A Perfect Distraction(80)
Wasn’t that what Maggie had decided last night? She smiled. “No contest.”
Tracy laid her hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “Before you change your mind, call Jake and tell him.”
“Actually, I think I’ll wait and tell him in person, after dinner tonight. Then he can show his appreciation properly.”
“I like your thinking.” Tracy grinned.
“In the meantime, I need your help to find a fabulous dress and some killer shoes.”
“I saw just the thing yesterday.” Tracy typed an address into Maggie’s iPad. “Check out these Louboutins.”
Maggie sighed. “Perfect.”
* * *
I’M AN IDIOT!
Jake tugged so hard the laces on his skates snapped.
Damn it. A bad sign.
He tamped down the superstitious twinge as the equipment guy tossed him a packet of spare laces. It wasn’t bad luck, just bad thoughts. Mainly about his conversation with Maggie last night. He’d had nothing but bad thoughts since he’d opened his big mouth and stuck his size twelve in it.
“You ready?” Tru stood at the door.
“Sure.” The extra practice should take his mind off last night’s fiasco.
Walking down the corridor, Tru asked, “Will your fight with Maggie affect your play?”
“It was only a difference of opinion.”
“Then how come you both looked upset?”
“Later,” he said. “Now’s not the time.”
Tru nodded, then hit the ice.
Ike came up behind him, drinking a soda. “Can you keep your head after yesterday?”
Jeez, had everyone noticed? “I’m fine.”
Ike shrugged. “Okay.”
“Trust me.” Jake skated out to join Tru.
Only everything wasn’t fine. The clack-clack of his blades was choppy, out of sync. Another bad sign. He stopped sharply, sending up a spray of white.
Feel the ice.
He started skating again. Twice clockwise, twice counterclockwise.
Tru and Jake touched sticks then skated sprints across the rink. His muscles settled into a familiar rhythm. A whistle blast, and they switched to a one-touch passing drill. Then they fired pucks at Ike.
Jake’s timing was off. His stickwork was bad. His shots were worse.
He skated to the boards and grabbed a water bottle, squirting water over his face and down his dry throat as the two brothers joined him.
Ike swore. “Get her out of your head. The team can’t afford this crap.”
“She’s not in my head.” Instantly, that’s exactly where she was, wearing a kaleidoscope of expressions. Shock. Frustration. Disappointment.
He shook his head to clear it. “I’ll be okay,” he ground out.
“What happened yesterday?” Tru demanded. “Don’t give me bull about a disagreement.”
Jake sighed and filled them in on the conversation.
Tru’s eyebrows spiked. “You’re that serious about her?”
“For sure.”
“Jeez. Next you’ll be talking about the future.” Ike’s lip curled.
“Right. I can’t even convince her to come to a public event with me to show the world we’re a couple.” Jake slammed the water bottle back on the boards.
He’d been prepared to put himself and his reputation out there to show his feelings for her. Was it so much to ask her to take a little leap of faith and do the same?
Ike adjusted his mask. “You’ve been sweet-talking women since kindergarten.”
“Well, it didn’t work this time.” When it mattered most.
Tru tapped Jake’s helmet with his glove. “Maybe you only think it’s what you want, what you should do instead of what you want to do.”
“Run that by me again.”
“Isn’t this another part of your ‘be a saint’ kick?”
“I’m trying to live a better life.” Jake glared at him. “Not earn a damn halo.”
“I got you wanting to cut out the high-octane lifestyle, but this is the other extreme.”
Ike nodded. “By the all-star break, you’ll be talking about kids, a minivan and a spot on the PTA. Nuts.” He skated off to his crease.
Jake turned to Tru. “You think I’m crazy, too?”
“No.” There was understanding in Tru’s eyes. “But you’ve only been dating a few weeks. Why the desperate need to make a statement about how serious you are about her?”
“Why wait? I already know all I need to about Maggie. You said it yourself. She’s—” how to describe her without sounding like a sappy Hallmark card? “—perfect for me.”
“No one’s perfect, bro.” Concern tinged the understanding.
“She’s pretty damn close. I care for her. A lot. Want to be with her. A lot.” He wanted her, period. “I’m not interested in being with anyone else, and the thought of spending the rest of my life with her doesn’t scare the crap out of me.”