Page 63 of Between Steel and Secrets
“Harper, can you watch her for a minute?” I ask and hurry off to find our coach.
“I don’t need watching!” Bristol hollers back and smiles at Harper. “Your son is so adorable.”
I jog toward Coach, who is getting all the players back onto the bus, taking an inventory of us to make sure that no one gets left behind. “I can’t in good conscience let Bristol take the bus home alone. She’s drunk, and I’d feel terrible if something happened to her?—”
“What are you suggesting, Moretti?” Coach glares at me. “This isn’t a party bus. We’re not giving free rides out or taking girls home.”
“Of course not,” I say. “I’ll make sure she gets home, and then I’ll take the city bus back to campus.”
Coach’s eyes tighten and he nods. “You’re a good kid. Do you have enough money to get back to EU?”
I tap my wallet, making sure it’s in my pants pocket. “Yes, sir.”
“We’ll take your equipment back to campus.” He’s referring to my duffel bag already on the bus. The team always handles our hockey equipment for us.
“Thanks, Coach.”
He pats me on the shoulder, his grip firm as he holds my forearm. “Make smart decisions, Moretti.”
“Always.”
I hurry back toward Bristol, who is chatting up a storm with Harper.
“I’m taking you home,” I say to Bristol, throwing an arm around her shoulder.
Bristol glances me up and down and then looks at the bare parking lot. “You don’t have a car.”
She’s right, my car is back at home. “We’ll take the bus. That’s how you got here, isn’t it?”
“I hitchhiked.” She grins at me, and I swear she’d better be joking, or I’m about to give her a twenty-minute lecture on safety.
“You did not,” I growl between clenched teeth and escort her toward the bus stop across the street.
“I’m kidding,” she says, and leans against me. My arm instantly falls around her hip, holding her to me, keeping her upright and steady.
Luca chases after me. “Where are you two off to?”
“I’m going to make sure she gets home safely.”
“Do you want me to give you a ride? I can swing back after and pick up the girls.” Luca glances back at the vehicle where everyone is waiting to be let in.
There are too many of us to all fit into his vehicle in one shot. “It’s not a big deal. She lives on campus; it’s like ten minutes from here by bus.”
“Who knows when the next bus comes through here at this hour? I’ll drive you both to campus.”
The girls grumble as they head back inside the restaurant to stay warm. Thankfully, they’re still open for a while longer.
I help Bristol into the front seat while I climb in back.
“Fun night?” Luca asks as he glances at Bristol.
“The Predators lost. So, no. Not fun for me.” She shuffles into the seat, secures her seatbelt, and I give Luca directions to her dorm.
He doesn’t ask how I know where she lives or what building she’s in.
When we finally arrive, I climb out of the car, helping her to her feet.
“I’ll wait for you.”
