Read Break Away (The Baltimore Banners Book 5) for Free Online

welcome. Emily moved around the room, stopping in front of the large white board hanging along the far wall. JP wondered if she was studying the scrawled diagrams and notes, or if she was merely using that as a distraction.
    She turned suddenly, one hand reaching up and tucking her hair behind her ear. Her blue eyes were clear as they settled on him.
    "What are you doing, JP? The tickets, the passes. What are you doing?"
    "I thought your niece would enjoy them."
    Emily nodded and looked away, her lips pursed. He could hear laughter getting closer, a clear sound that seemed so out of place. Emily tensed then took a few steps toward him—no, not him. Toward the door.
    "She did. Thank you. But no more, JP. Is that understood? You can't do this again. I can't do this again." Her eyes held his, a thousand different emotions swirling in their crystal depths. JP couldn't read any of them. And then it was too late, because she looked away and shrugged into the denim jacket, a bright smile on her face as Taylor bounded into the room.
    "Aunt Emily, look what Mat gave me!" Taylor skipped over to her aunt, a large hockey stick held in one hand. Emily's mouth pursed briefly, then lifted in a smile.
    "That's pretty cool. Did you say thank you?"
    "Of course I did. Duh." Taylor turned back Mat, offering him a toothless grin. "Thanks again Mat."
    "No problem kiddo."
    "Oh, I almost forgot." Taylor pushed the stick toward Emily, then focused on something in her hand. She chewed on her bottom lip, a frown of fierce concentration on her face. JP realized it was his phone, a realization confirmed a minute later when a series of electronic beeps came from somewhere in the bag tossed over Emily’s shoulder.
    Taylor smiled at her aunt, then skipped over to JP and handed the phone to him. "Thanks for letting me use your phone John Peer. I sent the pictures to Aunt Emily so you don't have to worry about it."
    JP glanced over at Emily, catching the frown she threw at him when she realized he now had her cell phone number. Something like a warning flashed in her eyes but he ignored it and looked at Taylor instead. "Thank you Taylor."
    Emily moved to the door, the large stick held in one hand. "Taylor, it's late, we need to leave."
    "But Aunt Emily—"
    "No buts. You have an early game, you need to get to sleep if you want to play." The veiled warning didn't have the effect JP was certain Emily had been hoping for. Taylor rolled her eyes and giggled, then followed her aunt to the door. Emily held it open for her niece, barely sparing JP a glance before disappearing through it.
    JP stood there for a few long seconds, his brow lowered in thought.
    "Are you going to tell me what that was all about?" Mat's voice interrupted his thoughts. He glanced over his shoulder, saw the other man watching him with undisguised curiosity.
    "Mathias, what are your plans for the morning?"
    "What? Sleeping. It's an off day tomorrow, so definitely sleeping."
    "No you're not. You're going to a game with me."
    "What the fuck are you talking about?"
    "I'll pick you up at six."
    "In the morning? Are you fucking crazy?"
    JP shook his head and made a tsk noise. "Language, my friend. You need to be careful, especially tomorrow."
    "JP, what are you talking about?"
    "We're going to a hockey game in the morning. A youth hockey game." JP laughed at the expression on Mat's face then walked away, leaving the younger player sputtering behind him.
    "Dude, what the fuck?"

Chapter Six
     
    "It's too fucking early for this shit."
    JP nudged Mat in the side with his elbow, hard. "Language. There's kids around."
    Mat grunted and rubbed his side, looking around in bleary-eyed curiosity at the small crowd around them. "I'm going to get some coffee."
    "Really?" JP held up the two large cups in his hands. "We stopped for coffee. Why didn't you get one then?"
    "Because I wasn't awake then. Where are you going to be?"
    JP glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he searched the small crowd on the