Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
“Lucky you were at the rink.” I mumble very grateful for him. “I forgot to thank you.”
“Wasn’t luck. Kendall saw you walking in and then fuckhead following you. I raced over as fast as I could.” He tells me about Kendall’s brother and that phone call. I shiver realizing I could have been there all night.
“Call Stormi on speakerphone.” He grabbed my phone while I was lost thinking of grim scenarios. “You can thank me later. I have ideas. Filthy minds go with filthy mouths.”
When she answers she sounds all cheerful. “Hey Luci! What’s up?” Easton is frowning thoughtfully.
“Stormi, um..”
Easton taps my nose and shakes his head. He leans in to whisper in my ear. “Ask her if she texted you earlier.”
“Did you text me earlier about meeting you?” I bite my lip afraid. I thought she was nice.
“No. I knew you were busy babysitting. Was going to text you tomorrow about maybe girls night on Sunday. Think you’re off then right?”
“Yes.”
Easton interrupts again. “Ask her what she did today.”
“I’ll talk to Sydney. What did you do today after class?”
“Ugh. I had to interview Coach Humphries for the paper. What an insufferable ass. Though his brother, the football coach is worse, I heard. I get to interview him in two weeks. Color me unhappy. I saw the hockey team practicing. Met one that didn’t play. He gave me the creeps. I hope we don’t have any reason to cheer for him.” My heart pounds and Easton makes a rolling motion with his hand.
“Who was it?”
“Said his name was Max. He had just left the office and looked seriously pissed off. Ran into me and then tried to turn on the charm. But it was slimy. Total creep.”
“What made you say that?” My hand is shaking. Easton takes the phone and holds it for me.
“He’s flirting with me, blocking me from knocking on the office door and then asks if he can borrow my phone to text his girlfriend about picking him up because his phone is dead.” I glance up at Easton. Now he glares.
“Tell her.” He whispers.
“Stormi, I got a text from you saying you needed me to pick you up at the rink. That you were waiting inside and had a bunch of stuff to carry out.”
“No I didn’t. Why would I…wait at what time?”
“At 4:45, right before I was able to leave Cole.”
Easton shakes his head, clenching his jaw.
“Wait, that guy? Do you know him Luci? I heard…..I heard the two teams don’t like you after I left the rink. A guy at the paper said he was surprised Humphries talked to me civilly, with me having been around you. Why would anyone not like you?” She sounds truly bewildered. “Let me send a screenshot of my texts to you. I swear I sent you nothing. That’s close to when he borrowed my phone.” A minute later it comes through.
“You could have deleted them. He was trying to play a prank on me, but it didn’t happen.” I say sadly.
Easton whispers “good girl, that’s the way to play this.”
“I didn’t! I swear. That guy even mentioned he’d seen me with my two new friends! I knew he was a creep. Luci are you ok?” She sounds genuinely concerned.
“I’m fine.” I’m not, but what can anyone do about it.
“Luci, do you need me to come over? I can call Sydney too. I promise I never sent you a text.
Why do they hate you?” She sounds close to tears.
“That’s a long torturous story. I’m ok. Nothing happened. I believe you. I’ll call you guys tomorrow. Do me a favor and don’t tell Syd yet. I’ll text her later.” Easton nods again.
“Ok. Please believe me Luci. You are the sweetest person I’ve met in so long. Call me tomorrow please.”
“Ok. Bye Stormi.” Easton ends the call and sets my phone next to me.
“She sounds sincere.” I venture out hopefully.
“She does, but you be on guard. And I don’t want her near Cole until we figure out if she’s telling the truth. I did see her and Maxton was there at the same time. You did good. Gave her a test too. If she calls Syd right away, you know she was doing damage control?” He asks.
I nod. “Sorry. You can go home and see Cole. Catch him before he’s asleep.”
“Jackson is on bedtime duty tonight. I had plans.” He stares at me intently like all week. “Are you ready to listen to me, Luci? Which means I get to talk this time. You didn’t let me breathe a word the other day when you wrote off me kissing you.”
I feel my face heating up. “You didn’t say much did you?”
He huffs softly. “You noticed now. Syd says I can call your name slowly or touch your ear to bring you back. Is that true?”
“Yes. It works for some reason. Why…” I gesture helplessly toward the table.