Our Overtime (Ice League #1)

by S.C. Kate

I quickly ran downstairs and opened the door to reveal The Boy. The very first boy who asked me out.

“You’re like art,” he said when I reached him.

with a note scrawled in crappy boy handwriting:

It’d been about nine years I think since I last saw her walk away from me.

She was the reason every one of my drunk hookups had always been with short brunette girls.

nothing ever seemed to go my way for years. Through the entire marriage I had become an isolated glacier, melting away where no one could see.

I had that last name printed on half a dozen ratty, old sweatshirts put away somewhere in my garage. I wore that last name for so many years, and for the longest time I thought it’d be mine-

“Tate…” he said again, tsking. “Always thought you’d be a Scott girl,” he drawled slowly with a sad smile.

I still couldn’t believe how lucky I’d gotten… to have someone I loved as much as him and he loved me back too?

Grey texted: I love being loved by you, baby.

I could hear the guys teasing me as I walked away. “Somebody’s wifed up tonight!” Smitty yelled. “Tell Juju hello!” Max chided in the background. I smiled to myself. Fuck yeah, I’m wifed up. I’d been wifed up for a while. And they were all jealous.

Grey had shut down? Why? He was the one who chose to leave me and shoot into stardom on his own.

we’d be cool lulu wearing, mimosa sipping, Range Rover driving moms of little athletes together.

I was a little nervous she was going to get me into a fight tonight if she kept dancing around like she was.

I honestly didn’t think it could get worse. But I realized the only thing worse than her being with another guy, was her being with some guy who just threw her aside. Fucking hell. That’s where that guy belonged.

I wanted to go over to her and demand answers. What the hell was that? How could he talk to her like that? And how could she possibly have loved him more than me?

“She’s okay,” Paige told me then and I felt like I could finally breathe. “But… she’s not here,” she finished. “We don’t exactly know where she is,” Paige’s eyes were darting around the room nervously. She wouldn’t make eye contact with me. “What the fuck does that even mean?” I asked.

“It means her grandaddy came here and raised hell and got her taken to a better hospital. She was in a coma. Just like you were.”

looked for my grandparents then. They were fake laughing with a bunch of other preppishly dressed old-timers. They didn’t even care to look for me. No one cared about me anymore.

but the thing I couldn’t get past was that scar. It bugged me that I didn’t know this part of him.

He had no place criticizing Kevin… and in extension, me. He was criticizing my choice. Well. He could eat his heart out. It was not my choice, and he took himself out of the running.

Canyon was pouring syrup on his pancakes. “My mom makes the best ones,” Canyon told him. “They’re much better than restaurant ones… or Tammy’s,” he said, making a yuck face. “Canyon, be nice,” I warned, but I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. My bud was always on my side.

Sitting there, having pancakes with Jules and Canyon, felt right. I knew now more than ever before that I needed to know what happened all those years ago. Because that’s where I was stuck. Because this should have been all of ours.

She gave me her signature “mom,” look. Max called her Little Mama when she gave it to any of us.

but that is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard you say, and you’ve said a lot of dumb shit.

I had to smile to myself. It was really unbelievable that these troublemakers, the ones who were once written up by rink management for running a locker boxing tournament complete with a by-in and winning jackpot, were the ones running a team of little kids.

“Jesus, that’s the first time I’ve laughed like that in a long time,” I told her, trying to make sure no black smudges were left on my face from runny mascara. She patted me on the knee. “Never leave me again, girl.”

“Girl,” Paige looked at me seriously, “that boy would still walk through fire for you.”

You sure you don’t want me to take your bag?” I asked him. He smirked up at me. “No way, Mom. And I’m almost as big as you anyways.” “Ha!” I exclaimed. I had about three to four more years of being taller than him. “Not by a long shot, kid,” I joked. “Let’s go.”

“Want to text me the address and time?” I asked. He looked at me in indecision then and grimaced. He rubbed the stubble on his chin with his hand. “Wait here,” he said. He turned and walked back into the diner. A minute later he reappeared with a napkin that read an address in the handwriting I had long ago memorized: “welcome anytime, but 4 would be perfect.” I looked at him strangely. “I’m seriously never texting you any important information ever again,”

but Greyson Scott is my favorite player,” he said. I almost choked on the popcorn. “Gr-... Greyson Scott?” I asked him. I couldn’t believe I’d said his name aloud to my child.

“Look at you, just like a Chip Gaines,”

I swear to God you are more beautiful than ever.” “I had a baby,” she said slowly. “And he’s awesome as fuck,” I told her with conviction. She was still hesitating. “I have... stretch marks.”

“I still love you,” he choked out. Tears were in the corner of his eyes. In all the years that we were together, I’d never seen him cry before. “I never stopped. I don’t even care if that’s not how you feel, I want you to know Julianna.”

I think everyone you love forever carries a little of your love with them. And I didn’t hold back with you. I gave you my whole heart. There was never anything left for anyone else.”

He cocked an eyebrow at me. “Lookin’ real sassy there, Little Mama.” I shook my head at him. “Laying down the law, bud.” “My girl, calling me bud!” he whisper-yelled in amusement.

“I love your mom. I am completely and absolutely in love with Julianna Louise Hurley and I have been since I was 16,” he told him matter of factly.

It was like we made it back to where we should’ve been in the first place. Here and together.

The fact that she hadn’t been doted on and cared for pissed me off so damn much

She was definitely a MILF

God was testing me. I wanted to smash his teeth in.

Kevin couldn’t hurt her… She was the mother of his child.

“Max… he’s the one who caused it all. He gave her that phone. He sent her those breakup texts. I’m sure of it.”

But Jules… Don’t come if you aren’t planning to stay with him. Don’t do that to him.”

She wasn’t here again. I couldn’t go through this. Not again.

Kevin knocked you out and kicked you when you were down. I didn’t watch. Max just told me… but please…” She stepped closer to me and lightly touched my arm. “Please press charges…”

“Okay, Lil mama.”

“Wanna make a baby?” She pushed me away and gave me an eye roll. “I’m serious,” I told her with a straight face. “Do you want to get married and have babies with me?”

I really wanna give you a ring and my last name.”

“Juju Louise, I’ve been wanting to do this for over a decade,” the truth of those words almost choked me up. “We didn’t get it right in our Gametime. But I think we were able to get it right in our Overtime. If we’re together, we’ve really won, baby. Marry me?”