“Unnecessary, but thank you.”
I slide my hands into my hoodie pockets, keeping my stride in pace with hers as we walk down the hall. Awkwardness walks between us like a third person.
“You could have talked to me before running to Gabe.”
She stops and spins around to face me. “I didn’t run to Gabe. You didn’t reply to my firstemail about rescheduling, or the second one. I knew you and Gabe were friends, so I simply asked him for a few details about you. He put two and two together.”
I run a hand over my mouth. “Sorry. I’m not great at following up with emails.”
Her expression softens as she studies me. “Good to know. If I created tension between you and Gabe, I apologize. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
She opens her mouth as if to say something, then shakes her head and continues toward the exit.
Again, I open the door for her as we head outside. The temperature has dropped some with the onset of fall, but the lingering warmth of the day folds around us.
“Thanks.” She slides a glance and a tight smile at me before rushing to her car.
I’m barely inside mine when she drives away a little too fast for a parking area, making me grin for the first time today.
Maybe, just maybe, I make her as twitchy as she does me.
CHAPTER 10
SOPHIE
“Soph, this is important.” Mia repositions herself on the big, overstuffed couch so she can face me. That’s one serious pout she’s wearing, too, which feeds the simmering irritation I’m holding against Luke. If he’d just finished his interview, this wouldn’t be an issue. I could have gone with Mia to the flower shop in the morning and then driven up to join the team later in the day. Instead, I have to spend the day on a bus with a bunch of hockey players.
“I know, Mia. And you know I wouldn’t miss it if I didn’t have to. But I called Amanda at Bloomed to Be Wilde and told her what we have in mind for the flowers. She’s putting together some ideas and sketches for you—that’s almost as good as me being there, right?” I grab her hand and squeeze reassuringly. “Besides, I’ve seen her work. She’s amazing! She’ll have ideas and suggestions I haven’t even considered.”
Chin down, Mia nods. “Okay. But what if I’m not sure which ones to pick?”
“Just send me pictures, and I’ll give you my vote.”
She flops back on her couch. “Maybe Ethan and I should just elope.”
“Don’t you dare! That would break my heart. And I think Ethan’s mother would put a hit out on you.”
Mia’s laugh is almost maniacal. “Probably.” She turns her head on the cushion to look at me. “But you’ll still be able to help me with all the other stuff, right? Ethan may be proficient with a hockey stick, but he’s all thumbs with a glue stick.”
I giggle at the mental image of Ethan gluing the tiny bows for the wedding favors to his fingers, then grab my notebook and slip out the multi-page calendar I filled out with the team’s schedule to show her. All the games are in orange because that’s one of the colors in the Sun Kings logo. Pink, of course, indicates anything personal. And since the wedding colors are lilac—Mia’s favorite—and green, I used a sparkly lilac gel pen for everything wedding-related.
Mia leans in closer. “Whoa. It’s like a work of art.”
My turn to giggle. “Who says organizing can’t be fun and creative? So, does that make you feel better?”
“I suppose.” She draws her brows together in a deep frown and studies me.
I hate throwing a curve ball like this at her, but what choice do I have?
“Are you going to be okay on a bus with a bunch of noisy guys for eight hours? Two is usually your max when it comes to crowded, small spaces.”
I fold the papers and insert them back into my notebook for safekeeping. That was the other reason I wanted to drive up by myself. I enjoy parties and social gatherings, but after the first hour, it starts to drain me. “I’ll have my noise-canceling headphones with me if it gets to be too much. It’ll be fine.”
Hopefully, Luke Jameson won’t throw any more complications into my process. He said he likes to sleep on the ride. If that’s true of the other guys, I can take advantage of the quiet to work on the piece about the team captain since Luke’s interview will be the first featured as far as the players go.
I’ve already written and submitted the introductory articleabout the Sun Kings and what they’re projecting for the season and Coach Markelson’s interview. Derek’s will follow next, along with the rest of the trainers and managers intermingled with the players. And since we’re running one piece a week, not including game coverage, I’ll stay busy for a while.
