Jersey Girl (Sticks & Hearts #1) by Rhonda James

After a few years of being compared to me, he eventually gave up and stayed behind a desk. Although I'd never invited all the attention, I'm not sure I did much to deter it either. Chris tried his best to convince me it didn't affect him, but I knew different. Whenever I go home, I can't go anywhere in our town without being recognized or asked for an autograph. Ever since my high school years of playing hockey, I've been told I was going places. I guess the people in our town believed one day I would make it to the NHL. Listening to Cassie right now reminds me that Chris had been one of the first to congratulate me when I'd signed with the Detroit team.
    "Hey," I reach out to cover her hand with my own and the jolt of electricity I feel is hard to ignore. By the look on her face I can tell she felt it too. "I can't say I know how you're feeling, but please trust me when I tell you that people do see you. And not everyone here knows you're related to Scott."
    "Thanks. But how do you know they see me when you don't even seem to notice?"
    "Because you're hard to miss." I lean forward to grab a napkin and use it to dab over the moisture she's missed. "I promise you I've noticed, and when I look at you, I see a hell of a lot more than Rivers' sister. I see a confident, sexy woman, who just needs to take a step to the right to get out of her brother's shadow. Hell, I barely know you, but I can already tell you have a lot more to offer than you give yourself credit for."
    The words barely leave my mouth and her lips begin to tremble. I glance nervously at the customers around us, noticing the way they are watching us. They must figure we're a couple having trouble, or some sort of scene like that, because when my gaze meets theirs they give me a hard look before turning away. Her sobs are stifled, but still noticeable enough that people won't stop staring. I hate nosey-ass people, and people knowing my business. Even though this isn't my issue, I'm once again feeling the need to protect her.
    "Listen, why don't we get out of here. You obviously have a lot on your mind. We can go somewhere else and talk privately." She sniffs twice before wiping her nose on a napkin. She peers up through tear-soaked lashes, and for a moment it's as if my heart has stopped beating. Her vulnerability in this moment is what gets me. It catches me off guard, and despite all of my previous reservations, I find myself wanting to spend more time with her.
    "Are you hungry? Cause I'm starving." I rise and hold out my hand to help her up.
    "Okay. Yes. I think I would like that." She bends to gather her books, takes my offered hand, and follows me out to my car.
    ***
    Breakfast okay?" I ask, pulling up to an all-night diner that serves breakfast all day. We love coming here after a game, but tonight it's fairly quiet and thankfully none of the guys are here. It's not that I feel like I'm doing anything wrong by being with Cassie, but I wouldn't want anyone getting the wrong idea and running their mouth off to Rivers.
    Once we're settled and have placed our order, I lean back against the booth and stretch my arms out wide behind me. She's no longer crying, but I can tell she's still fragile. I don't want to say the wrong thing by prying, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious to know what had set her off. After a few seconds of staring, she saves me from having to ask.
    "I'm sorry to be such a blubbering idiot around you. Normally, I'm not this sensitive. I've just had a lot come at me at once."
    "You mentioned that before, in the bathroom at the party. So what is it that's weighing you down? Can you talk about it?"
    "I'm lonely," she blurts out, and her thumb immediately goes in her mouth and she starts to chew nervously on the nail. "I know it sounds crazy. I'm surrounded by people, yet somehow it's not enough. It's just... coming here was a big change for me. I broke up with my boyfriend. And before you go thinking that's the cause for the tears, it's