I met her on FaceTime. Charlie called and introduced us, and she was…amazing. For a guy whose heart hadn’t functioned well in a long time, it burst open to the point of pain. Anything that girl needed for the rest of her life, she had. I’d called my finance guy and set up a college fund for her already, not caring what Charlie thought. I had the money, and he could deal with it.
But Lizzie wanted to ice skate. I promised her we would when she visited. I wanted to tell Elle about it, but she was touching hipster Ty. My face flushed with shame.Whywas he here again?
Why were Jenkins and Emmett there too?
But mainly, why was Elle looking furious as she left the bar and marched over to me? Her shorts showed off her long legs, but it was the crop top that killed me. Her waist was all curves, and I wanted to see if my hands would fit around her.
“What thefuckare you doing here?” she asked, her cheeks red.
“Did I upset you?” I held up my palms, and she pointed at my chest. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be—” She paused, noted the hockey guys around us, and moved closer. So close I could smell her shampoo. “Resting,” she whispered. “You need to be resting, Cal.”
“Did you call them because you needed help?” I asked, a little hurt. “I would’ve come.”
“No. You should relax.”
“Don’t baby me because of last night. I have it under control.” My jaw tightened again, and Ty tugged at her elbow, his fingers touching her bare skin. It was like a knife to the throat. I hated watching him touch her.
“Elle, can I have a minute with him?”
She glanced at his fingers on her arm, placed her own hand on his, and nodded. “Sure, Ty. Yeah.”
She glared at me for a second before swaying those damn hips on the way to the bar. I’d fucked up so much with her, and here I was, messing up again.
“Bro, let’s go outside.” Ty put an arm around me and led me out the doors. I hated his arm around me and the term of bro, but I said nothing. It wouldn’t be very captain-like of me to lash out against him, especially after his patience last night. He was a decent guy, and he had no idea the rage I felt when it came to Elle. It wasn’t his fault.
“How you feeling?” he asked once we were away from the other guys and outside in the humid air. “Better?”
“Yeah, thanks.” I shuffled my feet and swallowed the uncomfortable ball in my throat. Shame prickled along my skin. I bethenever freaked out because of a picture.
He cleared his throat. “Look, I know we aren’t buds, but we’re teammates. If you want to talk, I’m always here for you.”
“Right.” My face heated with embarrassment.
“Cap,” he said, smiling and putting a hand on my shoulder. “You’re a legend on the ice and will probably end up in the hall of fame, butnobodygets through life alone. Teammates lift each other up. Hockey isn’t an individual sport, bro. You’re angry all the time, for reasons I don’t need to know, but it can’t be healthy.”
“I’m working on it.” I shrugged his touch off, exhaled, and forced myself to relax. Reiner would be pissed and rip me a new one if I didn’t demonstrate leadership. Van Helsing had showed me simple ways to lead without it being too fake. I tried to remember his tips, but it was all a jumbled mess. Something about vulnerability, honesty… I swallowed. “Thank you, Ty. You were…great to have last night. I appreciate the help.”
“Elle sent me home, which I understand. But if you’re worried about me telling the guys, I won’t. That’s not the type of shit one gossips about. It’s your business,but,sharing it with all of us won’t make you seem weak. Mental health is important, and you’d earn more respect if you shared parts of yourself.”
“Thank you.” My throat got all tight, and he smiled at me. “Really.”
“Sick. Well, I gotta return to my post for the night. Let’s meet up at the rink tomorrow and shoot? Jenkins wants to go too and block. You in?”
“Sure.”
“Sweet.” Ty hit my shoulder before going back inside, and I took a few seconds to breathe. It wasn’t the worst thing, having a teammate who had my back. Plus, skating alone wasn’t as fun.A flicker of excitement flared inside me at the thought of having plans. I could skate with them and then Friday, I could ask Elle to get together.
Because we were friends and I didn’t need to have a freak out about it. I’d meant what I said about going slow, but it was ridiculous that the thought of hanging out made me want to bolt. She scared me but in a good way? It was like I knew with her I couldn’t hide anymore. She’d seen it all, and I’d run. Like a chickenshit.
I had to go back inside and make sure she had a snack. Yeah, then I could ask about Friday. Tell her about Lizzie too. I pushed the door open and weaved my way through the tables and cheers until I got to the bar. There wasn’t a spot open, and Elle worked like lightning. Hands flipping glasses and pouring drinks and cashing people out. Every part of her body moved as she balanced all the tasks. “Let me help.”
“No, go home.” She didn’t look up at me.
“Not happening.”
“Cal.” She poured a double Jack and coke. “I don’t have time for this. Leave.”
