I push myself upright and eye where I left my phone at the front door.If I don’t do it now, I’m going to forget to set the alarm and never do it.
Trudging across the room, I grab my phone and click into the clock app.I set one alarm for the time I need to get up.Then I set a backup alarm just in case.I pause, wondering if a third alarm is overkill, and decide two is enough.I’ll just switch the setting from vibrate to music.That should get me up.
Heading back into the kitchen, I grab my unopened sparkling water, my finger hovering over the tab as another thought drifts through my mind, sliding in uninvited.
Sidney.
Not Joey’s Sidney.
MySidney.The one from triage tonight.Tall, broad-shouldered, tired eyes, but a warm smile.The one who handled his terrified niece like she was something precious.The one who made my stomach do something embarrassing.What are the odds I’d hear that uncommon name twice in one night?
I shake my head firmly, then take a nice long chug of my drink.The bubbles tickle as they dance down my throat.It’s a nice distraction from where I was letting my brain wander.I don’t even want to allow myself the thought of that rabbit hole.There’s absolutely no time for fantasies like that or what ifs.Life is too busy right now to even contemplate meeting someone in a romantic way.
But a girl can relive an interaction over and over in her head.There’s no law against that.Just a tiny bit of internal indignity…but no one but me would know that.The man had been outrageously gorgeous.
Glancing at my phone one last time to make sure the alarms are switched on, I circle the kitchen, turning off machines and switching off all the lights Joey left on before he went to bed.
Once that task is done, I flop back onto the sofa and groan.I’ll make my way to bed soon.Eventually.
Four hours of sleep is enough,I lie to myself.Everything will be totally fine.
CHAPTER FOUR
EDDIE
I blinked, and the next thing I knew, the cursed alarm was going off.The only thing that got me up out of bed at warp speed and clomping toward Joey’s room to wake him up was the thought of coffee.
It was the only thing that kept me sane when I had to go wake him up for a second and a third time, him hollering at me both times that he was up and to stop checking.I swear, I need to learn more calming breathing techniques.This boy is testing me.
Coffee.Blessed, life-giving go-go juice.That would save me, make my brain click on and help me function as a responsible adult.I chugged one mug at home while watching Joey run around, trying to find socks—which he finally located in his dresser drawer.I rolled my eyes big time at that—and then ordered another when we’d hit a drive-thru for a quick, healthy breakfast.Well, healthy-ish.
Joey vibrates with excitement the whole way but tries to keep it under wraps.His fingers drum against his knee, and he keeps fidgeting in his seat.He’s not much of a talker these days, at least not with me anymore, but she’s giving me one-word answers this morning, which thrills me to no end.
Remind me,I ask him as I navigate to the arena,are you helping out today with the younger kids, or do you get to skate with the professionals?
Both.
Are you excited about meeting that goalie you like?Sidney?
Sure.
I have to press my lips together to stop myself from snorting with disbelief.Sure.It’s not like Sidney was the main reason he’d agreed to this morning event in the first place.Unbelievable.
Do you think he’ll get in net and let kids take shots against him?
No,he sighs.Stop with all the questions.Could you drive faster?We’re going to be late.
I ignore his comment about being late.If he’d looked in the place I told him his socks were the first time, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
That would be pretty cool,I say, pretending like he hadn’t shut down my question.
When we pull into the already packed arena parking lot, Joey slides to the edge of his seat.I have to stifle my groan when I see that only the spaces in the back lot are empty.The car’s not even in park yet, but Joey is already unbuckling his seat belt and reaching for the door.
Hold your horses, mister.Wait for me to actually park before bolting.
Joey lets out a long, exaggerated sigh as he waits for me to safely stop the car.His eyes bulge at me, demanding I release him from this cage.
Yes, now.Go.
