“Usually,” I murmur, my cheeks burning.
“Anyway, say goodbye to your dad and then get going. Lindy really needs to go to bed.”
I’m totally annoyed at this turn of events but there’s nothing I can do so I just nod and walk over to where my father is holding court with a group of what appear to be parents of the players.
“Great game, Dad. Congratulations,” I say when there’s a lull in the conversation.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” He actually sounds like he gives a shit about me. “This is my older daughter, Jayne. She’s a librarian.”
“Nice to meet everyone,” I respond politely. “Anyway, Dad, I’m going to take Lindy home. Lourdes said you’re all going out.”
He nods. “Excellent. You’re a good girl, always helping out with your sister. Thanks for coming even though I know hockey isn’t really your thing.”
I bite back a snarky retort and smile politely since I don’t want to contradict him in front of strangers. “I’m learning to love it.”
“Good, good.” He’s already dismissed me, turning to talk to someone I don’t know.
What a clusterfuck.
I glance across the room and catch Bodi watching me.
There’s nothing I can say right now so I give him a tiny nod before going over to Lindy.
“Time to go home, kiddo.”
Her face falls. “But I want to go have pizza.”
“It’s late, sweetie. We’ll go another time, when there’s a day game. I promise.”
She looks upset but slides her hand into mine again, as if she’s just as resigned to her fate as I am to mine.
Chapter
Thirty-Three
Bodi
My face is throbbing and being named first star of the game doesn’t help the bad feeling winding through my gut. Not being able to talk to Jayne, touch her,kissher, is frustrating as fuck. Even with Billie here as a buffer, I couldn’t spend any quality time with Jayne. And I don’t know what just went down with Lourdes, but Jayne left without even saying goodbye. Lindy was with her, so I’m assuming she had no choice but to take her sister home.
“This must be your sister.” West comes over to us and holds out his hand to Billie since he didn’t have a chance to meet her in L.A. “West McGregor.”
“Billie Michener.” Her eyes twinkle as she shakes his hand. “Good to officially meet you. I’ve been following your career a long time.”
He grins. “It’s cause I’m awesome, right?”
She laughs. “Well, you are. You’re also a pain in my boyfriend’s ass.”
He grins. “That’s what I live for—making guys on all the other teams hate me.”
They chat about hockey for a few minutes and I stop listening, more interested in what’s going on around me. The room is filled with friends and family, everyone excited to be sharing the win with us. This is the first of hopefully many home wins, and celebrating with our loved ones should be an amazing feeling.
Instead, I’m struggling.
“Good game, Michener.” Coach Morrison comes over to us and he doesn’t even try to hide the fact that he’s checking Billie out.
He’s old enough to be her father—what the fuck?
Billie’s really good about stuff like this, though.
