AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Look at you two coming out to games together.” She smiles.
I smile back. “Good to see you, Skylar.”
“Good to see you too, Connor. You’re looking much better,” she says to me.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” I admit.
We all take a seat and wait for the puck drop. Crew is standing watching his dad.
“Daddy said they may be the champions this year,” I hear him tell Syd.
“My daddy was hurt so he couldn’t be a champion too,” Syd replies.
Ellie hears the comment and rubs my thigh soothingly. Having her hands on me drives me wild. This is fucking crazy. I’ve never reacted to a woman like this before. To say she is under my skin is an understatement. I notice she isn’t wearing the diamond ring I bought her and my stomach sinks. Something about putting that ring on her finger made me feel possessive. I like the idea of her being mine.
I frown and she takes notice, but I quickly cover that shit up. I don’t need her knowing how far gone I am on her.
* * *
Ellie
“How about we go get some refreshments?” Skylar asks after period one ends and there is an intermission break. According to Connor, the guys are playing well. I could tell by the way he was watching the ice he must miss playing.
“Sure,” I say.
“Connor, would you mind keeping an eye on Crew?” Skylar asks him.
“Of course.” He smiles and then he looks at me. There is always something there when he looks at me that makes my stomach swirl with butterflies.
I smile back.
We leave the team box. Sky is behind me and when we reach the concession stands outside, she starts in. “What is going on with you and Connor?” she asks immediately.
I pin my lips together. “We are kind of together.”
“What does that mean?” she asks, smiling hard. Sky was reunited with her high school sweetheart, Liam, who is also a player on the team. Their second chance at love has been surreal and so amazing. They are getting married soon.
“It all happened so fast,” I say. I hate lying to Sky. She has been friends with Patty forever and I know she trusts her, but we aren’t so close, and I can’t let everyone in on our secret or else it won’t be a secret.
“What happened?” She raises her brows.
“Connor and I…I mean we live together. I was taking care of him when his nurse got hurt. We kind of just clicked and . . .” Why is lying so much harder than I realized? With Nana it wasn’t so hard because I knew the news would bring her joy. I was fulfilling her dying wish and that felt right, but right now it feels very wrong.
“What is it, Ellie?” Skylar asks.
“Connor and I are engaged. We are getting married.” I drop the words like I’ve dropped the mic on a stage and now I am ready to walk away.
“Um, what?” she asks.
“It’s been a whirlwind.” I shrug. “Things are just right. I love Syd and we kind of just hit it off. Our chemistry is off the charts.”
“Holy crap, I am so happy for you,” she squeals, and she hugs me. I’m a shitty person who is going to hell. I remind myself that this is for Syd too because we don’t know what Sybil will do. We can’t risk her going to court and I would do anything for that little girl’s safety, including lying for her. There is no way she can go live with Warren Carrington. My mind conjures up terrible scenarios of Warren trying to hit on Syd when she grows up. I wouldn’t put it past him. I shut the negative thoughts down, telling myself I am just projecting from my own life, but it still gives me resolve that what I am doing is the right thing.
“Thank you,” I finally say to Skylar. I hug her back and then we break apart. “Connor needs to tell the team. We wanted to have an engagement party and we are still deciding on a wedding date.”
“Well, make sure to keep the end of June open. You guys both need to come out to California for my and Liam’s wedding,” she reminds.
“We will definitely be there. Syd wanted me to take her dress shopping,” I say.
