Sin Bin (D.C. Stars, #5) — Chapter no 20

TWENTY

HANNAH

“HOW WAS JAPAN?” I ask Tierney, pressing my phone to my ear. “Your program was incredible, T. You deserved a higher score.”

“Thanks, Han.” She pauses to close a door, letting out a deep sigh. “I did the best I could, and other people’s best was better than mine. It happens.”

“Humble even in defeat. I’m so proud of you.”

“How are things going with you? That video you posted to social media yesterday of your Axel was literally stunning.”

“Stop. My foot placement was all messed up.” I tap speakerphone so I can put in an earring. “Coaching is going well. I have no clue if what I’m doing is working or not, but Olivia—that’s the girl I’m coaching—is improving. That has to mean something. Oh. She’s a big fan of yours, so if you ever feel like stopping by the Stars’ practice rink during one of our lessons, it would probably earn me a lot of cool points.”

“We’ll make it happen. World Championships aren’t until March, so I’m giving myself a week after the holidays to fucking relax before I amp up my training for Boston. I’ll come by then.” Tierney decides to FaceTime me, and I smile when her face fills my screen. “Any thought about showing up to the World Championships?”

“Honestly? No. This break has been good for me, and I don’t want to rush myself. There is a small competition in Virginia happening in March.

It’s the weekend before Worlds. If January and February go well, I might

give it a shot.” I grab my lipstick and put a light shade of red on my lips.

“But if it doesn’t happen, I’m perfectly content with what I’m doing right now.”

The two scheduled sessions that Brody and I talked about have turned into seeing each other three or four times a week. He’ll text me in the morning and let me know he has an hour between practice and a meeting, an open invitation to head to the rink if I’m free.

Some days we’ll run drills, but lately, most of our time is just spent skating. Side by side, with easy conversation. He tells me about the gifts he got Liv for Christmas. I talk about my idea to create a social media page dedicated to teaching beginner moves to people new to figure skating. We alternate who brings coffee, and by the time I leave the arena, I’m always in a better mood.

“Tell me the date. I want to be there to support you.” She tilts her head, assessing me. “You look good, Han. Happy. Is there someone new in your life?”

“God, no. I got stood up recently, and that was a humbling experience.”

I groan. “I am happy. At least, I think I am. Things are good. I’m letting myself enjoy small moments, like when Liv tries a Biellmann spin for the first time and makes it look beautiful. Seeing others enjoy the sport I love makes everything more fun, and I’m taking it day by day.”

“It would be so easy to fall off the face of the earth, but you’re still showing up. I’m so proud of you.” Tierney assesses my outfit. “Where the hell are you going dressed so cute?”

“Oh.” I smile and touch the white turtleneck and leather pants I slipped into thirty minutes ago. “Riley Mitchell is playing in his first game since his accident tonight. Grant is picking me up so we can head to the AHL arena.”

“Fun. Tell Grant I say hi. You two are still good to come to the Blazers and Bullets game in Orlando, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” A text message from Grant pops up, and I grab my clear purse. “I have to run, T. I think Grant is outside. I’ll see you next week! We’ll grab you on the way to the airport.”

“Can’t wait! Have a blast tonight!”

Tierney blows me a kiss and we hang up. I hustle through my apartment, grabbing my winter coat and a beanie in case the arena is cold.

With a check of my reflection in the mirror, I lock up and hurry downstairs.

“Hi,” I say, breathless when I climb into Grant’s Range Rover parked near the curb. “Sorry, I was talking to Tierney.”

“No worries. Traffic was light, and I had a minute to drink my coffee.”

He yawns and rubs his eyes. “I’m so fucking tired.”

“When did you get home?” I buckle my seatbelt and tilt the air vents my way. “Early this morning?”

“I wish. We literally landed two hours ago. Our redeye in from California was delayed for a mechanical issue we found out about after we boarded the plane. We sat in the hangar for-fucking-ever.” Grant checks his mirrors and heads for the arena. “I thought Coach was going to lose it. I don’t know who he called or what kind of strings he pulled, but the part that wasn’t going to arrive in Orange County until this afternoon magically showed up early this morning. A miracle worker, I’ll tell ya.”

“Want me to drive? We don’t need you falling asleep at the wheel.”

“Nah. My adrenaline outweighs the fatigue.” He turns the radio down.

“I brought you one of Riley’s jerseys in case you want to wear it. We all have one on, and we’re sitting right on the glass. When he comes out from the locker room, he’ll see us. He has no fucking clue we’ll be there.”

“This is going to mean so much to him.” I twist, reaching for the backseat so I can grab the folded jersey next to a pair of Nikes. “Please tell me this is clean.”

“Uh. It’s not not clean.” Grant gives me a sheepish grin. “It’s been through one cycle in the washing machine, but there might still be a smell. I didn’t have time for anything more than that, and these things hold a stench for weeks.”

“Lovely. Hope I don’t meet my future life partner tonight. They’ll think I smell like dirty socks.” I wrinkle my nose and set the jersey in my lap.

“What’s new with you, G? You’re busier than usual this season. I haven’t seen you in two weeks.”

“Nothing. Everything is exactly the same,” he says. “Boring, boring, boring.”

“Grant Calloway Everett. You are the world’s worst liar. What the hell are you hiding?”

“Okay, watch it with the government name, Hannah Tabitha Everett.

I’m not hiding anything!” A lock of his hair falls in his face, and he brushes it away. “Mind your business.”

“A girl.” Understanding dawns. “You’re seeing someone. Who?”

“I can’t talk about it.”

“Is it serious? Is she married? Is that why you’re so secretive?”

“No one is married, and, ah, I’d like for it to be serious.” His smile falls.

“But I’m not sure it ever could be. Too many factors. Too much scrutiny.

Maybe one day.”

“Do I know her?” I ask.

“No. Well, maybe? Probably not. Anyway.” He drums his fingers on the steering wheel, coming to a stop at a red light. Grant unlocks his phone and tosses it to me. “Look at the photo Mitchy sent us earlier in his jersey. Isn’t it cute?”

“This is precious.” I zoom in on the shot of Riley with his glasses on, hockey stick in hand and eyes closed. His smile is wide, and the messages under it are from the guys telling him how good he looks. “I’m so glad you guys get to be there for him tonight.”

“Me too.” The light changes, and Grant moves with traffic. “He’s my Secret Santa this year, so I asked the equipment manager for the Comets to steal his jersey after the game. I’m going to have it framed and put a plaque at the bottom with the date and final score on it. He’ll always have something to remind him of tonight.”

“You’re so thoughtful, G. What a big night. He’s going to love it.”

“Might get overshadowed by the other thing happening. Scroll down,” he says, and I read through the rest of the group chat until I see a photo of a diamond ring. “He’s proposing to Lexi.”

“Shut up. That ring is gorgeous. Wait. Does she have any idea this is happening? They haven’t been together that long, have they?”

“A year and then some? Maybe? Not too long, but when you know, you know. Right?”

“Don’t ask me.” I laugh. “I don’t know anything about relationships.”

I haven’t dated someone in a couple of years. There was a girlfriend back when I was nineteen that lasted for eight months. The other figure skater I went out with when I was twenty-one who told me he loved me then slept with someone else. A few casual hook ups, but nothing serious.

Nothing earth-shattering, and I wonder what it would be like to find someone like that. Someone you want to be around all of the time, who lights up when you walk into a room. Who you can’t live without, and I’m not sure it even exists.

“Fuck. Neither do I.” Grant laughs and pulls into the VIP parking lot adjacent to the arena. We climb out of the car, making our way to the large glass doors. “There’s an entrance over here for us. Security didn’t want us getting mobbed by fans before we get inside.”

“I forget how popular you all are. Women must throw themselves at you.”

“Yeah, but most of us don’t want that kind of attention. Maverick is a dad—you get to meet Murphy tonight, by the way. Liam will deck someone in the face if they look at Piper the wrong way. Riley’s been obsessed with Lexi for years.”

“That leaves you and Ethan,” I point out.

“Easy E might be a lost cause. Don’t let him stand next to you tonight, by the way. He keeps joking that he’s going to get you to fall in love with him, and I do not want him as my brother-in-law.”

“Is it true his dick is—”

“Please stop.” Grant groans. “My ears are going to bleed. Yes, it’s true.

Yes, I’ve seen it. Too many times.”

We scan our tickets and go through a metal detector. When we make our way onto the concourse, we’re bombarded by fans asking for autographs and photos. By the time we make it to our seats, there are only a few minutes before the Comets are supposed to take the ice.

“Hannah!” Lexi gives me a hug and I smile. “It’s so good to see you again!”

“I’m so happy to be here. How are you feeling? Grant told me how much you’ve been working with Riley to get him tonight,” I say.

“I’m fucking terrified.” She laughs and plays with her necklace. “I don’t want him to get hurt, but I know he’s going to be pissed if anyone takes it easy on him. I just want him to have a good time out there.”

I wave to Piper, Madeline, and Emmy, who puts a pair of headphones over Murphy’s ears. I find a seat near the aisle, draping my coat over the back of my chair, when a shadow falls over me. I tip my head back and find Brody staring down at me.

“Ice Queen.” His eyes flicker with amusement. “Good to see you.”

“Hi, BB.” I don’t bother holding back my smile. “How are you?”

“Running on fumes. Delirious. Happy to be here.” He points to the empty seat next to me, ignoring the woman three rows over who is screaming his name. “Is that seat open?”

“All yours if you want it.”

“That would be nice,” he murmurs.

“Come on down, Coach.”

Brody folds his long legs into the small plastic chair. It can’t be comfortable, but he doesn’t complain. He drapes an arm over the back of my seat, fingers brushing against the ends of my ponytail.

“You always wear a ribbon in your hair.” A gentle touch to the light blue bow I tied to match the Comets’ team colors and a low hum. “I don’t know how I feel about them.”

I turn my body his direction, leaning close so I can hear him. “Are they too girlie for the guy who used to get in fights on the ice?”

“No.” His hand falls away. He stares out at the ice with a set jaw. A secret he’s not revealing. “They’re fucking distracting.”

“How so?” I ask.

“When you wear them, I want to—”

A roar from the crowd interrupts him, cheering as the players skate out of the tunnel. Riley is the last one on the ice and moving more careful than his teammates. He scans the arena with a grin, taking in the signs and banners welcoming him back. He laughs, accepting a puck from a teammate and lining up to take a practice shot, but then he spots us. He does a double take, dropping his stick. Covering his mouth with his gloved hand, and then, chaos unfolds.

“Look at everyone here for him,” I yell over the noise, clapping with the rest of the crowd.

“I’ll be back,” Brody says, squeezing my shoulder once and stepping into the aisle. “Gotta say hi to our boy.”

Someone from the Comets staff escorts the Stars players to the bench so Riley can have a moment with the team. I hang back, watching them with a full heart and tears in my eyes. There are photos and high-fives. Riley holding Murphy then reaching for Lexi, kissing her like the world is going to end tomorrow. They’re so deeply in love it almost hurts.

The lights turn back on. Everyone settles down. The fans take their seats, the refs huddle close, and it’s almost puck drop. The guys from the Stars climb over people to make it back to our row, and Brody is smiling when he appears at my side again.

“I’m going to tell you a secret,” he says.

“I can’t wait to hear.” I pat his chair and he sits, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Make it something good, please.”

“Well. Since you’re begging,” he muses, glancing my way. “That’s how

it works, right?”

Hell.

Surrounded by the team, and this is the most brazen he’s ever been. My lips part. I blink, following the path of his hand as he graze my ponytail again.

“I don’t know,” I answer, not bothering to keep my voice down. With the noise from the crowd, there’s no way anyone is able to overhear us.

“You’re usually the one begging.”

The curl of a smirk on his mouth. The bold, carefree way he steals my ribbon and wraps it around his fingers. It’s sensory overload, a side I

haven’t seen from Brody before.

And I like it.

“I guess I am. There are far worse things in life than being on my knees.” A soft chuckle. His guard coming down. “I act like being around my players is a detriment to my health, but I really love it. They’re stupid as hell, and it’s fun to see.”

“You softie. I knew you didn’t hate it as much as you said you did.” I look down the row of seats, at everyone from his team here with the family they created. “You did all of this, Brody. This camaraderie. This love. It doesn’t happen everywhere, but when it does, it’s magic.”

“Magic,” he repeats, twisting my ribbon in a knot on his wrist. “Can I tell you another secret?”

“You’re so free with your admissions tonight. Have you been drinking?”

I tease, but the shake of his head makes me want to stop joking.

“No. I’m in full control of my thoughts.” Brody pauses and shifts closer to me, cupping my ear. “I know I fucked up after our night together, but having you here? Seeing you part of the team? I like that too. A lot. It might be my favorite thing.”

“Mine too.” My heart races. I can’t talk above a whisper. “I’ve felt so lost lately, but thanks to you, I’m finding my way.”

“We make a good pair, don’t we?” he asks, pulling away so he can tuck my ribbon in his pocket. “Who would’ve thought?”

I try my best to focus on the game. I cheer when the Comets score. I jump to my feet after Riley makes a beautiful pass to an open teammate. It’s

fun and it’s lively and the best night I’ve had in a long time, but I can’t tell if that’s because of the energy around me or Brody’s arm staying over the back of my chair and the glances he keeps tossing my way.