Playmaker: A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella by Lisa B. Kamps Read Free Book Online

take the elevator down to the garage.
    So why was he taking his time?
    Derek didn't want to think too hard about why, didn't want to admit that he was thinking about fiery red hair and emerald green eyes. Was Bridget still here? Would her car be parked in the same spot? He hadn't seen it when he got here earlier but that didn't mean anything.
    Derek stepped off the elevator, his keys held loosely in his hand. He ignored the calls from his teammates and looked to the side, his eyes narrowed as he studied the row of cars to the left.
    There it was, an aging red sedan. Something twisted his gut—apprehension or excitement, he wasn't sure. But he couldn't stop the grin on his face when he saw Bridget walking toward him.
    No, not toward him. Toward her car. And she wasn't even looking at him, her eyes trained on the ground in front of her. She was dressed the same as the first night he met her, the same as she had been on the ice earlier tonight. Her hair was pulled back into that tight ponytail, a backpack slung over her shoulder.
    "Hey, Caulton. Come on already."
    Derek didn't bother looking over, just waved in Justin's direction, wordlessly telling him he'd be a minute. His gaze was focused on Bridget, watching her.
    She had looked up at Justin's call, her steps pausing when her eyes met Derek's, like she had just noticed him. But she didn't smile, didn't even nod in his direction. Had her eyes widened just the smallest bit? Maybe, and not in a good way, either, because now she was hurrying to her car, those long toned legs she hid underneath bulky sweatpants stretched for maximum distance.
    What the hell? Was she actually trying to avoid him?
    Derek hurried his own steps, reaching her car the same time she did. And she couldn't escape, not with him standing in front of the door like he was.
    He leaned against the side of her car, giving her a wide smile. "Hey."
    She didn't say anything, didn't even smile back. Derek's own smile faded. Why was she looking at him like that? Like she didn't want anything to do with him? He shifted, trying to act casual, and glanced down at her foot.
    "How's your ankle doing? All healed?"
    Bridget's gaze narrowed, those deep green eyes flashing behind the lenses of her glasses. She adjusted the backpack on her shoulder and jiggled the keys in her hand, the gesture annoyed, impatient.
    "Enough."
    "Good." Derek nodded and cleared his throat. "That's good."
    "Christ, Caulton, come one. We're waiting."
    Fuck. What was wrong with them? Couldn't they see he was busy talking? Or at least, trying to talk? Derek glanced over at the guys. "Yeah, okay. I'll just meet you there."
    He didn't miss the confused looks being sent his way. Justin leaned over and said something to Kenny, the words too low for Derek to hear. He didn't need to hear, not if the identical expressions on their faces were any indication. They were wondering what he was doing, who he was talking to.
    No doubt wondering why he was talking to her.
    He ignored them, focusing his attention on Bridget. Discomfort rolled from her, obvious from the way she shifted her weight, the slightest movement from one foot to the other. Her full lips were pressed together and her eyes slid to the right, resting on the dented metal of the car.
    "I, uh, I need to go. If you don't mind?" She motioned to the door with one hand, the keys jingling together with the move. But she didn't look at him, didn't even move to push past him.
    "A couple of us were going out for a few drinks. Did you want to join us?" The question was out before Derek even realized he was going to speak. From the look on her face, it surprised her as much as it did him. Her eyes widened, a spark of something flaring in their depths. And her mouth parted, those full lips opening on a soft gasp of surprise. She blinked a few times and snapped her mouth closed, then looked over her shoulder. His teammates were pulling out already, the hum of motors and soft squeal of rubber against concrete