MY HOCKEY ALPHA MATE

What they didn't tell me...

~Adeline~

I didn’t know what she meant by that, but I couldn’t argue with how fast things had gone wrong, through the beats of rain I spotted a building up ahead with warm golden lights glowing.

"Over there," I pointed.

"Let’s pull in until it slows down a little."

Lily nodded and started the car up again, creeping forward until we pulled into the small parking lot, the sign above the door read Frostbite in big white letters, with little drawings of donuts and coffee cups along the bottom edge.

"Maybe this is exactly where we’re supposed to be," Lily said, turning off the engine.

"We can wait out the storm and ask about work while we’re at it. What do you think?"

"That’s exactly what I was thinking," I told her, grabbing the small umbrella she kept in the backseat and holding it over both of us as we ran for the door.

A little bell jingled above us when we stepped inside and the warm air hit my face right away, smelling like fresh bread and rich coffee and sweet cake.

Only a few other people sat at tables scattered around the room, talking quietly...

A man came over to greet us, looking to be somewhere in his late forties or early fifties. He had a scar running right above his left eyebrow and a face that looked like it hadn’t had much reason to smile in a long time.

"Welcome to Frostbite," he said, with a gruff voice.

"What can I get you ladies today?"

"I’m Lily Beckham," Lily said, pointing at herself.

"And this is my friend Adeline Cooper."

The man froze just then, he stared at me like he couldn't believe his eyes.

"Did you say Adeline Cooper?" he asked, eyes wide.

"That’s right," I said, glancing over at Lily who looked just as confused as I felt. "I’m Adeline Cooper."

He took one step back, then another, and the small towel he’d been holding slipped right out of his hand and landed on the floor. He stared at me for a long moment, something dark and unreadable crossed his face before he smoothed his expression out again.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up.

"Umm, sir?" Lily said, breaking the silence. "Do you know her? We actually stopped by because Adeline is looking for a job."

He blinked and picked up the cloth, rubbing it between his fingers like he needed something to hold onto.

"My name’s Simon. I run this place," he said, still watching me closely. "Come sit down over here."

He led us to a booth near the window and pulled out chairs for us before walking back to the counter.

Two other people worked there, both wearing black t-shirts with Frostbite printed across the chest in white. He came back a minute later with two big mugs of hot latte and set them down in front of us. I wrapped both hands around mine immediately, letting the warmth seep into my cold fingers.

"Thank you," we both said at the same time.

Simon sat down across from us, leaning his elbows on the table and looking back and forth between me and Lily.

"I know your father, Lily," he said, nodding at Lily.

"Everyone around here knows my dad," she replied with a proud grin. "He’s hard to miss."

Simon didn’t smile back. He just turned his eyes to me. "And I knew yours too, Adeline."

I choked on the sip I was just taking, coughing and wiping my mouth fast with a napkin on the table.

"You knew my dad?" I asked, my heart started pounding fast.

He nodded slowly, his face softened for the first time since we walked in.

"I knew both your parents. Willson and Amanda Cooper. They were good friends of mine. Very good friends," he added in a whisper. "Rest their souls."

I bit down hard on my lip to keep from sobbing, the faces of my mom and dad flashed clear in my mind like they were standing right in front of me.

No one had said their names out loud like that in months.

"Thank you," I managed to get out, my voice came out wobbly.

"I was so sorry about what happened," he said.

I could barely wrap my head around it. My parents had friends all the way out here, in this town I’d never even heard of before I moved here?

They’d never mentioned anyone named Simon, never talked about coming here, never said a word about any of this...

"Thank you," I said again, because it was all I could think to say.

"If you need work, you’ve got it right here," he said.

"Any hours you want, any pay you think is fair..name it and it’s yours."

I just stared at him, completely stunned.

"Just like that? You don’t even need to interview me or check my references or anything?"

"She’s a senior on scholarship at Wolfbrooke Crest Academy," Lily added quickly. "She’s new to town and needs work to save up for college."

"That explains why you’re here now," Simon said, nodding like all the pieces had fallen into place.

"I don’t need interviews or references where you’re concerned. Your parents were good people, Adeline. They’d come through here few months ago too, stop in to see me. I owe them more than I can ever pay back. This is the least I can do."

We sat there talking for another hour, working out a schedule that fit perfectly around my classes and tutoring sessions and hockey team duties. He offered me way more than I thought a part-time job could pay, and no matter how many times I tried to argue it was too much he just wouldn't budge.

By the time we walked back out to the car the rain had stopped and night had fallen.

I sat quiet on the drive back, my mind running with thoughts…. My parents had been here. They’d walked these streets, sat in that diner, talked to Simon like friends.

They’d kept so much from me. What else had they been hiding? What other secrets were buried in this town? For the first time since I arrived I didn’t feel quite so alone anymore…but I also knew nothing was as simple as it seemed.

Lily pulled up to the Harris house just as my phone started blowing up with calls from Josie.

Before either of us could open our doors the front door flew open.

James stepped out first, followed by Miranda standing right behind him with her hands clenched tight at her sides and her face twisted in pure anger.

Josie and the twins came out after them, all of them looking just as tense and worried. I stepped out of the car.

The air around the house felt tense, like something was waiting to snap.

I looked right at Miranda and saw the fire burning in her eyes, i knew instantly…I’d walked right into the middle of something I wasn’t going to like one bit…