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“Tori.” Chance grabbed her attention again. “Umm, that’s my basket.” He pointed to the car she was pushing.

She looked down and noted the different groceries in there. She surely hadn’t put pizza rolls and chips in her cart.

Thoroughly embarrassed, Tori felt her cheeks grow hot as she turned the cart around.

“That’s what I was trying to tell you, mom,” Emmett said as they returned the cart to its owner.

“Sorry, bud,” Tori told him. “Sorry about that. I guess I wasn’t paying attention.” Great, now she sounded like an idiot. One that lost her kid and then made off with someone else’s groceries in the store. It was definitely a great first impression.

“Are you playing next weekend?” Emmett asked, taking their return to Chance as an opportunity to prolong the conversation.

“I’m done for the season,” Chance told him.

Tori studied him, looking for a clue as to why. There was pain on his face, but she had a feeling it was emotional and not physical.

“Are you hurt?” Emmett asked. “Mom says the shin guards keep you from getting too hurt.” He bent down and knocked his fists on the ones he was still wearing.

Chance chuckled. “No, dude. I’m not hurt. I have to take my discipline for the fight, is all.”

Tori nodded. She had assumed that’s what it was.

“You’re not going to another team, are you?” Emmett looked terrified.

“I hope not,” Chance said.

“It was really nice to meet you again,” Tori brought the conversation to a close. “Hopefully, we will see you on the pitch next season. I’ll let you get back to your shopping and get this kid out of your hair.” She offered him a smile still tinged with embarrassment.

“It was no bother. I hope I’ll see you guys there, too.” Chance took his basket and then turned back to them. “Maybe I will see you around town again.”

With that, he left and Tori continued to try to hold herself together. Only the fact that he might walk by and see her still standing in the same place got her feet moving again.

“Let’s go pick up our lunch meat,” she told Emmett. “One hand on the cart at all times, mister.”

“Mom,” Emmett started.

She arched one eyebrow at him, cutting him off. “Did you just take off in the grocery store to bother someone after I told you not to? And where I couldn’t see you?”

Emmett ducked his blonde head, clearly deciding not to argue for now. A wise choice.

Tori called it quits after she collected her order from the deli. That was the end of her grocery shopping. Whatever she’d forgotten would wait until another day. She didn’t want to risk running into him again and making a complete fool out of herself once more.

Four

Chance sat at a table with most of his teammates, drumming his fingers on his bottle of beer. Derek had agreed that he could come out tonight with the team, but with strict advice to remember he was being watched.

He hated feeling like that. Like someone was waiting for him to screw up. They wouldn’t be wrong in assuming it was likely to happen, but not tonight. He wasn’t drinking, less opportunities for bad decisions if he stayed sober.

“Man, loosen up,” Maddox told him. “You can still hang out with the team and participate without getting into a fight with anyone.”

“I know,” Chance told him. “I’m just not feeling up to it.”

“Buddy thinks you’re mad at him,” Maddox whispered. “Because he didn’t do anything to stop the fight.”

“That’s bullshit,” Chance immediately tossed out. The decisions he made were his own and he didn’t blame anyone else for it.

Standing, Chance ignored his beer and made his way over to Buddy.

“Happy Birthday, man!” Chance slapped him on the back.