Melting Away The Ice (THE ICE SERIES) (2 page)

I
took a deep breath and put on my bravest smile. The one I plaster on my face when people asked me how I was doing. "You’re right. Let’s have fun."

R
achel giggled. "I know you are faking it, but it’s a start." I could not help but giggle back at her. She could call me on all my lies.
She is the greatest friend.
Just then the arena went dark and the Jumbotron started introductions and the crowd went wild. I stood up with Rachel and did my best to "have fun.”

Chapter 2 – Sara

I watched the game, mainly because I promised Rachel, and she made me. She kept pointing out players, reasons for the penalties, and key points of the game. I mostly watched number eighty skate. Every time he was on the ice it was with determination and purpose. He was a natural on the ice. It was like he belonged there and nowhere else. We were so close that I could hear the skates on the ice, snow from the skates flying everywhere. I could hear the command of the teammates yelling at each other and I watched them flow through each play. The air became thick with sweat, purpose, and the desire to win. The crowd was on their feet yelling at bad calls, or cheering for good ones, and as the seconds ticked by they shouted for the win.

 
              The Eagles won two to one. I did actually enjoy myself, a little bit. It took my mind off stuff for a while, even though I still thought the game was barbaric. 

 
              At the end of the game they announced the three stars, which Rachel said was very important. Lucas Sharp, number eighty, was the top star of the game and crowd went wild for him. When all was done, I started to turn to leave.

 
              "Where are you going?" Rachel asked with a confused look on her face.

 
              "Aren’t we leaving?”

 
              "No!" she shouted. “I have special passes for us for the meet and greet. We need to go this way.” She pointed in the opposite direction of where I was standing.

 
              "What? You never said that before!" But she couldn’t hear me; she was already running, 
yes running,
 in that direction. I sighed and chased after her. I almost felt like a mother chasing her child.

We got to the far side of the rink and Rachel showed the guard
two bright yellow passes. He looked at them and waved as through. Rachel grabbed my hand and off we went down the long tunnel, still running.

 
              "Can you smell that?” she asked with bliss in her voice.

 
              "Sweat?" It smelled horrible.

 
              "No, the smell of real men and the victory of winning," she proclaimed.

 
              "Yeah that smells like sweat, sweetie." Rachel looked at me like I had lost my mind.

"Whatever
,” she rolled her eyes and drug me further down the hall. We got to a large door where two very large security guards stood. Rachel showed them the tickets and they waved us through. 

 
              We walked into what seemed to be a large conference room. There were about fifty men, women, and children all with excitement plastered on their faces. Every single one of them was decked out in Eagles gear. There were jerseys, shirts, and hockey sticks everywhere. I just rolled my eyes as Rachel began talking to a couple about something hockey related. I wasn’t paying attention to their conversation. I just slinked over to the far wall near and exit door and stood there.
This is too much fun for me,
 I thought, rolling my eyes again.

Just then another set of doors opened and several men came out.
Well they aren't that bad looking, for guys missing most of their teeth
. The crowd rushed toward them with excitement and Sharpies. I stood there and watched as each player posed for pictures and signed whatever was handed to them. I never saw a player complain or even seem annoyed by the fan’s requests.

 
              "You shouldn't miss the opportunity to meet them," a male’s voice said next to me. I jumped with a start. I didn’t even realize that anyone was around me. It was then I noticed the exit door was ajar and I could feel the brisk cold outside. 

 
              "I’m fine. I don't need to meet them," I said as I quickly looked up at him. He had to be at least 6'2” with dark hair, but I quickly turned away.

 
              "Not an Eagles fan?” he asked.

 
              “Not a hockey fan," I stated back. I search for Rachel in the crowd. I spotted her bouncing all around getting a t-shirt signed that she brought with her. 

 
              "Not a hockey fan. That can't be true," he scoffed.

 
              "Nope, it’s true. I do not like hockey," I shifted uncomfortably. In my head I was trying to figure out a way to run away from him.
Will I always be this uncomfortable around men?

 
              "Wow, I don’t think I have ever met someone who didn’t like hockey. Especially at a hockey meet and greet.” I could hear the laugh in his condescending tone. I just nodded, ignoring his tone. I was still looking anywhere but at him.

 
              "Sara, Sara," I heard Rachel call as she came bounding over to me. I sometimes forget she was a few months older than me. I still couldn’t believe we were twenty-six. It was always Rachel that was the free spirit. She would say the most outrageous statements and did things her own way. I was the opposite of that. I was awkward at times and blurted stuff out. I had goals, priorities and wanted to achieve them. Even though Rachel was the genius she never really talked about goals. Good things just seemed to find her and she deserved each and every one of them.

It was then that she stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide and her mouth dropped
. "Oh. Eem. Gee.” she said quietly. I followed her gaze to see she was looking at the man next to me. It was then I realized who I had been speaking to. If I thought he was good looking on the ice he was a hundred times better up close. 

 
              "Well that didn’t last long," he whispered so quietly I almost missed it.

 
              "Lucas Sharp," Rachel said, “I am a huge fan." Lucas smiled a breathtaking smile and said, "Thank you." I could not take my eyes off of him. He had piercing blue eyes, body like a Greek God, and looks that a male model would sell his soul for. He asked her name and signed her shirt.

"Well
, it was nice to meet you Rachel," he said and looked over to me. "Nice to meet you
Sara.
" He smiled and walked towards the crowd coming at him.

 
              "Sara, you met Lucas Sharp. Nice. Did you get his number?" Rachel was beaming at me.

 
              "Um, no, I didn’t even tell him my name. How did he know my name?" I was so confused.

 
              “Who cares? Lucas Sharp was flirting with you and he signed my shirt" I glanced at my best friend, who looked like a child inside Disney World.

 
              "Flirting? I don’t think so.” I was just ready to get out of there. “Are you done yet?" I asked. "I have court in the morning."

 
              Rachel huffed. "Fine, let’s go."

 
              After a forever-long cab ride, I finally walked up several flights of stairs and into my apartment. I was still freezing cold from the ice rink, so I took a hot shower. Exhaustion finally set in as I made sure to lock all the doors and set the alarm before falling into bed thinking about Mr. Blue Eyes.

Chapter 3 - Sara

"Having a bad day?" Charity asked as I walked into my office after court.

 
              "That does not even begin to cover it. The Johnson’s case has been continued until the twenty-fifth." She nodded as I handed her folders and she handed me my coffee.

"Um, you got a very strange message earlier
.” She shifted uncomfortably letting her dark hair fall over her eyes. My heart pounded and my eyes went wide. Charity looked up when I didn’t answer her and knew instantly that she said something wrong.

"Oh no, not like that,"
 she quickly said. Only Rachel, Rachel’s assistant, Betty, and Charity knew about my life during the time of the accident and was always supportive. Charity would bring cases to me and make sure my work kept going. Even though I was unable to go to court for almost three months after the accident she made sure that Rachel knew my cases inside and out. Charity kept my office going like a well-oiled machine. She was incredible.

 
              "Sorry. I just meant it was from Rachel’s office."

 
              "Oh,” I took a deep breath and tried to calm down the shaking that was happening all over my body. "Well, why is that strange?" It wasn’t abnormal for Rachel’s side to get my messages.

 
              "Well, it was from the Chicago Eagles PR department wondering who Rachel’s guest was at the meet and greet last night."

 
              "Oh no." I knew I should have stayed by Rachel’s side. Even though she was a lawyer, she didn’t always have boundaries. “What did she say or do?"

 
              “Oh no, they wanted to know about you. They knew your name was Sara, but they wanted to contact you"

 
              "Me? Why?" I confused. 

 
              “No clue. I do know that Betty didn’t give them any information. Only took a number to contact them back.” The girls knew to never give out any of my personal information. It was an unwritten rule to keep my information private. Only Charity knew my schedule and she had it under lock and key. No one ever gave out my address or phone numbers. I always met clients in my office building and always went to the back way in the court house. No matter where I was, I looked around to make sure I knew where all the exits were, just in case I need to make a run for it.

             
"Okay. I will call them back and see what the heck is happening." Charity handed me the paper. All it said was "Amy Johnson, Eagle PR rep" and the number. I sat my stuff down and headed over to the phone.

 
              "Amy Johnson’s office,” a young voice came onto the line after I dialed the number.

 
              "Yes, this is Sara Smith. I was retuning a call to Amy." I was still racking my brain to figure out what Rachel had done, although, it was strange that they wanted to speak with me.

"One moment please,"
the young voice stated and then I was listening to bad elevator music.

"Amy Johnson," came on the line a moment later.

               "Hello, this is Sara Smith. My secretary stated that you were trying to get in contact with me," I said firmly. I figured I need to get into lawyer mode if it was something that Rachel had done.

 
              "I was looking for a Sara that attended the meet and greet with Rachel Silver last night? Was that you?"

 
              "Yes, that was me. May I ask what this is about?" I was becoming nervous because this was just going to be bad. I could feel it.

"Oh my, I didn't think I would find you.
This is great!" Amy stated through the phone. I could hear her giggles.

 
              "Again, may I ask what this is about?" I asked again more firmly.
Let’s get to the bad news, lady.

 
              "Oh yes. Sorry. Um, you won two tickets to tonight’s game. You can pick them up at the front gate," I shook my head in disbelief.
Tickets? What the heck?

 
              "What?" I’m so confused.

 
              "Yep, you won two tickets. Just have to get them by six PM." Just then Rachel blasted through my door. 

 
              "Ms. Johnson, would you hold for one moment?" I placed her on hold before she could answer. "Did you sign us up for a raffle or some type of giveaway?'

 
              "No, why? Who is on the phone?" Rachel looked as confused as I was.

 
              "This is the Eagle’s PR rep and she said that there are two tickets for us to tonight’s game."

Rachel screamed and jumped up.
 "OH MY GOD!" My ears started to ring from the scream.

"Rachel calm down.
If you didn’t sign us up then what the heck is going on?" Sometimes Rachel was a little bit too spontaneous.

 
              "Who cares? Take the tickets." She bounced with excitement.

 
              "Hang on Rachel." I picked up the phone again. "Ms. Johnson, I’m not sure you have the right person. Neither Rachel nor I signed up to win tickets."

 
              "Oh no, you didn't. See, um, we just randomly picked two people from, um; last night’s meet and greet. Yep, that is what we did," she stuttered out the words and I knew that she was lying. This was not the first time someone had lied to me. I was a lawyer for Pete’s sake. 

 
              "Never mind, we don't want them. You can-" The phone was jerked from my hand.

 
              'YES WE DO WANT THEM!" Rachel shouted into the phone. "When do they need to be picked up?" Rachel paused and nodded her head. “Six PM, got it. Thanks." She hung up the phone.

 
              "What are you doing?" I asked her. Well, I practically shouted it to her.

 
              "You don't pass up free tickets to the Eagles," Rachel stated back to me with her hands on her hips. She would probably sell her first born for tickets.

 
              "Rachel, I don't want to -" I was cut off when Rachel shouted for Charity.

 
              "Yes?" Charity poked her head in the door. Rachel waved her into the room. 

 
              "What is Sara’s schedule tomorrow?" Rachel crossed her arms and gave her the stared down. Charity, who was so easily intimidated, looked down at the ground. 

 
              "Her hearing was moved, she is free all day." 

 
              "Thank you, Charity." She looked back at me. "You can’t use the excuse about being busy tomorrow. You are going. Period!" She marched out of the office with her blonde hair fluttering behind her.

 
              "Sorry, Sara," Charity whispered.

 
              "No, it’s not your fault. For being so tiny she scares the crap out of me too," I somewhat laughed out. Rachel’s heart was in the right place but darn it I didn’t want to go again.

 
              "Have fun tonight," Charity said as she left. 

Always Miss Positive
but I still do not want to go.
I huffed and fell into my seat. It was then I remembered Mr. Blue Eyes, Lucas Sharp. He was nice to look at but I didn’t think I had it in me to sit through another hockey game. 

Nonetheless, I
didn’t want to feel the wrath of Rachel, either.

Look
s like I am heading to another game.