“J.T. is going to work with him on that and his weak side, but the breakout is the most critical right now.”
Duncan adds, and unless I’m mistaken, there’s a glint in his eyes as he looks at me.
Is he holding back a grin?
No. Duncan doesn’t smile at people. Well, that’s not totally true, he smiles at his family, and a few others, but on very rare occasions.
He turns back to Jacob, and I let myself look at Jacob too. When my gaze slams into his, my insides flutter, and a surge of heat shoots down to my toes.
I can hear them talking about a practice schedule, but I’m having a difficult time following the details.
“See you at home, Mom!” Steven shouts from the other end of the rink. Turning toward him and Scarlett, I wave.
“See you later, Uncle Dunky!” Scarlett yells, right before the door closes behind them.
“Just before the buzzer,” I mumble, as Duncan rubs a hand up and down his face, grumbling.
“It is, Uncle Dun—”
“Don’t even…” Duncan growls, glaring at Jacob.
Pressing my lips together, I work to contain the laugh trying to bubble up, and I’m successful until I glance at Jacob.
His eyes are glittering with playfulness, and he’s pulled his bottom lip in. I slap a hand over my mouth in an attempt to stop the giggle. A tiny bit gets out, and Duncan turns his glower on me.
At just that moment ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’ rings out from Duncan’s pocket, and both Jacob and I lose control. Laughter echoes throughout the rink.
Duncan answers his phone with a brusque ‘Hello’ before his entire face softens and he starts talking in a baby voice.
I howl, and Jacob joins me only to receive a glare from Duncan that doesn’t quite have the full broody effect he’s known for.
“See you tomorrow,” he mouths to both of us, scowling, before heading to the back offices.
Snickering as Duncan walks away, I shift my gaze to Jacob. He’s staring at me, the corners of his mouth lifted, and I inhale deeply, pulling my lower lip through my teeth.
His eyes soften, and my stomach flips.
“So…” I fiddle with my purse strap. “How did it feel being back where it all began?”
A shadow crosses his face, and his smile dims a bit. “Weird.”
A flutter hits my chest, and my mouth goes dry. It was weird for me too.
“I remembered you and my mom sitting in the same spot you and Scarlett were in tonight.”
His gaze roams over my face, and my breath hitches. A multitude of memories of us in this space, with his mom and my brother, come flooding back, and my chest clenches.
We stand there, caught up in the past, the air thick. Questions race around my head. Questions best left unanswered, and yet I can’t make myself say good night.
Before I know what I’m doing, the words fly out of my mouth. “Are you hungry?”
Jacob’s brows lift, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“Moretti’s.” I narrow my eyes at him, but the teasing glint in his eyes gets bigger. “It’s tradition to go there after practice. Do you want to go and grab something to eat?”
One brow quirks, and his lips twitch. “Is it really still tradition, Becs, or do you just want to take me out?”
“It’s stillreallya tradition,” I snort, my cheeks lift, and a slow smile crosses my face. “Are you hungry or not?”
