“I…well, how would I know? I just moved in.”
“Stephanie, Stevie, darling,” Nan starts, “I love you more than anyone in this world, but you take life too seriously.”
I’m back to fiddling with the rim of my wine glass. “How can I not?”
In my twenty-five years, it seems like nothing has ever gone right. Maybe I’m looking in all the wrong places, but between men, apartments, and making ends meet, it always seems like I’m moving away from where I want to be in life.
“You were never dealt the best hand, but that doesn’t mean you have to bear that weight every day. You can hang it up and let go every once in a while.”
“How can I trust myself?” I voice my deepest fear to the one person who I know won’t judge me for it. “Every time I think I’m making the right decision, it blows up in my face.”
“Sweetheart.” Nan pats my cheek. “I’m not saying you need to jump into any kind of relationship with anyone. But if you go looking for the worst in people, you’ll always find it.”
I blow out a breath. “Sometimes what you say makes sense.”
“I can be smart when I want to be.” She taps her temple. “Now, let’s watch some baking shows and wish we could bake.”
“Hey. I know how to bake, thank you very much.”
“Well, then maybe you need to have a lesson for everyone in the house.”
All I can do is laugh. Being around my grandma makes this weird in-between phase better. Before, I’ve always had my own place. If things went sideways with a guy, I had my sanctuary. Things like where I was going to spend the night was never a problem.
I went against my better judgment and got swept up in a pair of pretty green eyes. Move in after a month? Why not?
Maybe getting kicked out and ending up with Nan is where I’m meant to be in this stage of life. Focusing on myself and my job.
If I can hold on to that for a little while longer, everything will be okay.
And maybe this time, a pair of mesmerizing brown eyes won’t distract me from my plans.
ChapterSeven
BODE
“Mr. Adams. How are you doing?” our security guard calls out to me.
“Hey, Ronny. I’m good. How are you?”
“Just fine, just fine. Ready for the season to start.”
“You and me both.” I clap him on the shoulder as he buzzes open the door to the players’ entrance.
Taking a deep breath, the familiar scent welcomes me home. The one that’s hard to describe, but is the exact same in every arena.
That cold and sweaty smell. The hopes and dreams of hockey.
It invigorates me as I walk down the cement hall toward the locker room for our first day of offseason practice.
When I woke up this morning, I was buzzing. It’s something I always feel before the start of a new season. That promise of something new. A fresh start. It’s my favorite thing in the world.
The sound of music leads me toward the locker room, pulling a smile from me. It’s not a song I’m familiar with, but walking into the locker room, I see the guys.
Wooden lockers are lit from above. Red carpet covers the floor. The Knights logo hangs on the back wall, like a beacon welcoming me home.
This has always been the one place I felt at home. The one thing I’m good at. Before, hockey was always the one thing in life I had that I could depend on.
Now, I have more in life.
