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Sophie

When I woke up the next morning, I had almost forgotten what I had done the night before. But when I finally remembered, I practically shot out of bed and grabbed my phone from on top of my dresser. I groaned as embarrassment flooded through me when I opened my message and saw that he had left me on seen.

  "Soph, are you up?" Patrick asked, knocking on my door, and I locked my phone quickly just as he opened my door.

  "Jeez, Patrick, you could've waited for me to let you in!" I threw a pillow at him and he caught it as he chuckled.

  "Well, good morning to you too, sunshine! Get ready, you and Mom are coming to practice with me today to meet the other families on the team."  He informed me as he threw the pillow back at me, and I glared after him as he scurried out of my room.

Then my heart sank as I remembered I would see Ashton there, and I officially was going to die from embarrassment. I let out a fake cry as I dragged myself towards my closet and forced myself to get ready. Today was going to be a long day.

When we got inside the ice rink parking garage where the Blackhawks practiced, I peeked over at Patrick from the backseat and saw a huge grin plastered on his face. I found myself smiling and feeling proud of my older brother because this had always been his dream. Now he was finally a Blackhawk and I couldn't be happier for him.

  "You ready to go in, honey?" My Mom asked excitedly and Patrick grinned as he nodded.

  "Hell yeah, I can't wait for you guys to meet my coach and everyone! Dad would've been so damn excited," He chuckled as he turned around to smile at me. I gave him a sad smile in return and patted his shoulder lovingly. "He loved the Blackhawks more than me and Ashton did." I giggled as I shook my head and remembered how my Dad had season tickets every year and would go to their practice when it was open to fans to watch.

  "I know, he'd be so proud of you, Patty. We're all so proud of you." He grinned as he placed his hand over his heart and cocked his head to the side.

  "Aww, my little sister is proud of me?" He crooned and I rolled my eyes at him as I shoved his shoulder causing him and my Mom to laugh.

  "Alright, kids. Let's head in before you're late." My Mother said as she exited the car and we quickly followed behind her.

As we walked up to the entrance to the building, other players were walking inside with their families and there were photographers snapping pictures as everyone walked by. Patrick stopped and scanned the parking lot.

  "Shit," He muttered under his breath and looked down at me. "Soph, Ashton isn't here yet. Can you do me a solid and wait out here for him?" I felt my eyes widen and my mouth parted as I started to tell him no, that Ashton would be fine, but Patrick smirked at me as he smacked my shoulder. "Thanks, sis!"

I glared at his retreating figure as I watched him and Mom walk into the building leaving me out here to deal with Ashton alone which I'm sure was going to be the most embarrassing moment in my entire life. I huff as I fold my arms against my chest and look around the parking lot for Ashton's car.

  "Hi there," Someone said from behind me and I turned to see a man carrying a duffel bag smiling at me. "Do you work here?" He asked and I shook my head. Whoever this guy was had the most beautiful smile I had ever seen, and I found myself smiling back at him.

  "Oh! Um, no, I'm waiting for my friend." He nodded as he adjusted his bag on his shoulder.

  "I'm sorry, I've just never seen you before, so I just thought you were new here."

  "Well, technically I am new here." I admitted, and he chuckled.

  "I'm Justin, the captain of the Blackhawks," He introduced himself as he extended his hand out toward me and I chuckled at how casually he threw in that he was their captain. "And you are?"

  "I'm Sophia, but everybody calls me Sophie." I smiled as I took his hand and gave it a firm shake.

  "What's your friend's name that you're waiting for?"

  "It's Ashton Maverick." Justin's eyes widened and he shook his head in disbelief.

  "I don't know how that guy is friends with all the pretty girls." I giggled as I rolled my eyes and he slowly released my hand as someone placed their hand on my hip.

  "Hey Soph, thanks for waiting for me." Ashton greeted me and I looked over at him in surprise. My skin burned from where he touched me and I hated how my body reacted to him. "What's up, Justin? I see you've already met my girl Sophie." He smirked down at me and I squinted up at him as my jaw fell open. He did not just refer to me as his girl after ghosting me last night.

  "Yeah, she told me she was out here waiting for her friend." Justin said pointedly and Ashton nodded.

  "Yeah, we're really close. Aren't we, Soph?" He gave my hip a squeeze and I felt my cheeks burn from what he was implying. I looked away from Ashton and over to Justin, but he was clenching his jaw as he stared challengingly at Ashton.

  "It was nice meeting you, Sophie," Justin finally said as he gave me a brief smile then glared at Ashton. "Get inside or we'll be late for practice." He ordered Ashton. Ashton gave him a mock salute as we walked passed him and it took everything in me not to smack that cocky smile off his stupidly gorgeous face.