Clipped by Love (Bellevue Bullies #2) (20 page)

And he doesn’t even know I’m here.

I take in the four-story house and let out a breath. Maybe I can be on the top floor and him on the bottom. Maybe I can figure out a way never to see him and never to deal with him, but even I know that’s stupid to even try to attempt. A hockey team is supposed to be a family if they want to win. I’m going to see him, I’m gonna have to talk to him, and I’m going to have to act like he didn’t reject me and turn me into a little crybaby. It’s gonna be hard. I can still feel the sting of his rejection, but I won’t allow that to derail me. This isn’t about some stupid fling on the beach. No, this is about me getting to the NHL.

And no one is going to hold me back from that.

When my phone dings, I look down to see that it’s a text from Delanie.

My daily text, that is.

Delanie: Have you seen him yet?

I’ve gotten this text every day since we moved here. It’s becoming very annoying, but at the same time, I wait for it. Not sure why, but I do. Nonetheless, I roll my eyes as I answer her back.

Me: Don’t you think I’d tell you if I did?

Delanie: No, I think you’ll find a place to hide and never come out.

Me: Dramatic much? No, I haven’t seen him. But then, I’m not looking.

Delanie: According to Jace, they are living with his mom till they can move into the frat house.

Glaring at my phone, I type my next sentence very angrily. I put the caps lock on just to make sure she knows I mean business.

Me: I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU TOLD JACE I AM HERE, I AM GOING TO FLY TO ARKANSAS AND KILL YOU.

Delanie: Whoa, psycho, no! I was just asking questions and got that out of him. Jeez. Calm your tits.

Me: Your life depended on that text.

Delanie: Yeah, I got that. Why am I friends with you?

Me: Must be my loveable way.

Delanie: Must be.

I smile and decide that I miss her. She was my first real girlfriend. I never really had those growing up. Never gave anyone the chance to be my friend, but I did with Delanie. Or she made me. One of the two.

Delanie: So, yeah, they are at their mom’s, and you haven’t seen either of them just walking around?

Me: It’s a big campus.

Delanie: Yeah, but only rich people go there. How many of those are there really in Nashville?

She’s such an airhead.

Me: Delanie, it’s the music capital of the world, and most of the people who live here have sex and then have kids. So yeah, lots.

Delanie: Oh yeah. Well. Shit. I was hoping to have some juicy gossip by now, or at least see you on the news for murder. I’ve been following the Nashville news.

Me: Your opinion of me is a little scary.

Delanie: You’re scary.

Me: Touché.

I smile as I roll onto my stomach, holding my phone out as I wait for her text. I don’t have to wait long.

Delanie: So have you met anyone else? Made friends?

I scoff.

Me: No, not at all.

Delanie: So, no hot guys yet?

Me: None.

Delanie: Depressing.

Me: Depends who you ask.

Delanie: Well, I’m sure that if you weren’t so caught up on Jayden’s dick, you’d see someone else worth your time.

Rolling my eyes, I type.

Me: And I’ll talk to you later.

Delanie:
Make sure you let me know if you see him.

Me: You’ll be the first I contact.

And she will be, but I doubt that will happen until next week.

When I get on the ice.

With him.

Fuck me.

Letting my phone drop to the ground, I look up and watch as people walk by. Couples, friends, and single folk of all shapes and sizes fill the campus. It’s a Saturday morning and gorgeous, so everyone is out enjoying the sunshine. I have a couple more hours before I have to go train in the weight room and then hit the ice. So I’m gonna soak up the sun and do everything in my power to not think of Jayden.

I’m having a hard time achieving that goal though.

“Hey, sugar! Want some company?”

Looking over at the Bullies’ yard, I see a group of guys checking me out. They are big and cut, but yeah, no.

Raising an eyebrow, I shake my head. “No, thanks.”

“Aw, come on, you don’t even know me. Let me take you for coffee,” he says, and when he starts coming toward me, I sit up. He’s cute, dark hair with dark eyes, tall, nice shoulders, and is wearing a bright teal Bullies tee. Which more than likely means he’s my teammate.

Nope. Not happening.

Before I can even talk though, the door behind me is opening and my dad is stepping out. He looks at the guy and then me before looking back at the guy and saying, “Bay, come inside. I need some help. Kyle Frayer, yeah?”

The guy nods, a little suspicious as he answers, “Yes, sir.”

Coming down the stairs as I stand, Dad passes by me and holds out his hand to shake Kyle’s. He takes my dad’s hand cautiously as he asks, “Are you River Moore?”

“I am. I’ve seen video of you, and I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“What?” he asks, confused. “What do you mean?”

“In due time. I am going to see you next week, yeah?”

He nods. “For camp?”

“Yup, nice meeting ya,” Dad says and then he turns, coming toward me, while Kyle looks at him dumbfounded.

Following him into the house, I shut the door and ask, “Why didn’t you just say you’re coaching?”

“They don’t want me to announce it yet. Waiting for the first day of camp.”

Scoffing, I say, “So instead you just walk up to people and look like a weirdo?”

He shrugs, a grin pulling at his mouth. “Guess so.” He then sends me a goofy look before saying, “I didn’t realize that’s how I came off.”

“Yeah, very Castiel from
Supernatural
in my opinion,” I say speaking of our favorite show and the very socially awkward angel on it.

He pauses and then laughs. “I’ll work on that then.”

I laugh along with him as I drop into the seat he has pulled out for me. Pushing a pile of files toward me, he says, “Look through all that and tell me what you think of the ones I’ve marked. I have to cut eight guys, and apparently three want the captain and alternates.”

I chew on the inside of my lip. I want the captain spot; I was supposed to have it this year, but since I moved teams, that might not happen. Dad said we’ll see how well I do during camp. “Feel I’ll get the spot I want?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know, babe. These boys are something and put our old team to shame, so no wonder we could never beat them.”

“I’m better than them, though?” I say, and I didn’t mean it as a question, but it came out that way.

“Oh yeah, but maybe three of them might give ya some problems.”

The hell they will.

I nod as I open the file, and the first thing I see is Jayden Sinclair’s name.

He wants captain.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I say, “What do you think of Sinclair?”

“Big body, huge presence on the ice. I feel good about him. He and his little brother Jace are the two you’ll have to watch out for.”

More than you realize, I think as I nod. “So he’s my biggest competition.”

Looking up at me from his computer, he says, “Yeah. For sure. He should have gone into the draft last year, but his agent wants one more year on him. I’ve been in talks with him, and he’ll go quick next year. His brother went second or third.”

“First,” I say, and his brows shoot up.

“Know about them, then?”

I shrug. “I know the name, and he’s doing great right now for the Kings.”

“Oh! Yeah! Jude Sinclair! That’s right. How did I miss that? Hmm,” he says, making some notes on the pad in front of him. I know I’m supposed to look through the file, but I can’t turn the page.

Running my finger along the picture in the file, I will myself to stop but I can’t. Tracing his lips, I groan internally. Oh, the feel of those lips and that face. I remember every single detail of it. He looks younger in this picture, not as big as he did in person. He had more scruff than he does in the picture when I saw him in Florida. In this picture, he looks carefree and fun, but he was so much more than that. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and I wanted nothing more than to knock all the problems away just to see his smile.

But not only are his looks impressive. Everything about Jayden’s career is right here in my hands. He was really modest when he spoke of his career. On paper, he’s amazing. Played for the US Male Junior Olympic team for just as many seasons as I did on the girls’ team. Traveled everywhere. He has a lot of goals for a defenseman, and like Dad said, he should have gone into the draft. He’s undoubtedly a first round pick.

“Why didn’t he go in?”

Dad looks up and shrugs. “I think his wrister is shit. Not sure. Gonna have to dissect him once I get my hands on him.”

I called that.

Nodding my head, I go to look back down as he says, “You know that Kyle kid is a hottie.”

Looking up, I make a face. “Ew, Dad.”

He grins. “I’m just saying, you haven’t really gotten out since we’ve been here.”

“I hang with you all the time.”

“Yeah, but not with people. Guys. Girls. Nothing. Just me.”

I laugh as I lean back in my chair. “What, Dad, don’t want to hang with me?”

He shakes his head. “No, that’s not it. I just want you to have fun. Meet people.”

“I’m good, Dad, promise. Hockey is what is important right now. Everything else will fall into place,” I say, before looking back down, moving my hair behind my ear.

“Yeah, but you have the weekend to live before hockey does take over. Go out, mingle, and have fun before you are hurting all the time because I’m gonna be pushing you. I’m going to make you a billion times better.”

I nod, knowing this already. “I’m good, Dad, I promise. I’ll have time for friends and guys when I’m older.”

He eyes me and then shakes his head. “You’re not still caught up on that Joe kid are you?”

I look up, confused, and then remember who that is.

Jayden.

Shaking my head, I say, “No, Dad, just ready to play.”

And I’m not lying, but I’m also not telling the truth.