“Yeah, but Luke could wake up one day and realize he hasn’t done anything with his life other than be a surgeon. I think that would be a tragedy too.”
“I guess.” Sloane answers politely. I can tell she doesn’t agree, but she doesn’t think the argument is worth pursuing, and our conversation dies.
When the game ends, Sloane and I go down to meet the players as they walk off the ice.
“Melissa, you made it!” Austin says with a grin. He steps out of the line of players heading for the change room and walks over to me.
“You played really well, Austin.”
His grin broadens. “I scored a goal for you.”
“I saw.” A few feet away, Luke’s talking to Sloane, but I can’t hear what they’re saying.
“I guess I should go change,” Austin says. “I didn’t think this through, but this arena doesn’t have showers. I’d take you for pizza or something, but I’m pretty sweaty and I probably smell?—”
“I don’t mind,” I say without thinking.
“Yeah?” Austin’s gaze heats, and I realize I’ve basically told him I like the smell of his sweat.
“Yeah, but I should get home,” I say quickly. “I left the kids with a new babysitter, and I’m a little anxious about it.”
It’s not a great excuse—I’m sure Grace is more than capable of handling my kids—but Austin seems to accept it.
“Sure,” he says. “But can I take you to dinner another time?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see that Luke and Sloane are still deep in conversation. As I watch, she takes a step closer, bringing her face within inches of Luke’s.
I turn back to Austin. “I could do dinner.”
He looks surprised that I gave in so easily. “This Saturday?”
This Saturday. In two days’ time. But my mother already invited the kids for a sleepover that night, and I don’t have other plans. There’s no reason to say no.
“Saturday’s good.”
“Great. Text me your address and I’ll pick you up. Seven o’clock?”
“Sure.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Austin says with a grin.
“Me too,” I say awkwardly. “Uh. Well. I guess I should let you get changed.”
“I guess,” he says reluctantly. “I’ll see you Saturday, Melissa.”
TWENTY-ONE
LUKE
“You played really well tonight, Luke,” Sloane says brightly.
“Thanks,” I mutter, but it’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. I played like crap, and Sloane was a big part of the problem. I hadn’t known she was in town, and having her show up at my game was an unpleasant surprise.
And things only got worse when Melissa showed up. I couldn’t get my mind off the fact that Melissa was thereto watch Austin.And then she sat next to Sloane, and I could tell they were talking. It’s no wonder my concentration went to hell.
So when we got off the ice and Austin went to talk to Melissa, I was tempted to walk right past Sloane. I have a pretty good idea why she’s here, I’m not in the mood for it.
Unfortunately, I was raised to be polite, and my conscience wouldn’t let me ignore her.
