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Added bonus, I feel good about being able to pay my own way and becoming more independent from my parents. There’s a sense of accomplishment I’ve never experienced before.
I set aside those thoughts as customers trickle through the door. Most are college students who want to watch the game on one of the big screens and drink beer while they’re doing it. As I bounce between the bar and my tables with a tray full of orders, my attention is continually drawn to one of the many television screens. It would be impossible not to watch Wolf.
Before the game, he went through a series of stretches in preparation. He’s always been tall and broad in the shoulders. Decked out in all his padding, he looks even more menacing as he slides back and forth, making sure to stay limber.
Were my eyes glued to him the entire time he was warming up?
Guilty.
One covert glance around the bar proved that I wasn’t the only one. Quite a number of girls found it necessary to wipe the drool from their chins.
Me included.
The crowd continues to thicken as the game gets underway. Raucous cheers go up when the first goal is scored against the visiting team. I watch as Ford Hamilton skates back to the blue line like it’s no big deal. He stares toward the packed stands, and I’d lay odds that he’s looking for his girlfriend. Those two are always all over each other.
And I love it.
Love that Carina found her happily ever after.
Especially with the way she devours romance novels.
Huh. Maybe that’s what’s missing from my life.
Seems to have also worked for Juliette McKinnon and Ryder McAdams as well.
I shake those thoughts away as a table full of guys catches my attention, and I take off in their direction. It’s been a lot of shots and pitchers of beer. On game nights, both are half price. Which makes for a lot of drunk customers who think they’re slick with the pickup lines.
Newsflash—they’re not.
I haven’t reached the level of annoyance, but it’s slowly building. Last week, during one of our shifts, Erin kneed a guy in the junk. As soon as she was done, Gerry stepped in and ran him out the backdoor by the scruff of his neck. Sully added to it by banning the jerk for life. It makes me feel better to know that the people I work with have my back in case anything happens.
A flash of caramel colored hair catches my attention from the corner of my eye.
“Hey!” Britt says with a wave.
As soon as she’s close enough, I pull her in for a quick hug. “I didn’t know you’d be stopping by tonight.”
She jiggles the paper bag in her hand. “I can’t stay long. My Aunt Mary baked a lasagna and packaged up a few pieces.” She nods toward Sully. “My uncle brought it with him.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet. I bet you enjoy having family in the area.”
“It’s really nice. We’ve lived in California for the past ten years, so I haven’t had the chance to spend much time with them until now.”
I glance at my boss. “Sully’s a great guy.”
“He’s the best.” She nods toward the exit. “I should probably get going before the team gets here.”
I pull a face. “I’m not looking forward to it.”
She knows that there’s one specific hockey player I’ve been trying to steer clear of.
“I bet. I’ll catch you later,” she says before taking off.
Unable to help myself, my gaze flickers to the television, and a wave of nostalgia crashes over me. Ever since I was five years old, I would sit in the stands and watch Wolf’s and Miles’ games. I’ve been at this school for two and a half years and have only attended one hockey game. And that was only because Madden made a deal with Viola when he was trying to win her back.
There was no way I could let her go alone.
Even after all these years, it was difficult to sit in the stands and watch Wolf on the ice without Miles. While Wolf has been a goalie for as long as I can remember, my brother was a defenseman. He took out anyone who skated too close to the crease. The two of them always played well together, feeding off each other’s energy. It was as if they could read each other’s minds.
