Dirty Toe Drag (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 6)

“She did. They left earlier for a goalie clinic in Maine. I was surprised Penny wanted to go.”

“She probably wanted to get out of town.”

“Probably. I wish I could have gone.”

I smile. “Maybe when I’m up to Audrey status, I can take over so you can go.”

She beams. “That would honestly make my life.” I grin back at her, and then she points at me. “I need your help with the gender reveal cake for Aiden and Shelli. They want a cake and cupcakes.”

“No problem. I’ll be here.”

“Fantastic,” she says with a sigh as she grabs another tray. I would love to run Audrey Jane’s. I know Audrey misses her family when they travel for hockey and shit. Since Phillipe’s dream is to be the next Tate Odder, his dad is hard-core on helping him get there. Penny hates the cupcakery, so she goes with them every chance she gets. Audrey loves her family and wants to be with them. I could be doing something I love and helping one of my favorite people.

“When Wes and I were talking, he was adamant that everyone would be supportive of me switching to cupcakes.”

She looks over at me and says matter-of-factly, “I’ve told you that, Stella.”

“I know,” I say with a sigh. “I’m still terrified, though.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

“You won’t,” she insists. “Believe me. Hell, both of us.”

I swallow hard, unable to find the strength to do just that. “I think I’m going to finish the semester and then quit.”

She nods. “Sounds good. Just in case something changes, you still have your credits.”

“Exactly,” I agree. “I’ve got to figure out how to tell Mom and Dad.”

“I’ll do it with you. You obviously have a job here.”

I smile. “You don’t even pay me now.”

She laughs. “Because you won’t take it. You act like the work you do here isn’t real, and that if I pay you, then it’ll be real. Stella, it’s real, you’re real, and your work is incredible. I’m so proud to call you mine.”

My grin grows. “I love you, Audrey.”

She puts down the pan she is holding and kisses my nose. “I love you more, my love.” Her sweet eyes burn into mine. “Let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll tell them together.”

I nod, but the fear is still present. I want to believe in myself. I want to believe my family will be supportive, but the thought that they won’t terrifies me to my core.

I know I need more time to figure this out.

But I don’t need Sunday to figure out if I want to date Wes or not.

That’s already a yes.

Chapter Twelve

Wes

“I don’t know why you guys are surprised. I am a winner, through and through.”

Boon gives me a dry look as he holds open the door to Brooks House for us. “Or you worked at a golf range through high school and picked up a few things.”

I shrug. “Or that.”

I laugh happily about my win over my friends as we walk in and toward our regular table we all sit at when we get dinner together at Brooks. Instead of coming to the table with us, Aiden goes to the back to say hi to his mom. Meanwhile, I’m trying to find Stella without looking like I’m trying to find Stella. Or anyone, for that matter.

Aiden’s asshole ass told everyone I had been on a date, so I got teased and questioned the whole time I was at Topgolf with them. It was annoying, but it did make the date more real. I couldn’t get the image of her sitting in the sun out of my head. I kept seeing her full smile, her thick lips, and those little dimples she has at the bottom of her jaw. Stella Brooks, the most gorgeous, insanely hot, and classiest chick ever, was out with me.

Wesley McMillan.

Basket case and hockey star.

And to top it all off, she told me something she’s never told anyone.

Still don’t know why she is so scared about being a cupcake-making person, but it’s cool. I’ll support whatever. I play with a rubber puck on some frozen water. I run into dudes for fun. I am in no position whatsoever to judge anyone for their career. Plus, being a cupcake-making girl is kind of sexy. Especially if she’s only wearing an apron…with frosting all over her. Yeah, cupcake-making girl is hot as fuck. Maybe she’ll let me watch. Taste a little off her.

Mmmm.

“Wes, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

I blink to knock myself out of my little cupcake sexy time to see Aiden glaring at me.

“I’ve been talking to you for like five minutes.”

I make a face. “You have not. Shut up.”

He rolls his eyes as he sits down, and I sit across from him between Josef, our backup goalie, and Tanner Janto, the new guy we got from the Sharks. Cool dude, kinda quiet, but he has a wicked wrister. Also across from me are Boon and Jamey Kundas. Another trade and a big one. Tanner and Jamey were brought in to help us make the play-offs. We need more firepower, but I’m not convinced they can solve our issues. I’m a firm believer that our team is broken from the loss of Coach. We feel his pain, and I know Aiden is trying to use that to fuel us, but I miss the guy. I also miss Peca. I hate change. Apparently, this outing was to get to know the new guys. I don’t know why I’m always dragged along since I’m not even an alternate captain, but Aiden and Boon bring me anyway. Probably because Jayden Sinclair, our captain, is still hurt and I would complain if I weren’t invited. I have a serious case of FOMO. I don’t like being left out.