AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Never heard of him.” My father is a hockey fan, but I’ve never paid much attention to the game. It never interested me before, however, I may have changed my opinion; hockey just got interesting and has my full attention.
Kourtney keeps on sharing, “I’ve heard he’s not a fan of puck bunnies and he––”
I butt in, confused. “Puck bunnies?”
Her mouth drops open. “How do you get through the day, Lily Murphy?”
Color rushes into my cheeks. I love fashion and interior design. I read gossip blogs and entertainment magazines about movies and pop stars, keep an eye on the latest trends, and love music. It’s my job to know what’s happening in the world, but sports, I don’t follow at all. If I find myself at the gym more than once a year, it’s a miracle, and I skip anything in the news about athletes because I don’t know who they are.
Kourtney fills in the blanks for me. “Puck bunnies are hockey fan girls. More specifically they like to sleep with the players. The more famous they are, the better.” She drops her voice. “They even rate the players on various blogging sites, and they keep tabs on the players' whereabouts by posting where they hang out.” She moves closer to my ear and whispers, “The players call them puck sluts.”
I screw my face up. “Ewww. That’s vile.”
Kourtney glances in Ash’s direction. “He may not be into puck bunnies, but he sure is into you, eh?” She’s less than subtle with her observation.
I steal a glance and right enough, he’s looking my way and I feel warmth flame my cheeks.
“So, how do you know him?” She leans in closer.
I rub my brow nervously. “I sort of gave him the remnants of those black eyes he’s wearing.” He must have looked like a panda for weeks.
She breaks out into spontaneous laughter. “Only you could meet the most gorgeous guy on the ice and try to spoil those good looks.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” I retort, instantly feeling stupid.
She wags her head in disbelief, adding, “And you didn’t know who he was? Unbelievable.” She chuckles softly when I nod. “That’s why I love you so much already, Lily. You really are rather unique.”
Looking over at him again, his hands are cupped around his mug, watching Kourtney and me chatting. Tipping his head at me in recognition, I lift a finger off the counter, acknowledging the grizzly bear guy I now know to be called Ash Johansson.
Ash.
I love his name.
“Incoming.” Kourtney’s voice is low in warning as the bell over the door of the coffeehouse rings. “Speaking of puck bunnies.”
I jolt and follow the wild cackle of girlish laughter that’s ruined the calm atmosphere of the coffeehouse.
Four beautiful, nope, not beautiful, stunning girls confidently stride in Ash’s direction as if they know him and own the place.
Wow, those girls sure do know how to look after themselves. Not a hair out of place and so much thigh gap I could park a truck between them. I suddenly feel self-conscious and slick the strands of hair that have fallen out of my ponytail back into the elasticated band.
“Is there a beauty school close by? Where did they learn to apply makeup like that?” I ask Kourtney as we continue to watch on with fascination.
She scoffs, “You are prettier than all of them combined.”
Biting the side of my mouth, I know she’s just saying that to make me feel better, but I thank her anyway. I’m not great at receiving compliments.
In harmony, the four girls all say sweetly, “Hey Ash.”
Before they can even pull out the chairs around the table where he is sitting, he’s on his feet and packing his belongings into a blue and yellow kit bag.
“Oh, are you not staying?” Batting her eyelashes at him, one of the blond-haired puck bunnies asks.
“I was just leaving,” he replies gruffly, looking thoroughly annoyed.
“But you haven’t finished your coffee,” another one of the girls coos, flicking her blond hair over her shoulder. They are all carbon copies of one another; they could be quadruplets.
He slips the strap of his bag over his shoulder, “I have somewhere to be.” Clamping his jaw, his lips draw into a thin line and he leaves them without a goodbye.
