinds of noise, and my mom has to get up early for work.”
“Gotcha.” I pull over so I’m not in the middle of the road.
She unbuckles her seat belt. “Thanks again for the ride, both ways. And the invitation to play.”
“I’m glad you came.”
“Had to get my skate back.” She reaches for the door handle.
“Before you go, you think I could get your number? Or I can give you mine? In case you want to come play with us again. Or you change your mind about that ice cream.”
Her fingers go to her lips, like she’s conflicted.
“You had fun tonight, didn’t you?” I ask.
She releases a long breath and nods. “Yeah. I had fun. A lot of fun.”
“So why you over there sitting on the fence, Snowflake?”
She drops her head and rubs the space between her eyes, but she’s smiling.
I don’t know how to read her. Not yet. “I believe everything happens for a reason—the good, the bad, and mundane. There’s always a purpose,” I tell her. “Think about all the ways we’re connected already. You play hockey, you work with Rose, you volunteer with my bestie, you and my cousin’s girlfriend like the same books.”
She side-eyes me. “The only hockey books I read are biographies.”
“Whatever. Not the point.” I motion between us. “We’re destined to know each other. I like you. I think you’re fucking gorgeous. I want your digits so I can tell you that in awkward text messages.”
She laughs, and it’s the sound of victory. “Fuck it. Yeah. You can give me your number.” She passes over her phone, and I key in my number, then send myself a text.
My phone dings in my pocket.
“And now I have yours.” I need to mine Lovey and Rose for info. Winter is definitely guarded.
