Bracing the Blue Line (15 page)

A few minutes pass in silence. “How old are you, anyway?”

“Twenty-three.”

That makes me raise my head. “You're older than me?”

She giggles. “Yeah, is that a problem?”

“No, I just didn't realize that you were older. So, is this your last year?”

Audra nods. “I got a little behind, but yeah.”

“What's your major?”

“Marketing. Yours?”

“Computer Science.” I watch for the surprised reaction I know is coming. Her eyes widen, her eyebrows raise, and her mouth parts. Instead of waiting for a response, I add, “No more talking. I need to get more work done.”

We work in silence for the most of the remaining time I'm there. Audra gets up a few times to find something to munch on.

“I getting a few days without you around?” Audra teases with a smile as I start packing my things up.

“Yep. Don't be too excited. I'll probably call to check in, make sure you're doing all right.” My stomach is already in knots about having to leave. I can't help it. Bad things happen when I'm not around.

“You're a worrier, aren't you? Never would have guessed.”

“Yeah, me either. You don't mind if I call while I'm gone?” I don't want to aggravate her when we seem to be doing so well.

“No, I don't mind, but you'll probably get the same answers each time.” She smiles.

“That's okay.”

Audra walks me to the door. “Oh, I can't remember the exact date now, but I do have an appointment coming up. It's only a checkup. I'll text you the date and if it doesn't work for you, let me know and I'll change it.”

“Thanks. See you later, Audra.”

“Bye, Neil.” I'm halfway down the hallway when her voice calls, “Hey, Neil?” I turn to face her. “You should really go ahead and tell your parents. It's their grandchild, after all.”

I nod, but don't make any promises.

THE LOCKER ROOM is subdued with a loss hanging over our heads. I sit on the bench with my head in my hands, replaying some of my mistakes, so I can make sure it doesn't happen again.

“Hey, Grant, head up, man,” Neil says, taking a seat next to me. He's already changed and showered. “It's not like we haven't lost before.”

“Yeah, but it's not like I've ever played that badly either.” Five. We lost five to zero. I've had a rough night, obviously, and I hate nights like these. It could easily be my worst game.

“We didn't help much, Grant. Shake it off, remember what a badass goalie you are, and maybe we can get a shutout or two this weekend.” He grins, ready for the challenge. He's right. We were all terrible tonight.

“Thanks, Neil.”

He slaps my shoulder, stands, and leaves. I pull off my shirt and upper pads as some of the other guys start to trickle out. Winston stepped out a few minutes ago, but has popped his head back in.

“Grant, Lucy's out here for you. She said hurry up.”

Lucy's waiting for me? Curiosity gets the better of me, so I go ahead out to meet her before it gets any later. Sure enough, she's standing in the hallway, leaning against one of the walls with her camera hanging from her neck. She looks up when she hears me. Lucy looks over my body before focusing back on my face.

“What's up?”

“I need your help with a picture, but we need to do it before the Zamboni runs over the ice. Could you help me? It won't take but twenty minutes, promise.”

“Yeah, give me a second.” I turn and go down the hallway until I find the man I'm looking for. I politely ask him if he would give me twenty minutes before he resurfaces the ice. Then I return to Lucy and lead the way.

“Thanks,” she smiles when she sees me.

“No problem.”

When we reach the ice, I step onto it first and turn to take her hand, so she won't slip and fall. She did say she needed my help. I figure she needs me on the ice with her. She mentioned some shot near the net on the walk here. Lucy eyes me carefully as I hold my hand out.

“Grant.” My name. That's it, but it's enough to stop me.

“What?”

“You're sweaty.”

I run a hand over my short, wet hair, and look down at myself. My skin shines where the light reflects the layer of sweat over me. “Well, yeah. I just finished a game, Lucy.”

She reaches out and runs her fingers down my arm, over the slick sweat. Her touch raises goosebumps along my skin. “Are you sure we won't get in trouble?” Those blue eyes come back up to me.

“If we keep standing here, talking, then I can't make that promise.” No one will really care that we're here, but it's fun to see that flash of panic in her eyes. I wipe my hand over my pants and stick it back out, waiting.

“Couldn't you have at least worn a shirt?” she mumbles, taking my hand as I glide over the ice while she walks slowly over to my cage. I smile, but refrain from saying something. “I need to sit up here to get the angle I want, but I need help doing that.” I nod to show her I'm listening. “And don't let go once I'm up there. I might tilt and fall over.”

“You won't, but I'll hold onto your hips, just in case.”

“And no funny business,” she adds.

I laugh. “If you're sure that's what you want,” I tease. Somehow, I'm always doing what she wants, and I honestly don't mind. I enjoy it, and I have thought about asking her out on an actual date, but she makes me nervous. So freaking nervous and I worry that if I set the pace, so to speak, I'd lose what we already have. What Lucy wants is what I'll give her. Too bad she doesn't know this yet.

Lucy snaps her head over to look at me, almost losing her balance. “I don't want to fall, Grant!” She clutches her camera tighter, choosing not to comment directly on what I said.

As we come to a stop with her standing in between me and the net, I grab her hips, one of her hands going to my shoulder for balance. I lift her up to sit on the net and murmur, “I'd never let you fall, Lucy.”

“Thanks,” she whispers.

The air is suddenly too heavy, so I clear my throat. “Is this where you want to be?”

“Hold tight,” she orders despite what I told her. I squeeze her hips, ducking a little, as she lifts her camera to check. “Perfect.”

“Do you want me to bend down so I'm out of the shot or move behind the net and hold you from there?”

“Just bend down. I might fall while you're moving back and forth.”

I crouch a little bit, enough to be out of her shot, still holding her hips, but not too far down. It's an awkward position to be in as her camera clicks away. Maybe conversation will help. “Why this shot tonight?”

“I wanted your view, but a little higher. Think one day you could get the guys out here for a few with people on the ice?”

“I can try,” I answer honestly. No telling how many favors I might have to do to get them out here.

“Neil, at least, if he will.” Lucy leans over, her camera over my shoulder.

“What's so special about him?” Wasn't I her favorite to photograph? Why am I even asking that question?

At this, she leans back to look at me with a blank expression. “He's the captain.” A blush takes over her cheeks before she even finishes. “He would be perfect for it.” Well, then. “I've got enough, I think. Plus, that guy is looking impatient.”

I look over my shoulder at the guy waiting to finish his job. Without a word, I set her back down on the ice, take her hand, and lead her back off. Her voice is so low that I almost think I'm hearing things.

“I think I like you sweaty.”

“Do you want a picture?”

“No.” We step off the ice, and I turn to face her. “Thank you, again. I'm sorry that y'all lost tonight.”

“You're welcome, and it's no big deal. Losing is part of the game.” I grin and add, “I should probably go finish changing, so I can shower and stop being so sweaty.” I smile wider when Lucy gives me a small one in return with a blush.

“Please, go do that. I'll catch you later, Grant. I have pictures I need to edit.”

My stomach grumbles. “Hey, do you want to grab something to eat with me?”

“I'm not really hungry, but if you don't mind running me by my dorm for my laptop, I'll go with and do my edits while you eat.”

“Great. You can wait in here while I shower, if you want. I'm the only one left, so it'll be fine.”

She follows me into the locker room and takes a seat on the bench near my locker. I remove my skates as she pulls out her phone to text someone. I almost want to tease her that she's probably texting Patrick to let him know, but I don't. A few minutes later, I'm heading to the showers for a quick wash.

When I return, fully dressed, Lucy has her head down, most likely flipping through some of the shots she took tonight.

“Ready?”

She looks up with a smile and stands. I grab a few of my things before we head out. Not much is said as we run by campus for her laptop and then drive to a fast food place. Lucy goes on to grab a table while I order. Her eyes are trained on her computer screen when I take a seat.

“Did you get some good shots?” I question.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“You guess?” I raise my eyebrows at her.

Lucy sighs and talks while I eat. “I kind of feel bad that my photos are actually really good because y'all lost. It almost makes me want them to be terrible.”

“That good, huh?” She turns her laptop around to show me how good they are. And I mean, they are fucking fantastic. “Wow, Lucy. What sport are you wanting do once you graduate?”

“I'm not sure anymore. I enjoy baseball, but I was set on football because of my brothers and I did like it more. But now...” She stops like she's thinking it through.

“You like hockey that much or you don't like any of them anymore and you want to try a new sport?”

Lucy looks up at me from her laptop. “I like hockey that much.” A grin quickly appears on my face. Before I can add anything, Lucy continues, “There's something about it that football and baseball don't have. It's highly physical, but somehow almost graceful. I might not understand most of it, but I'm still drawn to it more than the others.” I nod, understanding what she means. “What do you want to do after college, Grant?”

I clear my throat before answering, “I want to be a history teacher.”

She doesn't even look surprised. “That makes sense. You were reading a historical fiction book that day in the library, right?”

“Yeah, I was. I've always loved history, so I think being a teacher would be a good fit for me.”

“Hey, Luce,” Jonathan says as he walks up to our table, a girl on his arm. He sends a subtle glare my way. “Grant.” Hey, at least he acknowledges me before focusing on Lucy again. “Surprised to find you here.”

“You're always surprised, Jon,” she laughs. Lucy turns her attention to the girl. “Hey, how are you? I haven't seen you in a while.”

“Pretty good,” the girl answers. “We'll have to get together sometime for a girl's night out or something.”

“Yeah, sure.” Lucy nods.

“All right, well, I just wanted to come say hey and tell Grant to make sure you get back to campus safely.”

God, I hate this guy. “I'll even tuck her into bed, if you want, Jonathan.”

Just as I figured, that pisses him off. Lucy stands, hugs him, and kisses his cheek before he can respond. “I'll see you later, Jon. Love ya.”

“Love ya too, Lucy,” he replies before turning and walking away.

Lucy starts giggling once he's out the door. “That was funny, but you made him mad. I'm glad he left though.”

“Why? I thought you loved your brothers?”

“Oh, I do, but he's ridiculous sometimes and I don't like his girlfriend.”

I raise my eyebrows at her. “Really? Didn't y'all plan to hang out only a second ago?” Okay, I'm officially confused.

“Yeah, but it won't ever actually happen. That's my brother's girlfriend and unlike them, I try to be polite. He won't stop dating her because I don't like her and I wouldn't want him to either. So I smile and get along with them regardless.”

Nodding in understanding, I ask, “What don't you like about her then?”

“My brother could do better,” is all she says.

“Are you coming with the team this weekend?” A change of subject is needed, it seems, because Lucy doesn't look like she's going to say more.

“Yeah, I'll be there,” she answers with a smile.