Unexpected Encounter (Singleton) by Taige Crenshaw Read Free Book Online

idiot?”
    “I’m not a bumbling idiot.” Driscoll frowned. “Lila couldn’t come watch us because she had plans.”
    “Then we have to have dinner or something together soon. I need to check out this lady who seems to have you off kilter.”
    “She doesn’t—” He realized he couldn’t deny it.
    “Shit.” Stuart groaned. “The Devious Trio is with them today.”
    “With who?” Driscoll glanced toward where the other team was starting to gather.
    “The team we are playing.”
    “Why are you worried?” Driscoll crossed his hands over his chest. “We beat them at the last hockey game.”
    “Oh… You’ve missed the games when the Devious Trio have played.” Stuart rubbed his hand over his face. “When they play, it’s a slim chance we’ll win.”
    Curious, Driscoll looked toward the team, but their backs were to them as they talked with their coach. “Who are they?”
    “They are called Col, La and Ja.” Stuart sighed. “Damn women can play.”
    For Stuart to say that, Driscoll knew they had to be really good. The mixed gender teams had various sports they could take part in. The rotation of which teams played when was organized by the complex owners—they weren’t an official league, just participating for fun. The owners kept track of the scores for each sport during a certain time frame. The two highest scoring teams for whatever sport was being played would have a play-off. Driscoll and many of those he associated with were on teams in a few sports.
    “We’ll be fine.” Driscoll slapped him on the shoulder. “I know you get competitive, especially when it’s concerning hockey, but it’s fun. Remember that.”
    “Fun my fanny,” a familiar voice said behind them. “We’re going to cream you.”
    “Lila.” Driscoll turned on his skates, staring.
    “When you asked me if I had plans today, you didn’t ask me what they were.” She laughed. “I would have told you we were the team you were playing. We could have ridden over together.”
    “La, why are you talking to the enemy?” Aja skated up and along with another lady and a man.
    “La?” Driscoll looked at Aja. “I assume you’re Ja. And it’s nice to see you, Colby…or Col.” He nodded at the police detective he knew. “Storm, what are you doing here?”
    Storm had a store Driscoll frequented. He made the most delicious candy.
    “La is my hockey or sports name. When I become La, I’m competitive.” She grinned. “Ja and Col too. Storm here we dragged along to play. He’s part of the team but doesn’t make many of the games. When last was it you played, Storm?”
    “Played? I can’t recall, but I do remember the last time I was on ice was a year or so ago when you all dragged me figure skating.”
    “Figure skating?” Stuart asked.
    “Yeah.” Storm laughed. “It was a trip down memory lane. It’s how we all met. We all were born in Singleton, but it wasn’t until we went to college that we met. The girls were figure skating and I was there trying to pick up women, of course, when I saw this guy bothering them. Thinking I could get points and possibly numbers, I went to step in but quickly realized they didn’t need my help. Aja pushed him, Colby tripped him and Lila decked him. He went ass over tea kettle to the ice. After that, I had to know them. They let me know from the get go they didn’t want me, but they would accept a friend. We’ve been friends ever since.”
    “So the last time you skated was to figure skate,” Stuart said in disbelief.
    “Don’t mind him.” Driscoll pushed Stuart and he didn’t even shift. “To him, the only thing to do on ice is hockey.”
    “Damn right.” Stuart crossed his arms over his chest.
    “Stuart was a top pick for an NHL draft, but he turned it down to become a musician.” Driscoll chuckled. “People thought he was crazy, since music was fickle and most people don’t succeed at it.”
    “They didn’t know us,” Stuart said. “So are we done yapping