Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)

Fuck, I hope she calls me back.

I order a big bowl of pasta and chicken, forcing it down my throat because I need fuel. I don’t want to eat; I want to talk to Amelia, but that’s out of my control. I take a huge forkful of pasta, shoving it into my mouth and chewing as I watch my phone. I feel pathetic, silly even, but I’m worried. I think about calling Lana and telling her she’s an asshole, but that won’t do anything. It won’t fix this. It would only fuel her fire to ruin what Amelia and I have. Amelia already told her off, so there is really nothing more for me to do.

Except wait.

I’m stuffed once I finish my pasta and then my two pieces of garlic bread. I usually pass out after my lunch on game days, but I find myself staring at my phone. For the first time in my hockey career, I might be worthless tonight. That can’t happen, so I force myself to close my eyes. I know I need the sleep. I can’t fail my team due to one little miscommunication. Amelia and I are meant to be together. It’s fine. She’s just busy, figuring out whatever she—

When my phone rings, I sit up and almost drop it as I try to answer it.

I put it to my ear, but before I can say anything, Amelia asks, “Why am I staring at your ear?”

I pull my phone away from my head to see her staring back at me with tears streaming down her face. My heart stops in my chest as I stare at her. “Why are you crying? I’m telling you, she’s a fucking liar, Amelia—”

Before I can finish, though, she moves the phone to show me a sign.

GymMasters.

My jaw actually drops as she starts to speak. “I quit the coffee shop and came here to see if they would hire me.” She pauses as a sob escapes her beautiful lips. “They did. I start tonight.”

“Oh, Amelia,” I say, emotion clogging my throat. “I am so incredibly proud of you.”

“I am too,” she says, wiping the side of her face. “I was standing there as Lana was spewing all that hate, and I knew they were lies. I knew everything she said was wrong because I know you. I trust you. I believe in you. After I shut the door, I didn’t understand why I could believe in you but not in myself.”

“I don’t know why either.”

“Right? So I knew what I had to do. I wasn’t happy at the coffee shop. I hated it. My biggest goal after leaving Drew was to be happy. Now I’m happy.”

The most gorgeous grin covers her sweet face, and my heart takes flight. “Fucking hell, you’re amazing, Amelia.”

Tears still stream down her face, but she is grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you.”

“For what? You did this.”

“For believing in me when I didn’t.”

The words are right there. I want to scream them at her, but I want to do it when I am able to wrap my arms around her and kiss the stuffing out of her. “Anytime.”

She beams at me before doing a little dance. “I gotta go. I need to run Sadie home and pay the plumbers and then get ready for my first night. I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be napping.”

“You’re right, but I was waiting for you.”

“You’re too good to me, Chandler Eugene Moon.”

I grin. “Because you’re perfect, Amelia Grace Justice.”

Her lashes touch her cheeks as she laughs. “Call me after the game?”

“We are getting on a plane right after the game, so I may have to text since it’ll be so late.”

“Okay. Where are you going?”

I pause. “You don’t know my schedule?”

She gives me an exasperated look. “Chandler, come on! All I know is I’m going to your game this weekend.”

I smile, though I don’t know if I should tell her where we are going next. “Columbus.”

Shit. I just lied. But I did it for a good reason. If she knew I was going to Nashville and that I would be having drinks and dinner with Ryan, she’d beg me not to tell him about us. The thing is, I need to tell him.

“Okay, well, text me,” she says then blows me a kiss. Like the dorky, pathetic guy I am, I act like I catch her kiss, and she loves that. “I miss you.”

“I miss you. Have a great first night, and text me everything.”

“I will.”

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye.”

Once I hang up, I feel awful for lying. I should have been honest, but I didn’t want her to tell me no. I want to tell my best friend that I am completely head over heels in love with his baby sister.

I just hope he doesn’t kick my ass.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chandler

When I first met Ryan Justice, I was eighteen and he was nineteen. Fresh-faced, young, stupid, girl-crazy dudes who were motivated to make it to the NHL. I remember when I walked into the room we would share in the Bullies House, our hockey fraternity, and he turned around to greet me. He didn’t size me up like the other guys did. He greeted me with a huge smile and a backslapping hug. I had never met the guy before in my life. We had played each other in the travel leagues, and while everyone knew of Ryan Justice, Shea Adler’s nephew who was a shoo-in for the NHL, no one really knew him.