Wild for You (Hot Jocks #6)(30)

With that decision made, I feel more at ease, more clearheaded than I have in days. I run my brush through my hair, the first step to trying to put myself back together.

It’s easier said than done.





12




* * *





Out of Practice





Grant



After spending the night with Ana in my bed, I awake in the morning to rumpled sheets and her scent on the pillow. She’s gone.

I keep myself busy most of the day, first with a team skate, and then by dropping off a couple of bags filled with groceries at the local homeless shelter like I do every week. I consider going back to the store for even more groceries, but I can’t stay out of my apartment forever.

I might be avoiding going home. Okay, I am. But I shouldn’t have slept with Ana last night, and that’s become glaringly obvious in the light of day.

But when I saw her huddled in my bed last night, her face tense in sleep, it twisted something inside me. I’ve seen guys unconscious on the ice after a brutal hit, seen players with broken bones and concussions and all types of serious injuries. But I’ve never seen someone look so helpless and desperate in their sleep.

The urge to crawl into bed beside her and hold her, even before she invited me to, was a sharp pulse of need. It goes without saying that I have no idea what I’m doing, because I’m not the guy you go to for emotional support or cuddling comfort. But for Ana, all I want in the world is the chance to see her smile again.

Deciding I can’t stay away any longer, I turn my car toward home and dial Coach on the drive there.

“Hey, Grant,” he says, answering on the first ring. It’s almost like he was expecting me to call. Then again, maybe he was. We said we’d touch base today.

“Hey, Coach.” I clear my throat, deciding to cut right to the chase rather than waste time on pleasantries. “Any word on Kress?”

“Actually, yeah, there’s been a change.”

When he hesitates for a moment, I’m suddenly terrified that he’s going to tell me they’ve lifted the suspension and reinstated the abusive prick. If that happens, my days of being captain of this team will come to a swift and unfortunate ending. Because I’ll be the one getting suspended, since I’m pretty sure physical violence against a teammate is frowned upon. And I’ve just been waiting for an excuse to beat Kress’s ass from here to next Sunday.

Finally, Coach continues, and the next words out of his mouth are the last ones I expect. “He’s been sent down.” Which means he’s being moved to our affiliate team in Wisconsin, two thousand miles away. Holy shit.

The news hits me like a fist to the sternum. Elation and relief settle over me, along with a sense of calm I haven’t felt since this entire mess started. Maybe this will all turn out okay. Maybe Ana will get the fresh start she deserves.

“Copy that. Thanks for the update.”

“Sure thing. Anything else?”

“Do you think she should, ah, press charges?” I say after a pause.

Rather than telling me to mind my own business like I half expect him to, Coach launches into a lengthy explanation about a conversation he had with the team lawyer. Apparently, even if Ana were willing to press charges, cases like this rarely go anywhere. Which is, of course, utter bullshit.

“It’s up to her, of course,” he says. “Just giving you my two cents.”

With a defeated sigh, I grunt my acknowledgment. “Thanks, Coach.”

“Anytime. Talk to you soon, Grant.”

We end the call just as I reach my building. After parking in the garage, I make my way upstairs.

“Hello?” I call out into the empty condo. Hobbes runs over to greet me, but Ana’s nowhere to be found. She must still be at work.

I obsessed over seeing her today, purposely staying out of my own home all day, and she’s not even here. Figures.

After taking Hobbes out, I check the time. It’s almost six. I’m not sure what shift Ana might have been working today, or when to expect her, but decide to go ahead and order us dinner. She could have plans with her friend . . . hell, she could have gone back to her ex for all I know. It’s a thought that stings more than I want it to.

After ordering a couple of pizzas and a spinach salad, I toss my phone on the couch and wait. It’s not long before Ana arrives, placing her purse onto the counter as she enters.

“Hey,” she says in a cheery voice, meeting my eyes.

“Hey,” I say back, my voice a little hoarse.

She opens her mouth to say something more, but the sound of the intercom buzzing distracts her.

“I ordered pizza,” I say, pressing the button to grant the delivery person access to the building.

“Oh, that’s perfect,” she says. “I’ll just take Hobbes out, and then—”

I hold up one hand. “Already taken care of.”

Ana’s mouth twitches with a smile. “You’re too nice to me. Have I told you that already?”

Shaking my head, I chuckle at her. What was I so worried about earlier? Things don’t feel any different between us. Unless you count the buzzing attraction I’m trying hard to ignore.

“It was nothing.”

“Then I guess I’ll go change and wash up for dinner.”