Chapter 12 Freya
FREYA
“Can I have some more ice cream?” Sutton asks, gazing up at Casey as if she’s just hung the moon.
“Just don’t tell your daddy,” Casey teases.
Sutton laughs. “You got it.”
She’s out of her seat and racing toward the ice cream machine in a heartbeat.
The team left yesterday for two back-to-back away games. Understandably, Sutton hates it when Kodie’s away, so Casey invited me out to join them both for dinner and ice cream before the game tonight.
With Cole gone, I’ve got time to kill.
For the last week, I’ve had focus and a reason to get up in the morning. Suddenly, that’s disappeared. I know it’s only for a few days, but still. It’s weird. Cooking for Cole has been the best part of my days, and now I feel a bit lost.
Really, I should be glad to have a few days off to catch up on sleep, but that’s the opposite of how I feel.
“So, everything still good with your job?” Casey asks while we have a few minutes alone.
“Yeah. It’s really great. I actually miss it.”
“He’s only been gone for two meals,” she laughs.
“I know. It’s silly. I just…I really enjoy having a purpose again. I’ve spent so long over the past few months alone. Getting to know him a little has reminded me that there are people out there worth spending time with.”
“Rude,” she teases.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do. And I’m glad he’s helping you see that there is still a world out here for you to discover. Have you heard anything from that guy Friday night?”
Heat creeps up my neck as Sutton comes racing back with an overflowing bowl of ice cream.
“Ohhh she has,” Casey sings.
“We’ve exchanged a few messages.”
“And it’s already making you blush like that.”
Damn my pale skin for showcasing every little bit of embarrassment I feel.
“It hasn’t been anything like that.”
“You want there to be, though?”
I shrug.
Messaging him this week has been…nice. But I don’t get the same kind of thrill when I see his name on my screen as I do when I see the other man in my life’s pop up.
It’s ridiculous. Levi is messaging me to get to know me.
He’s asking genuine questions to build a connection, whereas Cole is letting me know that he’s going to be home late, or that he’s just leaving so I can have dinner ready.
They’re very different types of messages, so why it is the latter that makes my tummy flutter?
It’s been a week, and I’m pretty sure I’m developing a crush on my boss.
That was not a part of the plan.
I keep telling myself that it’s a natural reaction to being in close quarters with a gorgeous professional hockey player. If I didn’t have a tiny crush on him, it would be weird, right?
Totally normal reaction.
And completely inappropriate. Especially considering he’s been nothing but professional since the very first day he asked me to work for him.
I am under no illusion that this crush is very much one-sided, and I can only hope that it fizzles out as fast as it arrived.
Casey tilts her head to the side as I let out a sigh.
“Maybe you should go out with him. See what it’s like in real life. You got on well Friday night.”
“He’s invited me out next week.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I’d confirm my schedule and let him know.”
“Handsy will let you go out,” Sutton adds, clearly listening to everything we’re saying.
Casey chuckles.
“I know he will, sweetie.”
“Boys are gross. I’m never dating one. Ever.”
“So there aren’t any cute boys in your class, then?” I ask, already knowing what the response is going to be.
“Ew, yuck. No. They’re all annoying. Most of them smell. And none of them can play hockey to a standard I approve of.”
“A girl with high standards. I like it,” I tease.
“I’m not settling for anything less than I deserve,” Sutton announces. “Daddy says I shouldn’t, so I won’t.”
“Your daddy is very wise. Remember that advice, kiddo.”
If only I had those words ringing in my ears over the past few years, maybe I would have listened to my head instead of my heart and stood up for myself rather than following around a man who clearly didn’t want me.
“Are you okay?” Casey whispers.
“Yeah. It just hits harder sometimes.”
“You have nothing to blame yourself for. It was all him. Remember that.”
“I know,” I mumble. “Some days it’s just more challenging to do that than others.”
“You should go on that date next week. Even if it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s another step toward putting the past where it belongs.”
I should agree, I do know that. There’s just something stopping me, and I’m not entirely sure what it is.
“We’ll see.”
Casey shakes her head while Sutton eats her bowl of ice cream like she hasn’t been fed in a week.
“Are you coming back to ours to watch the game?” Sutton mumbles around a mouthful.
“Uh…”
“You should. I still have so much to teach you.”
I can’t help but laugh. Sutton is doing her best to get me up to speed, but she’s right: she still has a long way to go. Sports were never really my thing. I’ve spent my life around hockey and watched more games with Dad than I can count over the years, and I still don’t really know the rules.
“You know you’re always welcome. Plus, we can plan next weekend.”
My brows lift. “What’s happening next weekend?” I ask hesitantly.
“We’re going out,” she states confidently.
“Out? Out where?”
“Out out.” Her smile grows as dread seeps into my veins.
“Casey,” I warn.
“What? Come on. It’ll be fun. We’ve never been out out together. By the time I was old enough, you were gone. It’ll be fun.”
“I’m too old,” I warn.
“Rubbish. You’re young, hot, and single. We’re going.”
“What if I don’t have anything to wear?”
She glares at me.
“Ugh,” I complain as I reach for my soda and swallow what’s left. “It’s a good thing I love you.”
She giggles as Sutton finally pushes her bowl away.
“Finished?” Casey asks.
“Yeah. Can we go home and get ready for the game now?”
“You got it, Rivers,” Casey says before getting our server’s attention so we can pay.
As we get up, my cell buzzes in my purse.
Following behind Casey and Sutton, I pull it free.
I expect it to be Mom or Summer, possibly Levi again, but when I look at the screen, my stomach flips over at the name staring back at me.
Cole: Are you watching the game tonight?
Freya: Yep. I’m heading to Casey’s to watch with her and Sutton.
Cole: Sounds like you have a fun night planned. Do you remember which goalie you should be watching?
Freya: Yeah, I think so. The one our shooters are aiming for, right?
“What are you laughing at?” Casey asks, noticing that I’ve fallen behind. “Is it Levi?”
“There’s a boy in my class named Levi,” Sutton says absently. “He’s a liar.”
“Sutton, you need solid evidence before you start calling people liars.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I do. I’d never say it at school, though. The others can think what they want about him.”
“Right,” Casey muses. “Probably for the best.”
“I have them all figured out. It’s a fun game, watching everyone else discover what I already know.”
As Sutton skips ahead, I watch as Casey puffs her cheeks out.
“You know the problem here, don’t you?” I tease.
“I think I already know what you’re going to say, and I’m not sure I want to hear it.”
“I’m going to say it anyway,” I mock. “She’s basically you, just a few years younger.”
“Mmm,” Casey mumbles. “So, back to who you’re messaging.”
For the briefest of moments, I consider lying. But I can’t. That’s not who I am, and I respect my friendship with Casey too much.
“It’s Cole.”
“Co—ooooh.” A wide smile pulls at her lips.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I warn.
“What? I’m not looking at you like anything. Why would you even say that?”
“He’s just asking if I’m watching tonight and giving me a few pointers about what I should be looking out for.”
“His warm-up thrusts?” Casey whispers, leaning closer so Sutton doesn’t hear.
“What? No,” I cry, a little too loudly to sound convincing.
“Uh huh, suuuure.”
“It’s not like that. We’re friends.”
“Freya,” she starts as we approach the car.
Sutton pulls the back door open and hops inside.
“I get it. Cole Hansley is hot. There isn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t be interested in what he has to offer.
” I swallow thickly, unable to deny her words.
“But I’m pretty sure he’s the most untouchable man I’ve ever met.
He keeps everyone at arm’s length. Even the guys only know the version he wants them to know.
But there’s more to our goalie than meets the eye. I’d put money on it.”
My mouth opens and closes as I try to process everything she just said.
“I could be wrong, of course.”
She isn’t, though. Casey is a good judge of character. She always has been.
“There’s nothing going on there. The only thing he wants me for is my cooking skills.”
“If you say so,” Casey sings as she ducks around the other side of the car and climbs into the driver’s seat.
No sooner do I join them, and Sutton starts reeling off stats about the Vipers’ opponents tonight.
She lists players, their positions, and how well they’re playing this season as if she knows them personally.
It’s mind-blowing how much this kid knows, while I can barely work out which way each team should be shooting.
I swear, she doesn’t come up for air the whole ride back to Casey and Kodie’s place.
The second Casey unlocks the front door, Sutton darts forward toward the living room. I soon discover that she already has ESPN on and is soaking up everything she can about tonight’s games.
“Did you hear that, Casey?” she calls. “Garcia is out with an injury.”
“That’s good news for us,” Casey replies as she pulls a bottle of wine from the fridge.
“Just a small one,” I say.
“There’s a guest room upstairs with your name on it,” Casey offers.
“I should go home. Mom and Dad will be expecting me.”
“Message them. Tell them you’re staying here.”
My need to argue lasts all of five minutes, helped by Casey as she pours me anything but a small glass.
“Fine,” I concede, snatching up the glass the instant she’s finished and taking a sip. “Mmm, that’s good.”
“That’s always how good decisions taste.” She laughs before grabbing a soda for Sutton and moving toward the living room.
I grab my cell but leave my purse on the kitchen counter. When I wake it up, I find I’ve got a string of messages.
Cole: Nope. You want the one who’s going to be keeping all the pucks out.
Cole: Did my arrogance scare you off?
Cole: I’ll be the one in green. Number thirty-three.
Freya: I know your number, Hansley.
Cole: Is that right? I haven’t seen you wear it yet.
Heat surges to my face. Surely, he doesn’t mean…he doesn’t want me to wear his jersey, does he?
Freya: Good luck tonight.
Cole: Thanks. I’ll do my best to give you something to scream about.
“Jesus,” I mutter as I read that message in a way I’m confident it wasn’t intended.
“Everything okay?” Casey asks with a knowing smirk.
Umm…is everything okay?
No, I’m not sure it is.
“Yep, all good. I just agreed to that date next week.”