Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(129)

She pushes the beer toward me, and I rattle off a thank you.

“The one thing you have to remember, Kingston. This isn’t about you. Right now, while they’re having dinner and Ellie is helping James establish a relationship with Bianca, she isn’t thinking about you. But later … when it’s over and she needs someone to hold her, to assure her that this is the way things should be … the man she’s going to need is you. If you can’t see that, I’m not sure you deserve her, anyway.”

Noelle spins around and stalks off, leaving me staring after her.

I sip my beer, hating that I’ve just been put in my place by a f*cking fairy.





54

Ellie

Tuesday, February 21st “You’ve made me wait all damn day. Tell me how it went,” Noelle insists.

We arrived at the rink a short time ago. After grabbing a couple of beers and popcorn for Noelle, we finally make it to our seats.

“It went better than I expected,” I tell her as we get situated. I go on to give her the details of my dinner out with James and Bianca on Sunday. I’m a little foggy on some things because I wasn’t really paying attention to what they talked about. I had tried to get out of going, but Bianca insisted that I should be there. “I think Bianca’s trying to work an angle.”

“Okay. Pause.”

I sip my beer.

“What kind of angle?”

I shrug. “I think she still believes James and I might get together.”

“Do you want that?”

“No,” I say, a little too enthusiastically. I didn’t mean it that way. James is really a nice guy, but I’m not attracted to him like that.

“Have you told her that?”

“We both have. Repeatedly.”

“I don’t think she gets it,” Noelle notes.

“Probably not. She’s twelve. It’ll sink in soon enough,” I tell her, meeting Noelle’s eyes. I take another swig of beer. “Plus, she has more important things to think about.”

“Like what?”

“Like picking out the paint color for her new room at his house.”

Noelle’s hand slaps my arm, sending beer over the rim of my cup and onto my hand. I manage to move my legs out of the way in time to avoid disaster.

“He found a house?” she squeals.

I snatch the napkins from her lap and wipe my hand. “That’s what he says.”

“So, he’s just gonna up and move here? What about his clients?”

“He’ll still take care of them. He can travel. And he’ll pick up here. Apparently, he’s really good. Several players are looking to hire him. I don’t think it matters where he’s at.”

“Well, then.” Noelle smiles. “That sounds easy.”

“Probably not as easy as he explains it, but I think he’ll make it work. He wants to be near Bianca.”

“That’s f*cking great,” Noelle practically cheers. She sets her beer in the cup holder, then throws her arms around me. “I’m so happy for her.”

I pat her, then pull away. “Me, too. They seem to be hitting it off. It’ll take a little time to get used to—for all of us. It’s a work in progress, I guess you could say.”

Okay, hockey fans. Let’s give it up for your Austin Arrows!

As soon as the announcer’s voice registers, my eyes dart down to the ice. I peer at each person coming out, taking in their pads and their helmet. I’m looking for only one person. The instant I see the thirty-nine jersey, my heart skips a beat.

Kingston.

God, I miss him. I miss him so much it hurts. I would give anything for him to just show up at my house, pull me into his arms, and tell me he really did say that he loved me that night in his hotel room. I’ve replayed that moment a million times over, trying to convince myself that it was real. I want him to tell me that he’s just scared about how he feels and that he wants nothing more than to be with me. I seriously doubt that will happen, but I still hold out hope. Stupid hope.

I watch the players skate around, my eyes constantly moving to Kingston. He’s not playing tonight, so he has taken a seat on the bench. I don’t have a great view, but I still look.

“Oh!” I say, turning to Noelle. It’s my turn to tap her arm, her turn to spill beer.

She glares at me and snatches a napkin.

“That girl called me today.”

“What girl?” Noelle dabs at the mess on her lap.

“The best friend. Tabitha.”

“Oh, my God.” Her eyes widen when she looks up at me. “What did she say? Did she confess for her friend?”

I nod. “She told me everything.” I couldn’t believe the story.

“You have to tell me.”

“Turns out—”

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you’ll please rise and remove your hats. Direct your attention to the flag.”

I get to my feet and immediately place my hand over my heart. My eyes stray to the American flag and I sing along.

A few minutes later, we’re getting situated once again, and Noelle’s eyes are fixed on my face. “If you make me wait until the end of the game, I’m gonna… I just might punch you.”

I laugh because the idea of Noelle punching anyone is absurd.