Free Looking for You (Oh Captain, My Captain #1) by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith Page B

disheveled girl sleeping, and then quietly leave the room. I don’t have time to stay for a bit this morning. After I’ve put my clothes on and leave a note by the coffee pot, I head back to Portland. Whitney doesn’t have class until later today, so I call her on the drive to get the verdict.
    “Hey, Hudson,” she answers.
    “Well?” That’s all I say. I’m still a little pissed at her for bringing up sports, especially after I made it clear that I didn’t want her to do that.
    “I like her. She convinced me that she’s clueless about your world. She’s very sweet, but doesn’t seem outgoing or anything.” Whitney seems like she disapproves of Ellie, even though she likes her.
    “She’s a shy person,” I defend.
    “I know that. It works quite nicely for you, but I want to know when you plan on telling her.”
    “Don’t say it like that.”
    “Like what?” She asks.
    “Like I’m using her personality to my advantage. I’m not using her at all.”
    My sister is quiet for a moment before she says, “You never answered my question.”
    “Soon. Did you like her or not?” My words are clipped more than I intended.
    “Hey, don’t get ill with me. You, and you alone, got yourself into this mess. I wanted to meet her so I could give you advice. Do you want to hear what I think or not?” Whitney sure isn’t one to be pushed around.
    “Fine. Go ahead.”
    “Underneath her nervous tendency and that personality of hers, which I like, is an innocent girl. That much was clear to me. This is why I’m so worried about you and this corner you’ve put yourself in, Hudson. She’s like the personification of innocence. How she made it this far in life, I don’t know. Be careful with her, okay? She might be fragile underneath. As far as the whole kissing thing, you’re going to have to be slower than slow and wait for her to make the move to let you know how to proceed. With caution,” she adds.
    “Well, thanks for your input, Whit. I really do appreciate it.”
    “You’re welcome, Hudsy.” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. “I got to go. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.”
    “Love you too.”
    We hang up, and I toss my phone into the passenger seat. As my mind swirls too rapidly with all these thoughts my sister inserted, I decide that what I need tonight is to hang out with the guys. It’s a busy hockey day with working out, practice, and training. In fact, the next few days are going to be busy with back to back games. Tonight, we’re at home, but the next two are away. When I get home after today’s activities, I stop and really take in my house.
    Hockey touches every room in some way, whether it’s equipment, pictures, or trophies. As long as I keep this from Ellie, I can’t even bring her here. To my home. I sigh, shove it to the side, and take a nap before the game. It’s just the thing I need to renew me for tonight. I don’t notice a text from Ellie until I’m about to head out, but I send her a quick reply that I’m about to be busy with work.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Tonight’s game was overloaded with energy and tension. We pulled through with a win, and now a load of us are at Jim’s. Some of the younger guys went to a club down the street, but that wasn’t the kind of mood I was in. Gerald and I are playing darts.
    “Are you ready for your interview tomorrow, your Highness?” He grins.
    “I nearly forgot to be honest.” The league wants me to do an interview with one of the reporters on the network. We’re a hot contender for the Cup this season, so as the season comes to an end, there’s going to be more publicity around those teams entering the playoffs.
    Gerald throws his dart and then looks at me. “You almost forgot? What have you been doing, man?”
    He steps aside for my turn. Simply, as if it’s not a big deal, I say, “I’ve been seeing this girl who knows nothing about hockey.”
    When I turn to look at him, his jaw is almost on the floor. “Why