Page 17 of The Rebound Play
“Come with me, guys. I’ll show you to the locker room,” Troy says as he turns on his heel.
I shoot Keira one final look before I turn to walk away. She’s still got her head buried in her book, her hood up, pulling off an Obi-Wan impersonation.
When she looks up again, my chest is instantly filled with exhilaration. But she’s not looking at me. She’s watching her daughter’s lesson.
Her daughter.
That exhilaration wooshes right out of me.
As I walk away, I can’t help the words from ringing in my brain. I missed my chance with the only woman I’ve loved.
CHAPTER 6
KEIRA
Walking into the Falling for Books bookshop is like stepping into another world. It smells like two of my favorite things: books and coffee. The shelves are stacked with all kinds of books, from literary fiction to thrillers to romance. There’s a low hum of people chatting, and the sound of pages being flipped. This place is filled with a bunch of stories waiting to be read. An escape from reality.
And right now, escaping my reality is more than a little appealing.
Why does Dan have to look even better than I remember? He looks better than the pictures I see of him online. Better than when I watch him play for the Chicago Blizzard on TV; and oh my, does he look good when he plays on TV.
And the way he looked at me at the arena? His eyes were soft, his lips quirking into an easy smile, showcasing that old confident Dan Roberts charm I knew so well. I may have seen countless images of him over the years, but they’re nothing in comparison with the real thing.
The memory of how I hid from him squeezes my belly.
I think everyone could agree that it wasn’t my best move, dropping to the floor and pretending I wasn’t there. But everyone could see me, including the last person I would ever want to catch me doing something quite so asinine.
But if my seeing Dan has tilted my world on its axis, forcing me to dive for cover—literally—for him, it seems as though I’m just another acquaintance. Someone from his past who holds little relevance in his world today. He was so relaxed, so confident, like seeing me was no big deal at all for him.
I get it. It shouldn’t be a big deal. We broke up a lifetime ago. He’s moved on. He’s got his big career and probably a super confident and gorgeous girlfriend who doesn’t do dumb things like try to hide behind the bleachers, clasping onto her cinnamon roll.
I blow out a breath in a vain attempt to calm myself. But abasement like that burns hot, and I know my cheeks are as red as my sweater.
The first time I saw Dan I had planned on looking totally poised and ridiculously hot in some gorgeous dress and heels combo, my hair and makeup just so, so that his tongue would hit the ground as I sashayed past him, saying, “Good to see you again, Dan. We must catch up some time,” or some other such breezy, I’m-over-you words.
Clearly, that was not meant to be.
It’s going to be impossible not to see him again. Troy’s brother, Zach Hart, the big billionaire who’s helping to finance the Ice Breakers, has given free tickets to the first game to every family in town, and I know Benny would never speak to me again if I didn’t bring him along to each and every game.
I bite down on my lip.
Who am I kidding? It’s never going to be easy to see Dan, knowing that he’s moved on. I’ll just have to be strong. Show him I’m fine with everything. He has his life and I have mine.
But just as I’ve come to this conclusion, I envision him and a couple of the other guys on the team as they made their way onto the ice following Hannah’s lesson. Wearing Ice Breakers practice jerseys and holding hockey sticks and helmets in their gloved hands, my traitorous heart gave a squeeze.
Great start, Keira.
I spot my college friend, Blair Radcliffe, who I’ve come to meet for coffee at the cute café at the back of the bookshop and wave at her. She waves back, a big grin on her pretty face.
“How’s Heathcliff working out for you this time?” my friend and bookshop manager, Emmy, asks as I walk past the counter, clutching my copy of Wuthering Heights.
Oh, and Emmy is Dan’s sister, too. As the saying goes, you can run but you can’t hide, especially in a small town like Maple Falls. That’s for sure.
An image of Dan holding this very book in his hands flashes before my eyes and I must have a weird look on my face because Emmy adds hurriedly, “I get it. He’s super brooding and intense. Even I can admit that, and I love the guy. I’ve got plenty of recommendations for you if you’re not into the brooding type.”
“It’s not Heathcliff. He’s great. I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.”
Like your brother.