10. Ella

CHAPTER TEN

ELLA

" T hat's fantastic Ella," Marlee says with a smile. "You make those moves look way too easy in that costume."

I don't reply because mascots don't talk. Staying in character, I twirl myself around on the ice and then give Marlee a high five.

"And seriously, this new costume is adorable if I do say so myself," she says. "It's the yellow fur and the star tail. It all just looks so stinking cute." She shakes her head in wonderment as I skate around on the ice chasing my own tail.

"Come on goofball, I'll walk with you to your dressing room."

Marlee and I walk ourselves carefully off the ice and down into the tunnels. I finally take off the head of my costume, unable to contain the smile on my face.

"Oh my gosh, that was so much fun!"

Marlee laughs. "Girl, you seem like you were made for this. How you can move that way in a costume like that is beyond me. Oooh…" She grabs onto my fur-covered arm. "And just wait until we do the formal welcome of Lumin to the team and give you your very own hockey stick. I got a look at it last night and it is so cool!"

Her enthusiasm brings a smile to my face. "Can't wait!"

"Alright, if you don't need anything else for right now, I've got to run back upstairs to handle a few other schedule issues with some of the players."

"Yeah sure, no problem," I tell her, waving. "I'll catch you later."

Marlee walks on down the hall and when I turn into my dressing room, a recognizable scent fills my nose as I step inside. Immediately a huge smile spreads across my face because I know only one person could have possibly left this gift for me and that person is August Blackstone.

"No, he didn't…"

I find the source of the yummy, sweet scent on the counter to my left. Making quick work of my costume, I pull my gloves off dropping them to the floor and then peer into the bag spotting not one, but two boxes of cinnamon rolls.

"Oh, yes, he did."

Attached to the bag is a note that I unequivocally recognize as August's handwriting.

El,

For you on your special day.

I'm so fucking proud of you and can't wait to watch you shine.

Knock 'em dead tonight and then we'll celebrate together!

Welcome to the team! - August

He knew I would be nervous on my first day.

He knew exactly what I would want.

He did this for me.

My heart swells as I tuck the note into my bag for safe keeping and then rip open the first cinnamon roll box. I tear off a piece of the warm gooey goodness and drop it into my mouth, savoring every pass over my tongue as my phone rings in my locker. Grabbing it from the shelf, I smile at the name on the screen and tap it excitedly to answer the call.

"Paige!"

"Ella!"

"Oh, my God! It's so good to hear from you!"

"You didn't think I would leave my girl hanging on her first official day as Lumin the shooting star, did you?"

I chuckle as I take a seat on the small couch in my dressing room. "Of course not. Hold on, I'm gonna switch to facetime so I can eat my cinnamon roll while we talk."

"Uh oh," she says. "Cinnamon roll, huh? You feeling okay?"

"Yeah, of course," I say, attaching my phone to the cell phone holder near me. "But you know me. Cinnamon rolls are my nervous habit. Now I feel like I have to have one, you know?"

"Right." She nods with an understanding smile. "For good luck."

"Yeah."

"Well, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I'm sure you're going to be great tonight!"

"Thanks, Paige." I tear off another piece of my roll and toss it in my mouth. "So, how's the hot goat dad? What's the goat's name again?"

She sighs. "His name is Winston. And his hot dad is dreamy in every sense of the word. I swear since he asked me to move in with him and stay in Tuft Swallow he is a whole new person. Even my friends in town are talking about how outgoing he is now. It's crazy. Good crazy of course, but crazy."

"Why do you think that is? That he's so different, I mean."

"Honestly, I think he's finally forgiven himself for the accident he was in with his sister all those years ago. He had been holding on to that pain all this time and I really think that did a number on him. It's like since she wasn't here he wasn't allowing himself to be happy."

"I'm sure he has you to thank for that change, huh?"

She smiles. "Maybe. I mean I don't want to take credit for his strength or his resilience because he's worked through his pain all on his own, but I'd like to think my being here has had some kind of small impact on him."

"It's not small, Paige. You changed his life."

"And he's changed mine. But speaking of life changing…how are things in California? How's Auggie?"

My cheeks redden at her question and she notices the coy expression on my face and gasps. "Noooo you did not!"

"What?"

"Ella! Did you sleep with August?"

"No. Of course not." I shake my head adamantly and give her a nervous giggle. "It's not like that. Although we did sleep together last night but we?—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she says, stopping me and waving her hands at the camera. "Let's back up here. What do you mean you slept together last night but it's not like that?"

Leaning forward on the couch, I bulge my eyes and as over dramatically as I can, tell her, "Paige, I lived through my very first earthquake last night!"

Paige gasps. "Oh my gosh! No way! Tell me everything. I've never experienced an earthquake before! What's it like?"

"Scary as fuck, that's what it's like!"

She laughs. "Were things falling off the walls? Does Auggie live in a tall building? Did it sway? Did you have to take cover? Did the ground open up and suck everything down inside this deep black hole? Ella how are you even still alive?"

I laugh at her barrage of questions. "Okay first of all, you watch too much television. There was no sucking of the world down into an open earth hole. At least not in Auggie's apartment. But yeah, things were falling off walls and onto the floor and I woke up to my bed shaking and I screamed for August because I didn't realize what was going on."

"So, you weren't sleeping together then obviously," she states.

"No, but as soon as he mentioned aftershocks I was like, oh hell no, and so he offered to let me sleep with him so I wasn't alone if those happened throughout the night."

"Aww that was sweet of him. He's such a good guy."

"Yeah, but there's more."

She smiles and rests her chin on her palm. She must be at work in her antique shop.

"Do tell girl! And don't leave out any details!"

I recount for Paige what happened earlier in the evening when I finally met the guys on the team and what August had to say about my unattractive breasts.

"What the fuck was he thinking?" She seethes. "I can't believe he said that!"

"Right? That's what I thought, which is why it stung a lot. I mean I know we're not like…a couple or anything but geesh. A little compliment would've been nice, you know? Especially in front of his friends."

"I'm going to have to have a talk with that guy," Paige mumbles. "He doesn't get to treat you like that."

"Well, he may have made up for it last night."

Paige quirks her brow. "Oh?"

A sly smirk spreads across my lips. "Yeah. So, I may have been wearing this sexy little purple number when the earthquake hit. After I walked out on August and the rest of the team, I decided I was going to bed looking and feeling like a million bucks so I put on this sexy sleep set. Purple lace and satin. Paige, I can't lie, I looked fabulous."

She beams. "I have no doubt!"

"So, when he took me to his room we were laughing about the temperature in there because the man sleeps in an arctic tundra. Seriously my nipples were screaming. And when he turned around to say something else he finally noticed what I was wearing."

Paige squeals. "Aaaand?"

"And let's just say he was extremely uncomfortable and I didn't give two shits. He tried to tell me I couldn't wear the outfit to bed but wouldn't give me an answer as to why so I threw it in his face that he said I was unattractive and so therefore it's no big deal what I wear. And then I climbed myself right into bed." I shrug, tearing off another bite of cinnamon roll. "I mean it didn't stop him from climbing in behind me and pulling me against him."

Paige's gaze latches onto mine and her smile grows. "Uh huh, aaaand?"

"Aaaand he may have been a little turned on because he was poking my ass!" I can't help but giggle especially when my friend does the same. "And because I'm a pot stirrer when I'm in the right mood, I wanted to drive him a little crazy. We'll call it punishment for being an asshole earlier in the evening. So, I may have shuffled back against him a little. And he may have told me if I didn't cut it out he would end up having an extremely awkward night."

She laughs even harder.

"And when I asked why, he told me it was because for the first time ever there was a girl in his bed—side note, he's never brought a woman back to his place! Can you even believe that?"

She bobs her head. "Makes sense I guess. Privacy and all."

"Yeah. That's exactly what he said. Anyway, he said I was the first woman to be in his bed and then said I was hot as fuck, his words not mine, and that I had tits any man would be lucky to have the opportunity to handle."

Paige nearly chokes on her drink. "No, he did not say that!"

I nod. "Yes he absolutely did."

She gasps. "Ella Montgomery, does he like you? I think he likes you! Like, likes you likes you!"

I crinkle my nose. "I don't think I would go that far."

"No?"

"Nah. He meant what he said in front of the guys. It was one of those statements you make when you're not thinking and usually those are the ones you mean, you know?"

"Then why would he say otherwise with you in his bed last night?"

I shrug. "To save face would be my guess, but…"

She waits a moment before asking, "But what?"

I lean forward toward my phone and lower my voice so nobody walking by my room can hear me. "Paige, I think I liked it. I liked being in bed with him. There was this moment when his palm rested against my bare stomach and I liked his hands on me. And even if he didn't mean it, hearing him say those things to me last night, right in my ear as he held me, it felt…nice. I found myself getting a little hot and bothered."

Paige beams back at me through the phone. "Of course you did! Also, this doesn't surprise me. I think it's to be expected. First of all, you two have been best friends since you were tiny humans. You have this bond that few people have. You've always been that way. Secondly, you were feeling great, looking like a gazillion bucks, and you were in the arms of your best friend in the entire world who also happens to be a hot as hell professional hockey player. So, the question is, when are you going to just drop the good-girl act, and go for it with him?"

Sometimes I wish…

"Why would I do that? It could mess up everything if it were to not go well and as you said, our bond is too strong for me to want to fuck it up over crazy physical attraction."

She shrugs her shoulder. "The way I see it, the only reason it might not go well is if the two of you can't get your heads out of your own asses."

Her words sit with me, soaking in and spreading through my mind.

"Do you have feelings for August, Ella? Like more than just friends?"

I take a deep breath mulling over my answer.

"I…maybe? I think part of me always has. I'd be lying if I said he wasn't hot as sin and that I haven't thought about…you know, stuff."

She grins. "Yeah. Stuff. And I think you've liked him longer than you want to admit to yourself and that's totally okay. So, maybe it's time to take the next step and see where he is. Maybe he feels the same. If he was poking you in the back last night, then there's obviously a part of him that was attracted to you."

"Yeah," I giggle. "The horny part. The part who hasn't gotten laid since I got to town because I think I've become a cock block for him."

"Good. Then it's time to drive him crazy and show him his eyes need to be on you and you alone."

"What? How am I supposed to do that?"

"Come on, Ella. You can do this. Surely you can come up with a few ways to flirt with him or challenge his thoughts so that he's constantly coming back to you. Turn on the hot girl charm. Ooor the bad girl charm. Read the room. You're good at that. Make him want you. Make him desire you. Show him what he's missing by not making a move and then when he finally does make a move, you'll be right there with him."

I nod my head at her suggestions. "Do you really think that's the way to go?"

"Yeah. I really do. Auggie is headstrong. You know that. If he has feelings for you, and I kind of think he does, he might be just as scared to talk to you about them. So, play with that a little bit. Have a little fun. You have one week to make a couple moves and the next time we talk I want a play by play."

"What do you think I should do first?"

She laughs on the other end of the line. "The only obvious choice."

"Which is?"

"Go on a date," she says. "A date with another man. Make the guy squirm." A bell rings in the background and Paige looks away from her phone. "Hi welcome to The Nest." She glances back at me and whispers, "Okay I've got to go. Customer just walked in." She blows me a few kisses. "But lots of luck tonight! I'll be sending you all the positive energetic vibes I can."

"Thanks Paige. Love you girl."

"Love you too! And good luck with August! Take the bull by the hornies." She gives me one last wink and then she's gone.

"Take the bull by the hornies…"

I end the call with a smile on my face and an eye roll for Paige's creative word mashup but then sit in silence for a moment going through everything she had to say about August.

Maybe she's right.

Maybe I should do this. Because if I'm really not interested then would his words have hurt so badly yesterday? If I'm not interested, would I be okay knowing he's out getting his needs met by random women in every city he plays in?

Yeah, that's a hard no.

I don't think I could stomach knowing that.

But could I see the woman he sleeps with being me?

Kissing me?

Touching me?

The warm flutter in my stomach tells me all I need to know.

It also tells me I need to sit here and eat every last bite of these cinnamon rolls if I'm going to have the courage to do any of this.