“So would mine.” He came closer. “And lonelier.”
Tasha kissed him. The air was chilly, but he was warm and tasted like coffee. She wrapped her arms around him as if to remember this moment and this man.
You still have time left.
She wanted to savor every minute. And would.
* * *
The next night, as Tasha wrapped presents to give to the volunteers that have been helping at the practices, her cell phone rings with a FaceTime call from Alek. She accepted the call. “Nice hat trick.”
Alek sat on his leather couch with an ice back on his knee. “Should’ve scored another one.”
“You won.”
“Could’ve won bigger.” He brushed his fingers through his hair. “Are you still loving Berry Lake?”
She glanced around the cottage, but in her mind, she pictured the entire town. “Totally. This place is…special.”
Alek snorted. “What’s his name? If you can sneak a pic of his driver’s license, I’ll have a background check run on him.”
Tasha froze. “What… What are you talking about?”
“I haven’t seen that look in years, but I know it. That voice, too. You met someone.”
Huh? “You asked me about Berry Lake?”
“Am I wrong?”
Tasha hesitated. “Phoebe is bringing me the skating costumes from the rink.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I met someone, but it’s nothing serious.” As soon as she spoke the words, they felt wrong. Whatever was happening with Elias felt like something. But she didn’t want Alek to ask too many questions. “What about you? Have a new girlfriend du jour?”
He laughed. “Possibly, but I know it won’t last. Never does.”
“Who’s fault is that?”
“Not mine.”
She made a buzzer sound. “Wrong answer. It’s one hundred percent your fault.”
He shook his head. “Hockey, the lifestyle… it’s too hard on relationships and marriage. Some of the teammates—”
“You’re not them.”
“Because I’m being smart about dating.”
“And not settling down until after retirement,” they said in unison.
She’s heard the words so many times. “You’re at the top of your game. That could be years from now.”
Alek shrugged. “I’ll still be a catch. So tell me about this guy…”
Ugh. Brothers!
* * *
