A small smile curves her lips, but she smooths it out and then stands to get a better look at the players on the ice. “I don’t see him.”
Disappointment hits me so unexpectedly that I don’t hide the frown on my face in time and Grace catches it. She doesn’t call me on it, simply offers a solution. “If he’s not playing, he’ll probably watch the game from the press box.”
She points toward the sky boxes. Without binoculars, or staring really hard, it’s impossible to make out the people sitting and standing around for the start of the game. But like any good friends would do, Everly and Grace help me look all around the arena for a missing hockey player.
“I’m sorry, Bridge,” Ev says. She’s started calling me that for short. “I don’t see him. Do you want me to text him?”
“God, no,” I reply. The last thing I want is to draw attention to the fact I’m here or that I’m searching for his whereabouts. I’d never hear the end of it from him, cocky bastard.
The players head to their benches and the pre-game show begins. The arena goes dark, making it impossible to see.
“We’ll keep looking,” Grace reassures me. “He’s here somewhere.”
Everyone gets to their feet to cheer as the announcer on the starters for the Wildcats. A man steps up next to me, standing in front of the vacant seat. He leans over me, throwing his voice to be heard over the noise in the arena, “Who are you looking for?”
He’s wearing a Wildcat hat low over his eyes, but I recognize the low timber of his voice and the way my entire body lights up in his presence. Not to mention the smell of him. Groan. Why is soap and laundry detergent mixed with his cologne the sexiest thing ever?
“Oh my gosh!” Everly squeals when she sees him. “A—”
He puts a finger to his lips.
She ducks her head and lowers her voice a tad. “Hi! We were just looking for you.”
I widen my eyes at her. Sellout. Heat creeps up my neck when a knowing smirk plays over his lips. My roommate reaches over and hugs Ash. Then her smile falls. “I’m sorry.”
His lips press into a straight line as he tips his head. “I should be cleared for Monday.”
Everly moves back to her seat. Ash nods his head in greeting to Grace and then all his attention focuses in on me. I was not prepared. Not the first time when he gave me the puck, or the second when he tried to intervene with Gabe, or at the hospital, over coffee, and certainly not now.
He’s standing so close that we’re nearly touching. I forgot how tall he is. And how good-looking. No, that’s a lie. I didn’t forget that last part. But I had hoped I’d exaggerated it with the time that’s passed. Nope. No such luck. Ash is easily the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.
“Are you sitting there?” I point at the seat behind him.
He glances back at it before replying, “No, I’m meeting someone. Ty told me Everly was coming to the game, so I thought I’d pop over quick and say hi.”
“Oh.” Of course. He and Everly are tight. Then the beginning of that reply sinks in and it dawns on me then what he’s saying. “Oooooh. Right. You’re meeting a girl. Err…a woman. Congratulations!” My voice is way too high and cheery. Some weird feeling takes over my body that I refuse to acknowledge as jealousy.
Congratulations?! If he weren’t watching me with that gorgeous and annoying smirk, I’d be giving myself the world’s biggest head palm.
“Thanks. I mean, it’s just my mom and a few other family members but I’m pretty stoked.”
His mom. If I had been jealous, and I definitely was not, I’d probably feel relief about now.
Luckily, I’m saved from responding because the national anthem begins, and we fall silent with the rest of the crowd. Ash removes his hat, but keeps his chin tucked low. I wonder how many people would freak out right now if they realized Ash Kelly was standing right by them.
“How’ve you been? How’s school and everything?” He steps closer to me and whispers the words.
I can feel the heat of his body and I get another whiff of his cologne. Warm, cedar, with just a hint of spice.
“Good. You?”
“Not been the best month of my life, but it’s looking up.”
I mistakenly glance up and over, directly into his eyes. Can he hear how loud my heart is beating?
“Looks like things with Everly and Grace worked out well.” His gaze briefly flicks over my roommates before concentrating back on me.
“They’re really great. Thanks for that.”
“Happy to help.” He puts his white hat back on and tucks his long hair behind his ears as everyone claps through the end of the national anthem.
“Where are you sitting?” Everly asks him as we take our seats.
“My family is in town, so I got a box.”
Everly’s eyes widen and Ash chuckles. “You want to come up?”
“I mean, can we?” Everly asks with a hopeful smile.
“Sure. If you want. My box is your box.”
“Really?” Everly looks from me to Grace. “Do you guys want to go? The view is incredible up there.”
“Whatever.” Grace already has her purse on her shoulder and her snacks gathered.
What am I going to say except, “Sure.”
The private box is pretty much exactly what I expected. Gabe took me to a Vikings game once and we sat in one that was similar. Better seats, more space, quieter, and free food and drinks.
When the four of us step into the packed suite, Ash is rushed by two tall, pretty young women I assume are his sisters. They take turns hugging him, then Ash introduces us.
“Jess and Leigh, meet my friends Everly, Grace, and Bridget.” Hearing him say my name does funny things to my insides. “These are my sisters.”
Next up, we meet his dad, stepmom, and two younger siblings—Harper, who is five, and Hunter, who is three. Then his mom and two aunts.
Everly, Grace, and I make our excuses so he can catch up with his family.
“I feel like we’re imposing,” Grace says as we take our seats. “It’s like a family reunion in here.”
Everly glances over her shoulder where Ash and his family members are all gathered in a circle still. “Nah. Ash is one of those ‘the more the merrier’ people. He likes having a lot of people around.”
“I’m proud of myself, I made eye contact for the first time since this summer and didn’t want to die of embarrassment.” Grace shoves a large chip covered in cheese and jalapenos into her mouth.
“Why would you want to die of embarrassment?” I ask, sneaking another peek at Ash. He’s got Harper clinging to one side of him and he’s holding Hunter. They’re both wearing little miniature versions of his jersey and it’s just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
“It’s only weird if you make it weird,” Everly tells her and then offers a sympathetic smile.
I’m still clueless.