“It’s a theory to test.”
“A theory,” I snort, rolling my eyes dramatically. I grab my clothes to head to the wash room. “Yeah, whatever, I’ll think about it.”
There’s no way I can’t not think about it now that they planted the little superstitious seed in my mind. I love my teammates. We truly are like family and they’re great guys, but fuck them all right now.
My hair is still damp from the shower, making it difficult to ignore the chill in the air as I climb out of my car. As much as I don’t want to believe it, there could be some truth to what the guys were saying. I’m just as superstitious as the next guy on the bench. What if they’re right? What if I’m the reason behind our losing streak?
Self doubt isn’t something that melds well with my confidence. My ego doesn’t like it.
My footsteps are heavy and I pull the hood of my sweatshirt over my head to block the snow flurries dancing in the air. January in Massachusetts tends to be pretty brutal, especially where Hillford is, not far from the coast.
I tuck my hands into the pockets of my winter coat and put my head down as I walk down the sidewalk. There’s a coffee shop on my way home that is part of my routine. On days I have to be at the rink, whether it’s for practice or a game, I always stop here on my way home. And I always order the same exact thing: an extra sweet caramel macchiato.
At least there’s one thing I haven’t done wrong to mess up the way I’ve been playing.
The coffee shop is busy when I step inside, seeking reprieve from the falling snow. Baristas behind the counter move about in a flurry, taking orders, making drinks, and calling out the names of customers.
Along the left side of the counter are two self-service tablets to place your order. I typically just order from there and now is not going to be the time I do anything differently. The one on the left is my preferred tablet. The one on the right is already occupied and there are two women standing in front of the one I like on the left, although neither of them are paying any mind to the screen.
I pull my hood down, brushing my hair from my forehead as I slowly approach. Their backs are to me and as I step up behind them, I can see the screen clearly.
“Thanks for your order,” it says in bold black letters.
“Excuse me.”
They both glance over their shoulders to look at me. The woman on the right immediately narrows her eyes, spinning her body to face me head on. Her friend stares back at me for a moment, her auburn hair shifting along her back as her soft blue eyes do a quick scan of my face.
A smile spreads across my lips as my gaze trails across her delicate features. She’s gorgeous, but not in a loud obnoxious way. It’s more so the quiet, tender kind of beauty. The kind that demands your attention and slides under your skin like a sharp needle.
Who are you?
“Hi.” I offer an apologetic smile, noticing the faint freckles peppered over the bridge of her nose before bouncing back to her eyes. “Sorry for interrupting.”
They both look to be in their twenties, although it’s hard to tell which end. They’re both facing me now. Blondie on the right has her eyebrows pinched together like she wants to cinch my throat closed. I look back at the softer blue eyes.
“Do you need something?” She smiles, but it’s tense.
I clear my throat, running my hand through my hair. Charming women is my strong suit, but she has me feeling offmy game. That makes two games now—fuck. “I was wondering if you guys were done with the tablet.” I glance behind them at the counter before meeting their eyes once more.
“Oh, yes,” the one with freckles says, grabbing her friend’s wrist as she tugs her away from the counter. Her friend is still looking at me like she doesn’t know what to do with me. “Sorry about that,” she says, as they step out of my way.
“No worries.” I nod, keeping my distance as I walk around them and step up to the counter. A hint of vanilla and raspberries dances in the air as I pass them. Soft and subtle, like she only pressed down for half a spray when she put the perfume on. It has to be hers.
Shaking my head to myself, I punch my order in, knowing the placement of every button by heart. I press the one to send it to the baristas before walking across the shop to the bathroom. Pausing just outside the door, I can’t help myself as I turn my head to the side, looking for her.
My heart thumps a little harder and my eyebrows tug downward when I don’t see where she was last.
“You goin’ in?”
A gruff voice behind me breaks through my thoughts. I look at him, giving him a curt nod as I pull open the door and slip inside. I know her blue eyes and those freckles scattered like constellations are going to haunt me. A smile tugs on my lips.
This is just the kind of distraction I’ve been trying to avoid.
And maybe it’s the exact thing I’ve been missing.
CHAPTER THREE
JADE
