She nodded. “I can read a little myself.”
“That’s true.”
“Will you miss me?”
“So much,” he said seriously, looking her straight in the eyes. “And I’ll come back safe. I promise.”
“Okay,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him. The fear that he wouldn’t come back was great. He knew that. So he tightened his arms around her even more.
“I’ll call every day, Melody.”
“Twice?”
“Twice.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “I hope you win quickly so you can come home!”
Chapter Fifteen
Fifteenth encounter
“Why do you have West’s number? And why are you calling him?”
“What?”
“Jack West. You called him.”
Anna shifted uncomfortably. “When?” she asked innocently.
“At the away game. We were at the hotel. Your name flashed on his phone.”
Shit. Yes, she’d wanted to know if he truly had a girlfriend. Dax had claimed he did. Jack had warned her that Lucas had seen it, but she had hoped that he wouldn’t bring it up. “Oh, that! Yes, we’re…friends.”
“Uh-huh.” He stared at her stubbornly.
“What? I’m not allowed to make friends with other hockey players?”
“Yes. But I don’t want any drama. Don’t forget that.”
She swallowed. “Of course not. Now stop talking and get undressed.”
They won the first game quickly, but Lucas still couldn’t go home. They did have a day off, so at least he could read Melody something to help her fall asleep that night.
“I want you all to go to bed early tonight,” the coach said loudly as they ate lunch in the hotel dining room. “No one goes out. No one drinks. Be in your rooms by nine and stay there.”
Dax grinned at Lucy.
“Alone!” Coach Gray added loudly before sitting back down.
“Such a spoilsport, isn’t he?” Jack muttered next to Lucas.
He lifted one corner of his mouth. “Sorry, I can’t crawl into your bed tonight, Jack.”
The center chuckled softly. “It’s okay. As long as you think of me.”
“Of you and your heroic efforts to help me keep the goal clear when Charkov is busy fighting.”
Jack grinned broadly. “My pleasure. Where is Charkov anyway?”
