Aiden hashis helmet on crooked, skates tied as best as I could get them, and I doubt he cares. He just wants to see Eli again.
“Mom, is he here?” He asks for the third time since we arrived, neck outstretched, scouring the people and kids waiting to get on the ice.
“He might be.” I remain calm, at least on the outside. “Remember, this is a group program. It’s not just him and you.”
“I know.” He hangs his head as if he’s disappointed to share. Then he brightens up. “There he is.”
My head snaps up. Eli pushes through the doorway from the ice to the waiting area. His eyes find mine right away before addressing the crowd.
“Hello everyone. Thanks for being here tonight. Sorry for the delay, but we had to operate the Zamboni to smooth the ice before we started,” he explains.
“Oh, oh!” One little girl, one of two here that I can see, raises her hand, excited to ask a question.
“Yes, Tessa?” Eli calls upon her.
“Can we ride the Zamboni?”
“I know it looks like fun, right? But it’s actually a pretty complicated piece of machinery that resurfaces the ice, so we’ll look, but won’t touch,” he answers, then calls upon another kid with a question.
“Can I be the goalie? I really wanna be one so I can wear a cool mask.”
“Well, we’re not exactly forming a team tonight. You have a lot to learn first, like staying upright on the ice. But my teammate Sean is here from the Aspens, and he’s our goalie. You can be on his team, okay? So let’s get started.” He charms everyone with his smile and holds the doors open, greeting each child as they go by. There are about a dozen or so families here for this class.
Since the moment Aiden saw Eli present to kids at his school two days ago, he begged me to let him take part. I couldn’t refuse.
I swallow and focus on the sign-in table instead of my pulse picking up for no good reason. This is fine, just a hockey lesson led by a man who used to get me wet with one look.
We’re the last to pass him through the doorway. I want to rush inside, but I almost trip of my my son who pauses. Eli’s warmth and aftershave hit me with a blast of emotions from the past. What is that scent? It’s more mature than in college, something classically male, bold and commanding, finishing with an enticing note of “hold me now, please.”
It’s ridiculous, these feelings from another lifetime, but my body recognizes the shift in the air, the subtle awareness of someone too familiar occupying the space.
“Good evening, Stella,” he quickly nods, his smile but a smolder. Then he turns his attention to Aiden. “Hey there, buddy. I’m glad you’re here. Ready to learn?”
“Yeah!” They fist-bump. “I practiced last night in socks down the hallway until Grandma yelled at me to stop.”
“I used to do the same thing when I was little.” Eli laughs and crouches down to his level as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. “I was glad to see you signed up.”
“Can I be on your team again, Mr. Eli?”
“That’s the plan. But how about you call meCoachEli from now on?”
“Okay, Coach,” Aiden bypasses him, heading for the ice.
“You’ve made his year with this program,” I say, nervously hitching a backpack more securely on my shoulder. He notices.
“Wow, that thing looks heavy.” His dark blue eyes gaze at me in a way that could be lethal to my heart if I let it. Doesn’t help that he wears an Aspens ball cap backward, his hair tucked under it, just like he often wore in college—but I’m not here for him.
“It has my laptop in it. I’m hoping to get some studying done while Aiden’s here.”
“Perfect time management. I’ll keep him busy for the next hour. Good luck on your studies, Stella.” He nods and heads toward the ice to get the class underway, taking his scent with him. I look away, and refuse to watch his ass stride off in those faded blue jeans.
“Remember, I’m only here for Aiden’s sake,” I grumble under my breath.
On the bleachers, I settle in, while he introduces his other teammates here tonight—Coaches Sean, Tyler, and Mason—and gives general announcements to the parents. It takes a minute to balance my laptop on my knees, but it works.
The class gets underway, and I start in on research for a project that’s coming due, but I can’t help stealing glances at Aiden often. And Eli, too—I study him a little too much.
The way he handles the children, he’s a natural. He’s gets on their level, relaxed and laughing with them, like this is exactly where he belongs. Heck, he would have made a brilliant teacher.
