I instantly regretted my comment and tried to hide it with a cough, before I quickly shook his hand. “Uh, I mean, it’s great to meet you, man.” The world was way too small.
Either Max hadn’t heard me, or he didn’t mind my awkwardness, because his genuine smile didn’t falter. “Great to officially meet you too. Especially since you’ve got some clothes on this time.”
Reed snorted and Mom shot me a look, but didn’t say anything. Instead, she stood up from the bench and headed for the fridge, muttering to herself. She’d already heard about my naked trek through the ice arena and made her feelings clear. To be honest, I was surprised she’d been surprised.
“You saw that?” I asked.
“Just caught the end of the show.” Somehow, Max was still smiling. This Foster seemed far more friendly than the others.
“And I saw the highlights of your game yesterday,” he added.
I should have been grateful he’d changed the subject, but he’d picked pretty much the only other topic I wanted to avoid right now.
“Thanks for backing up my little sister,” he continued. “You really put that guy in his place. Well worth getting two minutes in the box, if you ask me. But I can’t believe the refs let the other guy off.” He shook his head. “What were they thinking?”
I shrugged, unsure how else to respond. I doubted he’d be thanking me if he knew the way his little sister was currently occupying my brain space. How much I was wrestling with my reasons for leaping to Mackenzie’s defense so urgently. It felt far safer to just keep my trap shut.
“We’d better go,” Reed said.
“Oh, so soon?” Mom asked.
“I need to drive Max home, but I’ll be back for dinner.” Reed then turned to me. “I heard the lake is frozen solid and someone has already set up for pond hockey. Want to go for a skate later?”
“Sure. We can see if you’ve actually learned anything at college.”
Reed chuckled before glancing at Max. “How about you, Foster? Want to help me school my little brother?”
“I could come for a skate.” Max nodded as he looked my way. “But I’m not sure your brother needs schooling. I saw your goals yesterday. That wraparound was a beauty.”
“Ah, I just got lucky.”
“No way, all skill.”
Maybe my plan to win these Fosters over one by one was working. If only Mackenzie and her dad were as simple to please as Max, their stepmom, and the cat.
“Guess we’ll see you later then,” I said.
“Looking forward to it,” Max replied. “Maybe I’ll see if Kenzie’s up for it, too.”
I swallowed as Reed and Max left the room. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face Mackenzie after yesterday. We hadn’t spoken since the game, so I had no clue how she was feeling about my penalty. It didn’t take a genius to know she’d be annoyed I’d got stuck in the box and cost the team. But the way I’d reacted to her getting hit? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what she thought about that.
She was probably just pissed we lost. Especially as she’d been playing a lot better than her first game. No one could blame her for letting in the goal at the end though. That was all on me. Another unfamiliar feeling entered my chest. Oh God, not guilt. This girl was really messing with my head.
“You okay?” Mom asked. I’d kind of forgotten she was still here.
“I’m fine, Mom.”
She smiled. “You just looked a little startled when Maxmentioned his sister. Is there something going on there?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? You did fight that player for her yesterday.”
“It wasn’tforher. It’s hockey, Mom. Fights happen.”
“Okay, if you say so,” she said. “It’s probably for the best. You are trying to stay on her dad’s good side, after all.”
Itwasfor the best, and yet a part of me was disappointed Mom was so fast to write Mackenzie off. My mom usually leaped at any potential opportunity to play matchmaker with her kids. She must think it was a truly bad idea to risk getting close to the coach’s daughter.
