Page 23 of Buzzer Beater

“Well if the sharks don’t kill us, they will.” Reese laughed as he walked past me toward the boat tearing me away from my thoughts.

I followed the group, staying toward the back of the line. I’d respect Lucy’s space. She didn’t want me around anymore and I'd respect that. Hopefully the girls could keep her occupied and her mind off hating me.

7

Lucy

I walked away as soon as I could, dragging Elena and Riley with me. I needed support. A safety net. How was I going to get through an entire day on a boat with him? We’d either end up killing each other, one of us throwing the other off the boat, or the dull ache in my chest might force me to do something stupid. Like talk to him.

His voice had been a sledge hammer to the walls around my heart yesterday. The sound of his low baritone brought be straight back to when he’d been mine. The voice that used to tell me how much he loved me. The one that made my worries disappear. The one that stayed in my dreams, haunting me for years.

This was going to be a long day. Each smile. Each laugh was a reminder of what we’d had and lost.

Maybe Riley was right. Maybe he had changed.

I threw out that thought before it could take root. That was a dangerous idea.

“So that’s him?” Riley was staring. Not even trying to be discreet. “He’s even hotter in person.”

Elena smacked her arm as she stepped off the dock and onto the boat. “Not helping.”

Riley shrugged. “What? It’s not like Lucy’s blind. I’m sure she’s aware.”

I was.

I hated that the first time I saw him in five years he looked better than when we were together. Broader, fuller, a man.

I followed the girls on the boat and was surprised by how little it rocked. I could barely tell we were on the water. I looked back at the dock where Amber was still talking to Colin, blocking his friends from boarding.

I watched as he ran his fingers through his bangs, just like he always did when he was uncomfortable. It stung to see a gesture I’d once been so used to. It was his tell, something I’d picked up on from knowing him so well.

How was it possible things could change so much, yet stay exactly the same?

“Come on, let’s get our gear first.”

We followed one of the instructors, Manuel, onto the large boat as he instructed us on what we would need.

“Pick out a mask, snorkel, and fins.” He smiled and waved his hand over the three large bins in front of him.

Riley and I dug through the first tangled mess.

“Do you know which the best are?” I asked. I’d never been snorkeling before and didn’t want to end up breathing water all day.

Riley held up a snorkel. “Take this one. It has a stopper on the top so water won’t get in if you dive under.”

“Huh. Thanks.” I took it and looked for a mask. They were all pretty similar, so I took a pair with pink on the sides. At least I wouldn’t mix them up with someone else’s.

By the time Riley, Elena and I were outfitted, the rest of the group was on board. I moved to the side to give everyone space when I noticed one of the wives walking with Amber. They were chatting and laughing like old friends. I narrowed my eyes and watched the rest of the hockey wives mesh in with my friends. Oh no. This wasn’t going to work. It wasn’t safe.

I took a step forward when a man got in my way. I looked up and was face to face with Erik Shultz.

He smiled at me and stepped back. “Excuse me, Lucy.”

“How do you know my name?”

He winced, just slightly. “Everyone on this boat now knows everyone else. We made introductions on the dock. You, Elena, and Riley missed out on that, but Amber made sure we knew each of you.”

I crossed my arms awkwardly over my chest with my hands still full of my gear.