Page 1 of Timelessly Ours
Two years earlier
My required presence up in the arena’s executive suite is my least favorable result of another win. Whose idea was it for the team and coaches to suit up after an adrenaline-driven game and drink cocktails with VIPs and family members of the team? Most of those whose tickets were comped today.
The Buffalo Blades scored four to two tonight against a team that managed to get in the top two in the entire league. So yeah, today’s worth attending the celebration—especially as Head Coach for the Blades for the last ten years.
But I’m weary. And irritable as usual.
Despite winning tonight, the team’s been struggling. Our right winger, Carter Hayes, is out for six games with a sprained wrist. Garret Garrison, one of the defensemen has gotten too cocky on the ice and for no good reason.
And to top it off, the team Captain, Nicholas Kane, has been having trouble keeping his fists to himself these past few weeks—seeing the penalty box more than ice time.
But because I know why, I’ve cut him a break.
Can’t imagine what’s it like to be living his dream while his twin sister suffers daily with addiction. If only that were the worst of it. The Kane twins come from a toxic upbringing. One that Nicole Kane bore the worst of.
After swiping fatigue off my face, I crank my neck and button my suit jacket, then step out of the elevator.
I consciously join these things after the players have, for the mere fact that guests will be too wrapped up in conversation with each of them to bother with me.
I pause in my tracks when a man around my age clears his throat and approaches me. “Coach.”
Doing my best to conceal my scowl, I turn. My brows rise respectfully, finding one of the few men I don’t mind having a brief chat with.
“Bruce,” I say, catching his hand. “Good to see you again.” Bruce Knight is the father of Jace Knight, co-captain, defenseman, and my least favorite player on the team. Not because he isn’t a solid player, he’s one of our best. But because he knows it and acts like we’re lucky to have him.
His frequent quarreling with my oldest daughter, Angel, doesn’t help his case either, not that the guy cares what I think about him outside of his ability to score.
“Great game tonight.”
“Thank you. And thank you for coming.” I glance around at the crowd. Unfortunately, Bruce Knight is likely the better of my options this evening, but I was hoping to see Angel. My twenty-four-year-old daughter, who used to be the first one to drag me up to these events with her quirky and spirited personality. That was until her accident last year. Angel used to be a Buffalo Blades Ice Girl, until an injury on the ice—on national television, no less— deflected her desire to ever skate again.
The best thing to come out of her quitting being an Ice Girl was less time she spent around Jace.
When there’s no sign of her, I turn back to Bruce. “Is Cora here as well?” It seems fitting to ask about his daughter since she’s friends with mine and other than that fact, we have nothing in common.
“She should be around here.” He peeks his head over the crowd, and I blow out an exasperated breath. Because this… is the best I could do tonight.
I should be home, with my younger daughter. Rory is the result of a one-night stand I had a few years ago but is by no means a mistake. Sure, the fans and media still consider it one, but she’s one of the few joys I have in my life.
Best part? I don’t have to raise her with anyone. Her mother left her at my door. It was years after my divorce with Angel’s mother, Claire—who, to this day, I resent not changing the locks on, since she barges into my home whenever she pleases.
Absently, I turn my head from a conversation I was never quite interested in having, when my eyes lock onto one… breathtaking…woman.
Petite, maybe five foot, long dark silky hair, big green eyes—familiar eyes—and laughter that carries waves through the air like a distant song.
She’s… magnetic.
“Ah, there she is. With Nicole.”
My brows knit and I blink. “Nicole?”
“Nicole Kane.” His brows jump. “Surely, you’ve heard of Nicole Kane. She’s been in rehab up until last week.”
My jaw clenches at his careless regard for Nicole’s hardship, and I turn back. That spark of energy ignites when my eyes find her again. But I’ve met Nicky before. It’s been a while—and it was before things went completely south for this girl—but I feel like I would have…remembered her.
She's easily the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.And my ex-wife was a supermodel.
This woman—given she’s Nick’s twin, makes her twenty-seven—is a whopping seventeen years younger than me.