Page 14 of Love on the Ice

He shakes his head. “You saved us out there, but I’m going to need you to get your head out of your ass right now because if you play like this on Thursday, we may as well not even show the fuck up.”

And that’s the truth. My head is straight up my ass. I’m so busy thinking about that damn girl that I’m not giving my absolute best. I’m distracted. Fuck. This is why girls have never been a priority. This is why I can’t have a woman. I’m already screwing up, and she’s not even mine yet.

“Fixing it, Coach.”

I don’t apologize. There’s no reason to. He wouldn’t accept that shit anyway. So, instead of verbally apologizing, I show him just how sorry I am by playing really well. The rest of practice goes by quickly, and thankfully, by the end, Coach isn’t pissed off anymore.

It feels like a victory for me.

Especially considering it feels like I’m the one he’s constantly yelling at every single practice. I don’t know if it’s because I’m one of the newer players or if I’m really screwing up that much on the daily. I like to think it’s just because I’ve been coached differently, and he’s trying to break me in as my coach… at least, that’s what I tell myself.

By the time we’re showered and heading home from the rink, I’m not only exhausted but starving. I also feel like my head is a little straighter than it was when practice started, especially regarding my sexy neighbor. Maybe she’s a distraction, and I should end what hasn’t even begun yet, but I simply don’t want to.

Selfishly, I want to know more about her. I want to take her out to dinner and know what makes her hungry, aside from Italian food. Then, I want to devour her and discover how she tastes. I think about going to the diner but decide against it.

Lorelai should really be there with me. She’s interwoven herself, unknowingly, into my life after just a single encounter. I can’t even pretend she hasn’t. I want to know everything about her.

Every detail.

Inside and out.

This is the complete opposite of everything I have always said I wanted. My goal has always been simple, nothing meaningful, nothing that would take time away from the ice. I would not have a woman until I was established or retired. My life has always been the game… until now.

Climbing into the driver’s seat of my SUV, I take my phone out of my pocket and place a Chipotle order for pickup. Considering we spent the rest of the weekend watching football and sleeping, I still have some unpacking to do in the kitchen and a few random things in my bedroom.

It doesn’t take me long to get my food and head home. The rest of the guys went out for brunch, but I didn’t feel like it. I want to get home and get my shit done so I can unwind a bit before we hit the gym, then I can sleep.

Climbing out of my SUV, my Chipotle in my hand, I look over at the girls’ house. Everything appears quiet over there. Slowly, I lift my gaze up to Lorelai’s window, hoping to get a glimpse of her like I did the day I moved in.

Unfortunately, she’s not there today.

I saw her watching me that day. I knew there was something special there. I couldn’t see her clearly, but I saw enough that I wanted to know more. Maybe she doesn’t think I could see her, but I could. I knew then and there that I had to meet her. When those girls threw a party, I knew it was the perfect opportunity.

I was discouraged when she wasn’t there immediately the night of the party. Not only was there no actual food, but the only girl I wanted to glimpse up close and personal was nowhere to be seen.

Then she walked downstairs, looking like she just threw some clothes on and gave no fucks about primping and showing off. She’s chill, relaxed, and just herself. She’s perfect for me in so many ways. It’s hard to list them all, and I don’t even know everything about her yet.

Seeing nobody in the window and no movement around the house, I head inside, eat my lunch, and then make my way into my bedroom to finish unpacking. When I find my Bluetooth speaker, I search through the music app for my favorite playlist and touch Play.

The room fills with rock music as I begin tearing open boxes and finding a place for everything. I don’t know if any of the other guys come home while I’m doing this, but I am completely focused.

My alarm sounds, cutting my music off and alerting me to the fact that it’s time to go work out at the gym. I look around and realize I’m finished. I have a pile of boxes, but my room is complete, at least so far. I’m sure I’ll want to do more later, but this is unpacked, neat, and clean.

Changing into my workout gear, I grab my tennis shoes and my bag before heading out of my room and downstairs. I find the rest of the guys gathered around the kitchen and living room, getting ready to leave as well.

“Want to ride together?” Otto asks, his gaze swinging to mine.

“Yeah,” I murmur. “We can take mine.”

Together, we head out of the house, but I glance across the street, looking up to the window. She’s not there, but I smile anyway because I’m an idiot like that. I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but I always get what I want… eventually.

And I want her.

LORELAI

F.

Fail.