COLE
May
Neither of ushave said anything in the last few weeks about the night I called her on FaceTime. Almost a month has gone by and now the spring semester at the college is closing out. We talk online and see each other as much as we usually do.
I want to bring it up—so badly it’s beginning to eat me up inside—but post-season has kept me busy.
Since David broke it to me that I officially have the job, I’ve thrown myself into preparations for training camp and researching new conditioning ideas I want to incorporate into our strategies to prove he made the right choice. Not only that, I want to give the guys every tool to hone their game.
Eve’s also been elusive to pin down. I’d rather tell her how I feel in person than over text. Whenever I’ve tried to get her alone, her dad’s nearby, or she has her friends over for craft night, or talks with Jess at family dinners to bounce product ideas off her. She’s picked up more bartending shifts to help out with the nightly crowds now that the weather’s nice and the semester’s ending.
There’s always someone else around, preventing the conversation I want to have about us.
The Landmark is packed tonight. It’s wall-to-wall college students celebrating freedom from their finals before summer break begins. Reagan zips around to take orders and deliver food.
She makes a stop by the far side of the bar with a service tray balanced on her shoulder. “Here you go, boys. And fries for the lady.”
“Reagan!” Easton takes her tray for her to help out. “You’re the best. Have we told you that lately? Because you rock.”
“I do,” she agrees. “I also accept cash tips and Venmo.”
“We’ve got you,” Cameron says.
I move my beer. She sets four baskets of wings in front of Theo, Alex, Easton, and Cameron, then gives the fries to Lainey Boucher, the quiet blonde tucked against Alex’s side.
“Just because it’s off-season doesn’t mean you can blow off your nutrition plans completely,” I warn. “Take it easy this summer before camp. If you show up with laziness, I’ll put you through hell to get you back to peak performance.”
“Coach,” Theo complains. “Let us live a little.”
“I’ll be running extra miles for every cheat meal,” Easton promises, two wings deep already. “It’ll be nice when we get to move to the hockey house next semester. Running through town is nicer than doing it on campus or at the gym. Right, Reeves?”
Cameron’s easy grin widens and they bump fists. “Upgrade. Our own kitchen. Choice bedrooms. It’ll be nice as hell to live there instead of the athletic dorm.”
“That’s what you think.” Theo snorts. “Good luck keeping anything stocked in the fridge, because Brody and Hutch eat everything in sight. If Keller wasn’t there to remind them the carpet isn’t edible, they’d go through that, too.”
I down the rest of my drink, wondering how I ended up hanging out with my players. My gaze cuts across the room to the place I want to be: by Eve’s side.
She’s with her girlfriends. After she posted a photo online about being here, I decided to come instead of scrolling through her social media missing her.
Benson’s out of town and it still feels weird to invite David out like an equal. When Alex and Theo spotted me, they dragged me into the corner they’ve taken over. I feel like an older brother chilling with them.
At least this spot gives me a good view of Eve.
The edge of my mouth quirks when she gestures with her hands, a bright smile curving her pretty mouth. She’s telling her friends an animated story that has them in stitches.
When she joins them in laughter, a tender reverence stirs in my chest. I rub at it absently.
“You should go after what you want.” Alex nudges my elbow, giving me a pointed look when his comment draws me out of my thoughts.
“What?” Shit, am I that obvious?
“Come on, coach.” Alex glances from Eve to Lainey. “There’s no point holding back. It just wastes time. Trust me.”
Trust him. The twenty year old most discussed NHL draft prospect who is seven years younger than me. A short laugh shakes my shoulders.
Keller has a point, though. He’s got the world ahead of him and he didn’t hesitate when he started dating Theo’s twin sister a few weeks before the regular season ended.
I don’t want to waste anymore time when the girl I want is right across the crowded bar. My attention returns to her and her friends.
