Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

GRACE

Otto is so close to me that I can smell his cologne. Oh my God, he's beautiful. I don't know how else to describe him. Beautiful fits. Then my stupid phone starts buzzing again inside my apron. I slap my hand against my stomach. I'm not sure what to do or why I'm worried about it.

It's not like he'll know who is calling me or why. I should just turn around and walk away. But I can't. I'm held in place by his eyes. He renders me frozen, completely. My breath hitches, and I wonder what is going to happen next.

"You're not answering your phone," Otto points out.

"I'm not," I whisper.

I don't know what to say or how to say it, so I don't say anything else. Otto doesn't like that at all. He reaches into my apron and takes out my phone. I hold my breath as he flicks his gaze down at the screen.

"Do you know a Hayze?" he asks.

Pressing my lips together, I wonder if I should answer that and, more importantly, how I should answer it.

I don't want to.

What I want to do is hide away in the back room and pretend he hasn't been calling me all day long. Pretend he won't continue to call me over and over until I pick up. Because I know he will. Deep in my bones, I know without a doubt that he won't stop until I relent.

But when Otto slides his thumb across the phone, then brings it to his ear, and says just one single word— hello —my heart stops.

Lifting my hand, I reach out to take the phone from him, but he has a firm grasp on the device. I begin to tremble and wonder what the fuck is going to happen next. I open my mouth, then snap it closed and open it again.

I have no idea what Hayze is going to say. I don't know if I want Otto to know anything at this point. I'm trying to start anew here, and he will not help anything. Not a damn thing. But Otto is unbothered by my anxiety and this situation.

"There a reason you're harassing Grace?" he asks.

My heart stops beating completely. My breath stills. I can do nothing but stare, open-mouthed, at this man. He doesn't sound angry, but his jaw is set, and he is clearly not thrilled by this situation.

Maybe it's me he's not happy with. Maybe it's something that Hayze says. I don't know, but I can't breathe until this conversation is finished. This is far too much for me to stand here and listen to without being able to be part of it, without being able to defend myself.

"Yeah?" Otto asks. "Call back again, and you won't like what happens." My breath hitches, and my eyes widen even more. I didn't think that was possible, but I'm sure they look like they're about to actually pop out onto the floor. "No. That's a promise." He ends the call. Then I watch as he continues to move his thumb around on my phone before he hands it back to me.

"I blocked his ass," he states. "He tries to call you any other way, I want you to let me know."

"Why?" I rasp.

He snorts. "Because he was harassing you, honey. And no man should ever harass a woman."

Tears prick the backs of my eyes. I blink them away, trying not to cry in front of him. "I don't know what to say," I whisper.

It's true. I am at a complete loss for words. I don't think I've ever met a guy who would have done what he just did. Sure, it was just a phone call, but at the same time, nobody has ever stood up for me like this before. Defended me. Whatever you want to call it.

My father has never even done what this man just did for me. I mean, I'm sure if I asked him to, my dad would go to bat for me about something. But I would have to ask, I would probably have to beg. Not with Otto, though. He just took my phone and handled it. Right here and now. No questions asked.

"Say you'll go out with me."

It's not really a question, more of a demand, and I know I am going to accept. If for no other reason than thanking him for what he's done. For standing up for me. Although, if I'm being real, it's because he's hot and even giving me any attention, plus he called me honey.

The only sticky part of this situation is that he plays for my father. I'm not sure I can do anything past this one date. I don't need to worry about that yet, though. One thing at a time.

Dinner first.

"I will."

OTTO

"Hayze. What the fuck kind of name is that?" I ask Forrest as I walk down the staircase and make my way into the kitchen.

He doesn't answer. Instead, he arches a brow while he lifts his bottle of water to his lips. I watch as he takes a long drink, then he clears his throat. It's clear he's trying not to laugh at me, but he's doing a pretty good job of staying calm.

"I could tell you what it sounds like, but I won't."

I snort. He's right. I could think of a million reasons someone would name their kid that, and none of them are positive. But hell, what do I know? So, I don't say a single word. I inhale a deep breath and grab my car keys from the counter.

"You taking her out tonight?" he asks.

"Yeah," I murmur, using my free hand to slide my palm down the center of my chest, checking to see if my buttons are straight on my shirt.

Forrest grins, his eyes sliding down to my feet, then back up. "You clean up good," he mutters.

My phone rings in my pocket, and I dig my hand inside to fish it out. It's my mother, which doesn't surprise me. Before I slide my thumb across the screen to answer it, I give Forrest a two-fingered wave and make my way toward the front door.

" Maman ," I say into the phone.

I hear her heavy sigh, knowing she loves it when I use a little French. "Have you bought your plane ticket?" she asks, her voice light and airy even though I know she wants an answer, and she wants my answer to be what she wants to hear and nothing else.

"I can't, not right now. We started training already," I say.

"It is not healthy to work the hours that you do, fils . You must take a break."

There are so many things I want to tell her. A break isn't possible right now. I'm twenty-five and trying to make a name for myself with the career I love. I'm only getting older, and this is my passion. Even if I don't play for the NHL, I could be a coach. I could be a private instructor. I could make this my life. And I plan on it, but that means I have to sacrifice.

She wouldn't understand any of it, though. And I know that, to a degree, she is right, but she won't come here to see me. She only wants me to come to her, which makes it infinitely harder.

"I wish I could come and visit more often, but because we played so long into the postseason because we did so well, the break was even shorter this year."

She huffs before she speaks again. "I know it means you're doing well. And I wish for nothing more than your success, but I also wish that you were closer. Have you thought about a transfer to Canada?"

I can't tell her that my heart is indeed in North Carolina. I like it here, and I love my team. They are all truly my brothers. She would be hurt and offended if I said that, so I don't say anything at all.

"Just keep it in mind," she whispers.

" Je t'aime, Maman ," I say.

She hums, murmuring that she loves me, too. Ending the call, I walk across the street to pick up my date. I wasn't sure what to wear, even though I knew exactly where I was going to take her.

I ended up picking a black button-down shirt that I actually ironed, gray pants, a black belt, and black shoes. I figure you can't go wrong with black. And my hair and beardless face are still on point, thanks to Brooklynn, so that didn't take much work.

Lifting my hand, I extend my index finger and begin to ring the bell but don't get the chance. The door flies open. I expect to see Brooklynn standing in front of me, but instead, it's Karlie.

"This house has been abuzz, and it's all your fault," she says in a scolding tone. Although I can tell she doesn't mean anything by it.

My lips twitch into a smirk. I like the idea of Grace being excited, worried, and nervous about our date. God knows I'm feeling the same way. My stomach twists at the thought of her walking down that staircase in anticipation of what she's wearing.

Karlie takes a step backward, turning to the side to allow me to pass. I make my way into the foyer and I rock back on my heels as I look at the stairs.

Karlie giggles, then closes the door.

She doesn't say anything else, but I can feel her gaze on me. The moment Grace steps out onto the top of the stairs, everything and everyone else vanishes.

She's gorgeous—absolutely stunning.