The Player | SPORTS ROMANCE | 18+

Chapter 7

SALVADORA DE LEON

"Oh no! What happened to you, Arty?" Hazel gasped from behind the counter, laying the acting on thick as she pointed at Arturo's cast.

My sweet little boy, the lover of attention of any and every kind, pouted in the most adorable of ways and put on his best sad expression.

"I had a fencing accident." Arturo said, holding up his casted arm.

"A fencing accident?" Hazel gasped again, holding a hand against her mouth. "Oh, how hard that must have been for you. Tell me what can I do to help you, Arty? What can I possibly do to cheer you up?"

Ava and I shared knowing looks and held back our giggles at the show going on in front of us.

"Mama said brave boys deserve ice cream." Arturo quoted me, sparing a glance up to make sure I hadn't changed my mind. I giggled and blew him a kiss. When his whole face lit up, my heart melted, and I couldn't resist pulling him into my arms for a cuddle.

He was only five and allowed me to cuddle him whenever I wanted. I feared the day he would tell me he was too old for cuddles.

"Your mama is right." Hazel spared me a wink. "And since you're the bravest boy I know, you can have three scoops of whatever ice cream you want."

My eyebrows rose at the mention of three scoops, triple the amount he usually had, but I couldn't bring myself to say no. Not with his broken arm and that look of excitement on his face for his favourite sweet treat.

Besides, I knew that he wouldn't be able to finish all of it. Ice cream may be his favourite food, but his stomach was only as big as a five-year-olds.

"Go on, Arty." I gave his hand an encouraging squeeze. "Go pick out your flavours. Maybe if you ask nicely, Rob will let you have some of his special sprinkles." Robert was Hazel's husband of nearly ten years and together, they ran this ice cream parlour while taking care of their two daughters, Amy, and Ashley, ages 8 and 6.

"Where are the girls today, Haz?" Ava asked. "I don't see them anywhere."

"They're having a sleepover at Rob's parents place today." Hazel grinned as she untied her apron and slipped around the counter to join us on the other side. "As soon as we close the place, Rob and I rushing home and taking advantage of the rare privacy."

I pulled a face at the information that I didn't ask for.

"If I knew that was how you were going to answer, I never would have asked." Ava complained. "You can make it up to me by giving me a scoop of your mint chocolate chip."

"That's a terrible attempt, but I'll let you have your ice cream." Hazel giggled. "What about you, Sal? What are you in the mood for?"

"One scoop of chocolate chip, and one vanilla please."

"Wait, can I actually have two scoops please?" Ava was quick to say, and we couldn't help but laugh at her reaction.

"Here you go ladies." Rob smiled warmly as he handed over our cones. Thankfully, he had given Arturo's three scoops in a cup – with extra sprinkles, I could see – otherwise that would have been a disaster in the making.

We all thanked him, and he was kind enough to man the ice cream parlour while we retreated to our favourite booth in the corner.

Arturo sat next to me and lapped up all the attention that we gave him.

"Tell me everything that happened, Arty." Hazel demanded, her face warm and loving as she stared at my little boy. "Tell me who hurt you so I can avenge you."