Chapter Twenty-Nine
TORIN
“Areyou sure you’re okay going?” Hugo asks for the dozenth time in the last fifteen minutes of our drive to Atty’s. It’s New Year’s Eve and we’re heading to Atty’s house with his friends to ring in the new year.
“Yes,” I answer. Again. And try to fight my smile.
“We can leave at any time if you’re uncomfortable. Atty also has a couple spare rooms I’m sure we can use if you need a minute.”
I reach across the console and link my fingers with his. His gaze flickers to mine briefly but quickly returns to the road. It’s the eve of a holiday, late enough that the traffic is starting to die down. Our game against the Philadelphia Hatters ended a few hours ago. I love three-o’clock games. It meant we had enough time to go to my apartment, feed my fish, and drive back to Atty’s before nine.
“I’ll be fine.”
“It’s just my friends. Atty and Toby, Egon and Rake, Noah and Lix, Winny and Dana. Probably Joe from the house behind Atty’s. He tends to Atty’s garden. And probably Coach Ajo.”
A smile climbs as he talks about them. Honestly, I think I’ll be fine with them all. Probably still my blushing self that turns red as soon as someone looks at me, but I shouldn’t have an anxiety attack. They’re not strangers.
“I also think Max and Deryke will be there. They play for Phillyand are Noah’s friends. We’re going to ignore the fact they beat us today.”
“You played a good game.”
Hugo shrugs. “Eh. We could have done better.”
“I saidyouplayed a good game today.”
“I’m only as good as my team.”
And humble too. Shaking my head, I watch out the window as we drive down the brightly lit streets. I recognize the neighborhood. Hugo has taken me to Atty’s before so I know we’re getting close.
“Yes, we played a good game today,” he concedes after a minute. “Not as good as Philly, but still good.”
“We’re doing really well this season. I think this loss brought us up to a 21-13 win-loss record; so yeah, there’s room for improvement but we’re having a great season.”
“We are,” he agrees. “I’m relieved that we’re doing well when we started off with two losses.”
“Vegas is a hard team to play. And I’m pretty sure Seattle was just a fluke.”
“We didn’t score a single goal in either game,” he deadpans.
“Like I said—hard team and fluke.”
Hugo snorts as we pull into Atty’s driveway. There are three cars parked there already, and a couple next door. I’m guessing that’s where Coach Ajo lives.
“You sure you’re okay?”
Thirteenth time. I grin. “I’m fine.”
Sighing, he nods and gets out of the car. He’s around to my door before I even manage to get my seatbelt off. Placing my hand in his proffered one, Hugo pulls me out of the car and right against his chest. His mouth is on mine before I can take another breath, and I sink into his hold.
Another car pulls in, their headlights blinding us, and Hugo pulls me toward the car so they can pull up beside us. When my eyes adjust again, I can see that it’s Rake in the driver’s seat, which means Egon is probably the passenger.
We wait until they get out. Egon’s got a smile. Besides Hugo, Egon’s the next in line who’s usually smiling.
“Where’ve you been?” Hugo asks Egon.
“Spending some time with Puck.”
I’ve been to their house once and have met Puck, their Maine Coon cat, which is roughly the size of a large bobcat. He’s enormous.
