Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)

“Or your boss could work.”

“That too. You?”

“Busy as ever. Oh! So, get this. Apparently, Aiden has a penthouse and throws parties.”

I’m confused. “Who’s Aiden?”

“Amelia! Really? Aiden Brooks, my lifelong crush who doesn’t know I exist.”

My whole face scrunches up. “Really, Shelli? You’re still hung up on that guy?”

“Ugh, duh. But one of the guys in the show, Chris, knows a couple of players for the Rangers, and he went to a party at Aiden’s place. Says he’ll take me if I want.”

“So you went already?”

“He hasn’t had one lately,” she admits, and I laugh.

“You’re just going to stare at him.”

“Because he’s absolutely gorgeous.”

“Um, that ponytail is a little ew,” I say, my face still scrunched. Don’t get me wrong, the guy is hot, but I don’t dig man buns. I’m more of a fresh cut, topaz eyes, and thick lips kind of girl.

“You shut your dirty mouth, you lint licker!”

I snort. “Stop it.”

She laughs. “Aiden’s perfect in every way.”

“Except in the way where he remembers who you are.”

She blows raspberries at me through the phone. “It isn’t like I’ve thrown myself on him.”

“Yet.”

“Exactly,” she agrees, and I smile. Shelli would be absolutely ruthless if Aiden gave her even a second of his time. She has been totally infatuated with him since she was like six. I used to tease her about it, but now I keep forgetting since it’s so silly. He’s off being some all-star hockey player, and she’s on Broadway. Neither of them has time for the other, yet she’s still digging him.

Why does Chandler come to mind?

“Do you remember Chandler? Ryan’s best friend from college?”

Anyone else, I wouldn’t ask. With Shelli, though, I tell her the deepest, darkest shit, and she still loves me.

With an appreciative moan, she says, “Oh yes, tight ass and beautiful golden eyes. Defensemen for the IceCats, number twenty-three, I think.”

“You could make a hockey fan jizz in his pants.”

She snorts. “Yup, but I want a hockey player. Rawr.”

“You mean a hockey player who plays for the Rangers and has to braid his man bun?”

“Will you leave his man bun out of this?”

“How can I? It’s awful!”

“Amelia!”

“What?”

She groans. “What about Mr. Chandler Moon?”

I hesitate for a moment and then say, “He came into the coffee shop yesterday and today.”

“Is he still as fine as ever?”

I groan at the thought of him. “So much more. He has all these tattoos and a beard.”

“Girl, I don’t run, but I’d power-walk for a guy with tattoos and a beard.”

“And a man bun.”

“Shut it!”

I giggle at her exclamation.

“Didn’t y’all already hook up, though?”

I brush my hair out of my face, remembering that one night at a Bullies’ party back in college. Ryan was trying hard to get Sofia to give him a chance, and I was in the corner with Chandler. We talked about school, his major, and then I kissed him. He didn’t expect it, but he sure took over the moment it happened. If I think really hard, I can almost remember the way his lips felt. “We kissed, but it was interrupted by some drunk dude. And then Drew happened.”

“Stupid Drew,” she says, and I can just see her rolling her pretty blue eyes. I haven’t seen her in months, but I can imagine her in my head, and I miss her terribly. “So you saw him and…”

“He asked me out.”

“And you said…”

“No.”

“Ugh! I knew it,” she groans, and I roll my eyes.

“There is no way I can start anything with anyone right now.”

“Why not? You’ve been divorced over a year. It’s okay to move on.”

“It’s not that. I’m just damaged, I guess.”

“Well, that’s to be expected, so maybe find a guy who wouldn’t mind mending you back up.”

I scoff. “No dude wants that.”

“Chandler might.”

“No way. I wouldn’t do that to him. He’s too wonderful. Or he was. I don’t know the guy now, but I’m sure he’s amazing.”

“Who says you can’t get to know him?”

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe hook up. It would be good to get out there, get the first relationship after that fucking dickwad out of the way. You know Chandler would be one hell of a juicy rebound.”

I balk. “Ew. You made that sound so gross.”

She laughs loudly. “You’re so weird. Juicy and moist are normal words.”

“No! They’re disgusting!”

“You’re insane. I bet he has a juicy ass and can make you moist.”

“I just puked in my mouth. Goodbye.”

As I hang up on the sound of her laughter, a shiver runs through me. Shelli’s words play over and over in my head, but they mean nothing. There is no way. I’m in no position to even try to be with someone right now. I’m too messed up. No one would understand me. Especially someone as amazing as Chandler.

When my phone vibrates in my hand, I glance down to see a text from Shelli.