That night, Ryan badgered me every time I checked my phone, finding it hilarious that the hours rolled by without me receiving a single message from Lia. Incapable of closing the deal, he’d teased when I finally retired to my room, but I’d more or less let the words roll off me, unscathed.
Sure, there was a small sting being that it was the second brush off she’d given me, but by the time I awoke the next morning, my focus had shifted. There was a game tonight, an important one, and there was still a lot of preparation to be done if we wanted to win. Game film needed to be watched, workouts needed to be completed, and our morning practice needed to go without a hitch.
Which it did, and come one o’clock, my adrenaline was up as I sat down for lunch, only to glance at my phone and see a message from an unknown number.
Lia.
Thanks again for yesterday. Sorry I didn’t message sooner, but my friends dropped by after I got home and stayed pretty much until I crashed
Huh. Interesting.
I didn’t doubt she was telling the truth, though as wires in my brain began to cross to formulate some sort of response, my facial features betrayed my internal thoughts. Particularly as my lips pulled into a grin.
You got porn or something on there, Wellsley ?
Orlov chuckled as he straddled the bench beside me, trying to take a glimpse at my screen.
I rolled my eyes and flipped my phone face down. No, idiot. I surveyed the sweat-soaked clothes he still wore. But if you could take your stink away from my food, that’d be appreciated. Don’t want to lose my appetite, you know.
This ? He raised his arms and wafted the stench around, punctuated his movements by flexing. This is all man, baby.
You know you reek, Orlov, Nyberg said as he joined us. But Wellsley here probably has a creepy smile on his face because he finally got a text from his girl.
Any teammate within earshot instantly perked up.
Girl ?
I don’t have a girl, I drawled with denial. It’d been years since my last foray into an actual relationship, and that had ended in a burst of flames. Since then, and for the foreseeable future, short and casual suited me just fine. Nyberg’s just talking out his ass.
Oh yeah ? Nyberg challenged, lifting a brow as he reached across the table. Then let me see your phone real quick. Reacting out of instinct, I snatched up my phone and slid it into my sweatpants pocket. Nyberg’s smirk grew as the guys around us laughed. I rest my case.
Look, it’s really nothing, I said, running my hand through my hair with light frustration. We- I gestured to Nyberg. -just happened to pull over to help a woman whose car had broken down on the highway last night-
What heroes.
Someone get these two a medal.
-and we helped her out until the tow arrived, I finished, dismissing the jabs of my teammates.
He’s right, Nyberg agreed, glossing over a short recount of the previous evening before his eyes turned mischievous. He’s just leaving out the fact that the woman we helped just so happened to be the same woman he spent New Year’s Eve with out in California.
I instantly regretted ever telling the guys I’d been hooking up with someone while they’d been enjoying the night at Coach’s party. Not that I’d spilled every detail like a gossiping teenager, god no, but I could only take so much hassling about how shitty it must’ve been for me to ring in the new year alone when I’d let it slip that I hadn’t been alone. But I’d left it at that.
Now though, whistles and catcalls filled the room before questions began flying my way. Was I looking for a repeat ? How hot was she ? Had I known she lived in Boston when we’d hooked up ? Did she have any hot, single friends ?
And my response ? To dig into my food and stay mum.
Thankfully, when I failed to reply to their good-natured ribbing, the conversation moved on ; my dating life merely a topic that faded from their minds. Or so I thought.
So, the New Year’s Eve gal lives in Boston, Brookes said, clapping me on the back as we left the lunchroom half an hour later. Despite only having been traded to the Knights last season, he’d quickly become the person I was closest with on the team after Nyberg, and had clearly pocketed away his curiosity until there weren’t so many ears listening in.
My lips twitched upward. Seems that way, I replied, not feeling the need to mention I’d already known she was a local.
Are you seeing her again ?
I lifted a shoulder in a shrug, bringing my steps to a halt. I don’t know. I mean, sure, there’s chemistry there, but I’m not looking for a relationship. She’s finishing up her PhD- His eyebrows jumped in surprise and I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. Yeah, I was surprised too. But she’s busy with that and you know how it is leading up to April. Every game feels more important than the last until we clinch a spot in the playoffs. I shook my head. New Year’s was great, but I don’t know if anything else is in the cards to be honest.
But even as the words left my mouth, they felt forced, and I could feel my phone burning a hole in my pocket from the text I’d left unanswered.
You’re not busy 24/7, man. Turning to face me, he began backing away with his hands up in mock surrender. And nobody said there was any harm in a date.
Knowing he was right, I mulled it over for a moment before plucking my phone out of my pocket and pulling up Lia’s message.
And because I never knew what would happen if I didn’t shoot my shot, I started typing.
The whole team had put their all into the sixty minutes we spent on the ice Friday and Saturday night. We’d played strong, even when it felt like Montreal and New Jersey hadn’t wanted to give us an inch, and while both games were incredibly close, we’d wanted it more. And we’d gotten the wins.