Tomboy

“That’ll just make you a bigger draw,” her sister responded.

Gina piped up with, “Maybe we should add a dunk tank.”

“That’s a great idea.” Finn nodded enthusiastically. “I’d pay to send him swimming.”

After watching him play for years, she’d seen him move and spin with the best of them out on the ice. When the man was really playing, he was pretty awe-inspiring. The Hartigan dinner table wasn’t the Ice Knights arena, though, and he had no hope of getting away—not if he wanted her at that game.

“So what do you say,” she asked. “I show up to the Thunder game tomorrow night to test out your theory and you help raise money for the clinic.”

“Fine,” he said, sounding anything but happy about it.

“You won’t regret it.”

Neither would the people who needed the clinic for their regular healthcare. This fundraiser really would make a difference for them with all of the grant funding falling through.

However, looking around at the expectant faces of her family, she got a sinking feeling that it might not be a good plan for her. If anyone else found out about this little Lady Luck arrangement, the entire city would be looking at her like her family was right now, as if she really could possibly make a difference in how Zach played and improve the Ice Knights’ playoff hopes.

That was just too weird to contemplate.

Chapter Eight

Tired but feeling the kind of loose energy that only comes after a good day-before-a-game skate, Zach sat back in the passenger seat of his defensive partner Cal Stuckey’s SUV after putting in the code for the security gate in front of his driveway. That feeling was the reason why he’d asked for a ride in the first place. Usually, he jogged home from practice with his bag strapped to his back like a military pack. Today, though, things just felt different, and when Stuckey noticed he was hotfooting it home, he offered to take Zach instead. He wasn’t sure which one of them was more surprised when he said yes.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“No worries, man,” Stuckey said. “I’m not far from here, and if I’d known you didn’t drive, I would have offered sooner.”

Yeah, Zach didn’t drive as in he couldn’t afford a car, insurance, or gas money. And that was pretty much all it took to make Zach’s chest tight as that all-too-familiar anxiety jacked up his heart rate.

He was reaching for the door before Stuckey even pulled to a stop in front of his house. “I can find my way next time.”

“Man, relax. You are the most tense motherfucker I know,” Stuckey said, shaking his head. “Some of the guys are getting together at Petrov’s place tonight to feast before game day. I can swing back by and get you.”

A pity invite? Not that he was arguing that he needed a sincere one, but he’d learned a little too well that people’s motives were never just because.

“Nah.” Zach opened the door, got out, and opened up the back passenger door to grab his practice bag. “I’m good.”

“It’s really not a big deal,” Stuckey said. “Petrov is a more the merrier kind of guy.”

Zach grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “I’m not much of a joiner.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Stuckey gave him an epic eye roll. “We’re not all assholes, you know. I don’t know what someone said or did, but if you haven’t noticed it’s kinda hard to work together as a line when one person acts like they’re an island on the ice.”

That analogy gave his brain logic cramps. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Then, with one final thank-you, he shut the door and walked into his house. His very empty house.

After the rowdiness of the Hartigans’ home yesterday and the bro-tactic camaraderie of the locker room today, the silence of his own house was deafening. It was almost enough for him to text Stuckey back and tell him he’d changed his mind—almost.

Instead, he tossed his bag into his bedroom and then went into the kitchen and started a pot of water for spaghetti. He was scrounging through the cupboards looking for a box of pasta that he swore was in there somewhere when his phone buzzed on the island.

Zach Ate More Tainted Muffins: Do you really not have any social media accounts that aren’t run by a lackey?

He wasn’t smiling. His mouth was having some kind of muscle twitch problem.

Zach: What makes u think it’s a lackey?

Zach Ate More Tainted Muffins: Do you really think Reese’s Pieces are better than Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?