Chapter 8

Callie

“I can’t believe you gave all those patients your flowers,” said Hannah with a laugh.

I shrugged. “Someone needed to enjoy them. It sure wasn’t going to be me.” It was a lie. The flowers were absolutely lovely and they smelled amazing. If the person sending them to me wasn’t Dallas, I would’ve taken them home.

By lunchtime, the whole locker room was filled with bouquets from Dallas. I knew my patients would enjoy them, so I gave them away. That way my brothers wouldn’t ask questions if I took them home. Hannah looked at herself in the mirror, turning this way and that to make sure she looked good in her T-shirt and jeans.

I joined her and ran a hand down my Charlotte Strikers T-shirt. “You look great,” I told her with a wink. “Corey’s going to think so, too.”

Her cheeks turned red. “You sure he won’t mind me going tonight? I feel weird considering I’m supposed to go on a date with him tomorrow. I don’t want him to think I’m being pushy.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re my best friend and we have an extra ticket since Brant’s gone for the rest of the week. Trust me, Corey will be happy to see you.” Last night, when I got home from work, all he wanted to talk about was her and the things she liked to do. I wasn’t about to tell her that, though. Grabbing my purse, I pushed her out the door and down the stairs. “We have to go.”

By the time we got to the arena, it was packed. Luckily, since we were family, we had some of the best seats in the house. Corey was already in his seat, fiddling around on his phone when we arrived. He had on a Charlotte Strikers jersey with Davis on the back.

“Hey,” I called out.

He lifted his head and smiled when he saw Hannah behind me. “Hey,” he said, hugging us both. Hannah sat between us and I could tell he was excited to see her. “I didn’t know you were coming,” he said to her.

“Callie invited me. Hope it’s okay.”

“Of course. I planned on picking you up tomorrow at six. Sound good?”

“Perfect,” she replied, her cheeks reddening.

I couldn’t help but smile as they talked about their date. The announcer walked onto the ice and introduced both teams before the lights turned completely off. Music blared over the speakers and the crowd cheered as the logo for the Charlotte Strikers appeared on the ice in bright lights. The screens displayed on the ceiling showed highlights of past games while the announcer called out the players’ names. Of course, once Dallas’s name was called, the ladies went crazy.

Corey rested his arm behind Hannah’s seat and tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention. “Anything else happen with Easton today?”

Hannah burst out laughing. “Did it ever.”

Lifting his brows curiously, Corey waited for me to explain. “He sent me more flowers today,” I told him.

“That’s an understatement,” Hannah snorted. “The whole locker room was filled with them.”

Corey shook his head in disbelief. “You’re not going to call him yet, are you?”

“No,” I gasped. “I’m not done with him.”

An evil leer spread across his face. “I have some ideas if he keeps after you. Unfortunately, I know how guys like him work. If he can’t get in your pants, he’ll stop wasting his time.”

I shrugged. “Hopefully we’ll get him good before that happens.”

“Oh, and I forgot to tell you. It’s Justin’s turn to host the party on Saturday after the game. Hope you don’t mind.”

Thoughts of the last one ran rampant through my mind. “Fine,” I huffed. “I’ll just lock myself in my room.”

I didn’t want anyone trying to sneak in to have sex on my bed. It was times like that when I really wished I had my own place to live. Starting next week, that was my goal . . . figure out where I wanted to move.

Corey and Hannah busied themselves with each other and completely forgot I was sitting beside them. I didn’t mind. I loved playing matchmaker and they deserved to be happy. Once the national anthem was done, the energy in the arena electrified as the game began. There were so many people wearing black and blue of the Strikers. We were playing against New York and I had no doubt we were going to win now that Dallas was back in the game. The guy was an arrogant douche, but he was the best goaltender in the league. Add Kellan Carter, Braeden Wallace, Maddox Ledger, and my brother, and they were an unstoppable force.

Justin was one of the main scorers for Minnesota. Before moving here, I was curious to see how he and Kellan would work together on the ice since they played the same position. However, Coach Carlisle had my brother as a winger while Kellan kept center.

I tried my best not to focus on Dallas, but it was hard. He stopped every goal attempt with little to no effort, making it appear so easy. There were times I could’ve sworn he was looking right at me, but that was silly. He probably didn’t even know I was there.

“Your brother’s got the puck,” Hannah squealed, catching my attention.

Shaking my head, I concentrated on my brother. “Come on, Justin!” I shouted. Like lightning, he moved down the right flank past the blue line and made the shot, making the score one to nothing. The coliseum rumbled as everyone cheered in victory. The first twenty-minute period ended with Kellan scoring us another goal, leaving us at two to zip.

“Now that we have a break, do you two want anything to drink?” Corey asked.

Shaking my head, I watched the players skate off the rink for intermission. “I’m good.”

Hannah stood and winked at me. “We’ll be right back.”

“No rush.” I laughed. Since it was intermission, I pulled out my phone to kill the time.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer said. Jerking my head up, I peered down at the rink. The overhead lights shut off and the ice was the only thing illuminated while the Charlotte Strikers mascot, Jack the Jaguar, skated around the rink. He waved at the crowd and everyone cheered. “We have a special treat for you tonight,” the announcer continued. “Jack here wants to give one special fan a hug. If you want to be chosen, you have to be in your seat.” People started flocking back to their seats.

“That is so cute,” Hannah said, sitting down. “I want to be picked.”

Corey sat down as well and took a sip of his beer. “I’ve never seen them do this. Must be new.”

The announcer cleared his throat. “For the lucky winner, we randomly chose a seat number. In section 108, would the person in row D, seat one, please join us down here on the ice?”

Heart racing, I squeezed my eyes shut. “Did he really just call my seat?” I whispered. Hannah cheered and then everyone around me clapped. “Switch seats with me,” I begged her.

By that point, it was too late. The cameras focused on me and there I was on the screens. Plastering on a smile, I waved at the camera and made my way to the ice while they followed me. Out of all the thousands of people, why did it have to be me? Cheeks flaming, I stepped onto the ice where Jack the Jaguar waited for me. He grabbed my hand and then lifted me in his arms, making me gasp.

Clenching my teeth, I continued to smile. “So help me God, if you drop me, you’ll regret it.” Chuckling, he skated to the center of the rink where the announcer waited. “Keep laughing, buddy. I’m serious.”

He set me down beside the gray-haired announcer and held the microphone out to me. “You are one lucky lady tonight. What’s your name?”

Taking a deep breath, I glanced out at the people, focusing on Corey and Hannah, who sat there snickering. “Callie Davis,” I replied into the microphone.

His eyes widened. “Any relation to the Strikers’s new player, Justin Davis?”

I nodded. “He’s my brother.”

“Wow, what a coincidence,” he said with a laugh. “I’m sure Jack will be more than happy to welcome you to the team with a nice big squeeze. What do you say everyone?”

Everyone shouted and clapped their hands. It took all I had to keep a smile on my face. I felt like an idiot waiting around to be hugged by Jack the Jaguar. Opening his arms, Jack waited for me, the permanent smile on the mascot’s face taunting me.

“All right, Jack, let’s get this over with.”

Wrapping my arms around the large costume, I squeezed it tight and the crowd burst out laughing. Jack hugged me back, his large arms pulling me in closer. The people at work were no doubt going to make fun of me for days after this. Jack made no move to let me go and I grew impatient. I backed up slowly, trying my best not to draw attention, but then my foot tangled with his and we both fell to the ice. Nothing could hide my embarrassment as the crowd thundered with laughter.

In haste, the announcer dropped the microphone so he could help me up. “Are you okay?”

I grabbed his hand and he helped me up. “Nothing a bag over my head wouldn’t fix.”

His concerned gaze landed on Jack the Jaguar, who lay motionless on the ice. Rushing over, he knelt down beside the mascot and shook his shoulders. “Hey, you okay?”

My nursing skills kicked into high gear. Joining him on the ice, I carefully removed the Jaguar’s head so I could help the person underneath. Mouth gaping, I stared in shock at the man revealed beneath. Dallas’s eyes were closed, but then they flashed opened and he smiled.

“Rescuing me again, Ms. Davis?” he asked slyly.

The announcer chuckled in surprise. “Well, if it isn’t Dallas Easton.” Dallas winked and then groaned when he stood, clearly pretending he was hurt. The announcer fetched the microphone and pointed toward Dallas. “Check it out everyone! Look who surprised us tonight.”

Dallas bowed and then hissed in pain as he reached for the microphone. “I think the tumble with Ms. Davis might have injured me. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play the rest of the game.” Disapproving shouts rumbled all around us. Dallas held up a hand and winked back at me. Sly bastard. “But I do believe a kiss will make me feel better. Think Ms. Davis will give me one?” The shouts grew even louder, the words “kiss, kiss, kiss,” echoed all around me. Dallas looked at me and smiled. “What do you say? Think you can help me get back in this game? If not, I’ll be forced to sit it out.”

And if they lost, it’d be my fault. He handed the microphone back to the announcer and moved closer, tapping a finger to his cheek. I had no choice. Closing the distance, I leaned up on my toes and kissed him on the cheek, hating the way my body tingled in response. Camera lights flashed all around us. “Good try, Easton, but this doesn’t change anything. Try not to get your head beat in at the party tonight.”

Without another word, I waved at the people and walked off the ice.