The Penalty Box (Vancouver Wolves Hockey #3)(44)

We both laughed. “So much for being a guard dog. Let me show you where you can sleep.” I led her to my room. “I changed the sheets for you.”

She looked around the room. “Is this your room?”

I flushed. “I took up camp in Mica’s room.”

Her grin broadened. “Oh, okay.”

“It’s not like that,” I rushed to explain.

She shook her head, trying not to laugh. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.”





*



When my alarm went off, I felt like I could sleep for another ten hours. Sandy wasn’t on the bed, and I could hear voices. I scrambled into clothes and headed to the kitchen, where I found Zoey and Andrew drinking coffee. Henry and Sandy lay on the floor and Ikea was attacking Sandy’s flopping tail.

Andrew turned, and his eyes took all of me in. His voice was tender. “Hey, how did you sleep?”

I checked the clock. It was 7:00 a.m. “Wow, you two are up early.”

Andrew spoke. “I came by to check on you, and Zoey invited me in for coffee.”

Zoey, without speaking, poured a cup of coffee and set it in front of me.

“Thanks for lending me Sandy.”

“Did she behave herself?”

“She was perfect.”

He looked at his watch and then stood up. “I should get to work. We’re all walking again tonight, in case you need some fresh air.”

Behind him, Zoey’s eyebrows shot up.

“Thank you.” I felt myself flush. “I appreciate the invite.”

After he left, Zoey sat on a stool, sipping her coffee with a look on her face.

“What?”

She smirked. “Nothing.”





*



Mica: You never called this morning This morning I had been in a complete rush to get to work on time. Now I was standing in line to grab a coffee for Krista and me, and it was the first time I had checked my phone.

Me: Sorry, got busy.

My phone rang.

“Hello?”

Mica’s voice rumbled in my ear. “How did you sleep?”

I smiled at the sound of his voice. “Surprisingly well. Thanks for asking Zoey to come over.”

“You’re welcome. Did you bring the dog home?”

“Sandy? Andrew came over this morning to pick her up.”

A fraction of a pause. “He did, did he?”

I knew that Mica didn’t like Andrew, but I didn’t quite understand why I responded with so many nerves every time we talked about him. “Zoey let him in and he stayed for a quick coffee.”

“I see.”

“How is it going there?”

“We just had practice and are heading in to a team lunch.”

“Zoey and I will watch the game tonight.”

I could hear the smile in his voice as he teased, “Come on, don’t jest.”

“It’s true. I am voluntarily going to watch a hockey game tonight.”

A slight pause. “So why were you in my bed?”

I felt myself flush. “Because Zoey was coming over.”

“You were in my bed with the dog before you knew Zoey was coming over.”

There were a few reasons why I had crawled into his bed. It felt like him, which made me feel less lonely, and being in his room made me feel safer. “Your bed feels safe.”

His voice went low. “Oh yeah, how come?”

“It just does. Do you mind?”

“Nope.”

The barista called my name. “I have to go.”

“Talk to you later.”





*



Zoey and I made dinner together and then settled down on the couch to watch the game. I liked Zoey. She was funny and light and she always had a smile on her face.

We talked as we watched the game, and then the worst thing happened.

Mica got into a fight.

I wasn’t even sure why it started. One minute, he and another player were toe-to-toe, and then Mica threw his gloves off. The other guy shoved him, and Mica grabbed his jersey and swung hard, hitting him in the face. Fighting on the ice is no easy feat. It’s an uneven dance of flying fists and trying to stay upright on skates. At one point, the other guy dropped to his knees, but he snapped back up to his feet, swung and hit Mica in the mouth.

I screamed into my hands, wanting to shut my eyes but unable to look away. What I couldn’t process was how fast they punched. Repeatedly, like jackhammers, they both took swings at each other, connecting with each other’s heads, never letting up.

The refs circled but didn’t interfere. The other guy lost his balance and flipped onto his back. Mica pounced, and the refs worked hard to pull Mica off him.

The camera zoomed in on Mica, who was bleeding from his cheek. The other guy was in worse shape. Blood gushed from his nose. They were both sent to opposite penalty boxes.

I dropped my face into the pillow, emotionally trying to recover.

“Are you okay?” Zoey asked softly.

I lifted my hot face up. “I hated that.”

She patted my arm. “I know.”

“That was horrible. Why would they do that? He was bleeding.”

“He’s okay. Mica’s a tough guy.”