Even as the kid ran up to her, her eyes never left mine. “Mom, can we get dinner here?”
“No,” she said absently. “We need to get home. Sam’s cooking.”
“Okay,” the kid sounded as disappointed as I was.
I broke our gaze and knelt down to the kid I’d become quite fond of and would undoubtedly miss. “You did great today. Just remember, stay focused, balanced and keep a good grip.”
“Thanks Logan.”
For his sake, I sure hoped his mom would change her mind.
I stood, noticing her chest hike when I stood before her. “Call me when you’re ready.”
She ignored me and collected her son’s things in a hurry. “Thank you.”
“Good to see you back on the ice,” a familiar elderly voice came from behind me as I sat to sharpen my blades.I didn’t need to be here. Left right after Rayne and Jax to check on the store and close up. Then somehow ended up back at the youth hockey arena an hour before close.
It was starting to burn. The need to know if the kid is the only reason I enjoyed the ice again.
Or was it that I never got over it? There was only one way to find out.
My head cocked but didn’t look back right away.I grinned.
Marty.
I stood and found the man grinning back at me.“Good to see you too.”
I dropped my skates and went up a few steps to tug the man into a hug. “What are you doing here?”
Marty was a rink manager at the public arena in my hometown. Which was well over sixty miles from here.I’d known him since I played youth hockey in my teens. I was a late starter and needed to catch up to play with big boys. Marty helped me out by letting me use the rink outside of open skate hours, and gave me some pointers.
“Eh, needed change of scenery, I guess. Been at that old community arena for twenty years. Place was starting to smell like me,” he claimed as if it was a fact.
I laughed. “You mean you were starting to smell like the place.”
“Bout to go through this thing with the Zamboni, I could put it off if you’re thinkin’ of getting’ back on.” He watched me expectantly. I knew what he was waiting for.
I peered at the ice. “Nah, I’m good.” I started packing up my skates.
“In that case, why don’t you come on back and help me with my chores. Catch up a bit.”
“I’d like nothing more.”
10
I gripped the steering wheel,trying not to intentionally bang my head against it when I glanced at the time display; 9:48 P.M.
There was no way I’d make it back to the arena before they closed for the night. But I had to try.
So careless.
Where was my head? I never left anything behind. Much less my on-call work cell. I could practically hear Dr. Mendez’s panicked voicemails in my head.
I growled. “How could I have just left that behind?”
Another growl.I know how.
And I was grateful that it wouldn’t happen again. I put an end to it today.
