Make Your Move (Aston Archers Hockey #1)

9. Nova

CHAPTER NINE

NOVA

P osey smacks her hands on the glass, giggling as the music starts to play through the sound system in the arena. Instinctively, I begin to sway my hips to the beat as I hold Posey’s waist. She wanted up so she’s standing on the ledge that is around the tops of the boards.

Riley laughs, and my father looks over and smiles at Poe before looking back out at the ice as the players begin to come out. A few stand by the bench while some of the others begin to start skating circles around their half of the rink. I look over and see my brother and his best friend as they both step out onto the ice.

Last season, I wasn’t able to make it to that many games, and I plan to do better this year. Posey is a little older, so it makes it easier. Last year, she was too young to even want to watch and now, she wants to stand up and see what they’re doing. I brought her to the glass to watch warm-ups and so she can see her uncle and Lincoln.

Their goalie skates out to the net, adjusting his helmet on his head, and I watch as Lincoln and Nash move to the center of the ice. They both get down on the surface and start to go through a series of stretches while they talk.

Nash bought a ticket for our father in the same box after he found out Lincoln already bought tickets for Posey and me. Lincoln tried to play it off as if it weren’t a big deal, and he got them on sale or something. I didn’t fully pay attention to the explanation he gave him, but whatever it was must have been good because my brother bought it and didn’t question it at all.

“Wook, Mommy!” Posey exclaims as she taps my cheek and then presses her finger against the glass. I look out to where she’s pointing as some of the players start skating around with pucks. “Pfuck!”

My eyes widen, and I immediately feel embarrassed, but also amused. My father looks over at me. “Did she just swear?”

I shake my head at him, laughing softly. “No, she can’t say puck right. Nash has been trying to turn her into his little hockey prodigy.”

“Oh dear,” my father mutters, shaking his head. A smile finds its way to his lips. “I think you already know what you’re getting yourself into if he succeeds.”

“Yeah, well, she’s also only two, so a lot can change,” I remind him with laughter still in my tone. “She still wants to be an astronaut when she grows up too.”

“Reminds me of another little girl I knew,” he tells me with sentiment in his voice and a wink. He looks at Posey, and there’s nothing but love in his gaze. She’s brought so much to all of our lives that we didn’t realize we were missing.

In a way, it felt like she is woven with little pieces of our mother.

“Winky!” Posey says excitedly as she begins to bob up and down. Her movements take me by surprise and I tighten my grip on her waist so she doesn’t fall.

I look away from my father and see Lincoln as he comes skating over to us. “Calm down, Poe,” I tell her softly as my gaze locks with his. His hair is a tousled mess on top of his head, and his bourbon eyes probe mine. My mouth instantly goes dry. There’s something about seeing him in all his gear that I’ve always enjoyed.

He really does look good in a blue jersey too.

A smile breaks out across his lips, and he flashes his straight white teeth at Posey and me. I roll my lips between my teeth as my heart picks up the pace in my chest. He directs his gaze to Poe, and he raises his glove to the glass. “Hi, Posey,” he says to her. Although his voice is a little muffled, she still hears him. She giggles loudly as she lifts her own little hand to try and reach him.

The glass separates them, but I swear to god, I feel like I’m going to melt into a damn puddle at how sweet the moment is. Lincoln on one side, his eyes bright and glittering as he stares at her. Posey on this side, staring up at him with wonderment as they both hold their hands to each other.

“Good luck tonight,” I tell him, not sure if he can hear me. His eyes are on my lips, so I know he can at least read them.

His expression is soft as his eyes meet mine again. “I have all the luck I need.”

My breath catches in my throat, and my heart skips a beat. My lips part, but I’m at a loss for words. He rendered me speechless, and I don’t think he was even trying it. I’m saved by Nash as he skates over to where Lincoln is and grabs Posey’s attention.

Lincoln drifts back a bit, but his eyes are still on mine as Nash tries to talk to Posey through the glass. She’s just as excited to see her uncle, and I can’t help but smile. Nash doesn’t linger for long, and he heads back to the line of guys as they begin to take shots at the goalie. Lincoln slowly skates backward, winking before he turns to get in line.

“Did he just wink at you?” Riley asks me, her voice quiet enough that no one else hears her.

I don’t look at her, and she can’t see the way I’m trying to bite back my grin right now. “I think he had something in his eye.”

Riley snorts. “Right, of course. Silly me for thinking it was something else.”

My father interrupts the conversation he didn’t know we were having and takes Posey from me. “I’m going to go take my favorite little girl to get some ice cream, and we’ll meet you two in the suite.” He leans closer to me. “Have some fun, Nova. I got Poe.”

I look at my father, and he has the kindest, most caring eyes. Even though I have the best support system in the world, sometimes I don’t like to ask for help. Being a single mother comes with challenges of its own, and I’m grateful for the ones who are in my corner.

“Thanks, Dad,” I say as I lean forward and kiss his cheek. He holds Posey in his arms, and the two of them head up the stairs as Riley and I stand by the glass.

As I look back at the ice, I see Lincoln as he shoots a puck, sinking it directly into the netting. I’m looking forward to watching him play. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him moving on the ice like this. He’s not flashy, and he isn’t a showboat, but he moves with precision and skill. He moves quietly and plays smart. There isn’t a move that man makes without calculating it first.

“Damn, he’s good,” Riley says before she takes a sip of her hard seltzer. “I can’t believe he’s back and playing for the Archers.”

“I can’t either,” I admit, the words coming out in one breath. I don’t know why I never heard from him after he left, but it doesn’t matter anymore. “I’m glad he is.”

Riley looks over at me with mischief dancing in her eyes. “I think he is too.”

The teams finish warming up, and Riley and I watch as they all head off the ice before the Zamboni comes out to clean it. The machine runs, clearing the ice, and the two of us begin to head up the stairs. We make our way up to the suite level and stop by the bar to get another drink before heading back to our box.

While we’re there, Riley orders two shots and hands one to me. I take it from her, and she raises hers into the air.

We clink the glass together before we both toss back the burning liquid. My throat feels like it’s on fire. I grab Riley’s seltzer and quickly wash down the liquor with it. It doesn’t do much to chase away the disgusting taste.

“God, that was horrible,” I mumble, making a disgusted face. I don’t normally take shots, and this is exactly why. I can’t stand the taste or the way it feels.

“That was pretty bad, wasn’t it?” Riley laughs, shaking her head. “No more shots.”

“No more.” I laugh, agreeing with her as she links her arm through mine. We head to the box where my dad and Posey are and settle into our seats to watch the game. The puck drops, and the guys are on the move, but there’s one who keeps grabbing my attention.

The player in the blue jersey with the number seven on his back.

The one who has always had my attention, even if he didn’t realize it.