Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(52)

Although I can’t see his face, I can imagine the determination in his dark eyes.

The music and light show follow, and after the Star Spangled Banner and the ceremonial puck drop, the players are in position and ready. The official comes over between Spencer and a player from the other team. I hold my breath as he drops the puck … and they’re off!



In order to avoid any curious reporters, I decide to take the girls directly out to the car after the game. I usually wait for Spencer, but I know he’s going to be in a bad mood tonight, so I shoot him a text and let him know I’m heading home. It’s Saturday night or I would’ve gone up to the bar to hang out. Instead, Bianca convinces me to let Gabby spend the night, so I call her mom to get permission, then we head home after grabbing hamburgers from Wendy’s.

“It sucks that they lost,” Bianca says solemnly when we’re pulling into the driveway.

“There’re a lot of games in the season,” I explain. “They can’t win them all.”

“I know. But Kingston looked angry.”

He did look mad, no doubt about that. There were a couple of questionable calls, and it didn’t help when they scored on themselves. I know the commentators are going to have a field day with this one, which is why I’ll be avoiding the after-game show. I don’t need someone else’s take on it. I was there.

“Y’all can’t stay up all night,” I inform Bianca as she bounds up the stairs, Gabby right behind her.

“We know!”

She might be agreeable, but I know I’ll need to check on them around one o’clock. Knowing them, they’ll still be awake.

I pull my phone from my purse and perch on a barstool. I want to text Kingston, but I don’t know what to say to him. He played a good game, but I know how he gets when they lose. Especially when he’s in goal. He’s incredibly critical of himself.

I feel like I should say something since we’ve been chatting by text for a while now. He might not be in the mood to message me back, but that’s okay.

I pull up my text app.

Ellie: Rough night, but you were awesome.

I hit send and drop the phone on the counter. I’m kind of glad I don’t have to be at the bar tonight. Thankfully, I’ve got Julie filling in, which relieves a lot of my stress. I enjoy the nights I can be home with Bianca, even if she spends all her time with Gabby. I’m always in a panic when I know she’s home alone, although she insists that she prefers it that way. Luckily, I have a pretty cool neighbor—Mrs. Potts—who is willing to come over if ever Bianca needs something. So far, I haven’t had to call her.

My phone buzzes and I glance down at the screen.

Pathetic: Thanks.

Well, there you have it. He’s in a mood, clearly. If he weren’t, he would’ve sent something more than one word.

While I debate whether or not I should go to bed, I pull up Twitter and check my tweet from earlier. There’s no response from @KingstonRush39, which means he hasn’t seen it or he’s too pissed to respond. It’s a good one, too: Mountain climbing … I hear it can be a good cardiovascular workout. Always good to consider new exercise routines.

Maybe he’ll see it later and it’ll make him smile. It’s all I can hope for.

I’ve dealt with this my entire life. Spencer has always been extremely moody after a loss. Most of the time, he won’t talk to anyone, so we’ve learned to leave him alone. In the years since our parents passed, I usually irritate him until he responds.

But not tonight.

I’ll let him and Kingston stew in their defeat. And tomorrow, hopefully, they’ll be over it.





17

Ellie

Sunday, October 23rd “Oh, come on,” Noelle pleads. “It looks fantastic on you.”

“I don’t know how I let you talk me into this,” I grumble.

I’m staring at myself in the full-length mirror at one of Noelle’s favorite stores, but the woman peering back at me looks nothing like me. Well, aside from the hair and eyes, maybe.

“It does not,” I object. “My skin looks too pale and what’s this? It looks like I’ve got a third boob. Seriously. This isn’t a good dress for me.”

Noelle’s smile widens. “You’ve said that about the last dozen.”

“And you can add this one to that pile.”

“Don’t you dare move,” Noelle insists. “I’ll be right back.”

I’ve heard that at least five times already, and every time, Noelle has come back with a dress that’s worse than the one before. If it weren’t for the fact that I can’t unzip myself from this thing, I would’ve already discarded it and pulled on my jeans. I’m contorted into a pretzel, attempting to do so, when Noelle returns a minute later.

“Here. This is the one.”

I stare at the dress she’s holding up in front of me. It’s black and short, unlike the others she has brought. There are sleeves—a sheer chiffon—and some sort of beaded design on the hem of the skirt and the cuffs. On the hanger, it’s really cute. That doesn’t mean it’ll look good on me, though.

But since it’s not terrible, I know I have no choice but to try it on and appease my best friend.

“Okay, I’ll try it.”