Before Beck had a chance to answer him, he turned to Sid and offered his hand. “I’m Ike McBride.”
Her small hand disappeared inside his, but she couldn’t help but smile up at him. She decided he was a gentle giant and immediately liked him.
“I’m Sidney, but everyone calls me Sid.”
“Well, Sid, since Beck seems to have forgotten how to speak, it sure is nice to meet you.”
“I haven’t forgotten how to speak, McBride. It’s just hard to get a word in with you sometimes.” Beck gave the man a quick hug, the kind that guys do, complete with the quick pat on the shoulder.
Ike grinned. “True.”
Another man appeared beside the giant. “I gotta steal this one for a group photo before half the team gets too liquored.” The guy winced. “Armstrong is already there.”
“Go on,” Ike said. “I’ll look after your friend.”
“I’m sure you will,” Beck replied dryly be
fore turning to Sid. “I’ve got to do this thing.”
“Go. I’ll be fine.”
She watched Beck walk over to a bunch of guys, including Nate. A couple of them clowned around, but when the man who’d fetched Beck got out his camera, all joking disappeared. Someone set the trophy in the center, up front, and they lined up like pros.
“We take our hockey seriously in these parts.” Ike grinned. “Even beer league.” He lifted his chin toward the group of men. “Those bastards have made it to the finals for the last four years. And that was before Nate joined up last fall. They’ll probably be winners until Nate quits.”
“I see that,” she murmured, eyes on Beck as he put his arm around his brother. The two of them chatted about something, and when he smiled at Nate, it damn near took her breath away.
“So, Sid, where you from?”
Ike’s voice drew her away from Beck, and she took another sip from her can. “San Diego.”
“And you’re in Crystal Lake because…”
“I’m renting a stone cottage on the lake. Nate is a friend and hooked me up. I was looking to get away from things for a bit.” She grimaced. That was simplifying things. She’d been drowning for weeks.
“This is certainly more laid-back than the city, that’s for sure.”
“Right?” She flashed a smile. “I was born in Los Angeles, and we moved to San Diego when I was four, so the city has always been my home. This here? This cute small-town life, it’s different.”
“I hope in a good way.”
She nodded and was surprised at how much she liked it here. “For sure. There aren’t too many people I still talk to that I knew when I was a kid. It’s strange to me that the majority of all these people have known each other all their lives. Take Nate and Molly. They grew up together. And Beck, I mean, do you guys go back as well?”
Ike slowly nodded, but his smile dimmed a bit. “I’ve got a few years on those boys, but I’ve known Beck since he was a skinny teenager, with shoulders too wide and legs too long for his hundred-and-fifty-pound frame.” He paused. “He used to date my sister, Cate.”
“Cate,” she repeated softly. “I’m so sorry. I…I’ve heard about your sister.”
“Thanks.” Ike finished his beer and crushed the can. “She was good stuff.” He glanced up. “They were good stuff together.”
Sidney didn’t know what to say to that, so she nodded and said nothing. She wondered about Cate. About a woman who could inspire such love and devotion so long after she’d passed. Was there ever a woman as fierce as that alive?
Ike tossed his beer into a large trash can to his left. “I should go. It was nice meeting you, Sid.” He gazed past her. “It’s good to see Jacobs out socializing. The guy works too much.” He winked. “I hope to run into you again.”
Sidney said goodbye and made her way over to the table. She was restless and didn’t feel like sitting, and when the band started up, she and Beck watched from the shadows, sipping their Bud Lights, enjoying the music and, surprisingly, each other.
Nate and Molly stayed about an hour and offered them a lift home, but Beck had just bought another round of beer, and Sid decided to stay.
“Right,” Molly said. “You guys can share a cab.”