“I get it, Coach. Love is scary.”
“I’m not—don’t use that word.”
“Someone is defensive.” He winks. “For what it’s worth, happiness looks good on you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I look exactly the same.”
“Sure you do.” Ethan swipes his phone off my desk and waves. “Don’t forget to invite us to the wedding!”
When he leaves again, I pull up my phone camera. I study myself and frown.
Same beard. Same circles under my eyes from not getting enough sleep. Same nose I’ve broken half a dozen times.
I don’t really look different, do I?
Another message from Hannah comes through. This time, it’s a photo of her in the grocery store holding up a pineapple,your least favorite fruit!!!written under it, and I catch a glimpse of my reflection in my laptop screen.
Smiling.
I’m fuckingsmilingjust at the sight of her, and I guess that tracks.
I like her.
I like her in a completely normal, completely acceptableI don’t want to just fuck you, I also want to feed you three meals a daykind of way.
I like her in ahow the fuck do we make this work long-term even though there are fourteen years between uskind of way.
That’s a problem for Later Brody, because Current Brody takes a selfie sticking out his tongue. Typesthe bane of my existenceand tries not to get fucking butterflies when Hannah hearts the message in response.
TWENTY-EIGHT
HANNAH
“You areglowing, Han.”Tierney knocks her glass against mine in a cheers. “Who are you sleeping with and why haven’t you told me about them?”
“What?” I fan my face, pulling my hair up in a high ponytail. The bar we’re in is warm with bodies cramped together at tall tables, and I scoot closer so I can hear her better. “Why do you think I’m sleeping with someone?”
“Because it’s not the economy that has you smiling like that. Spill, woman.”
“Okay, okay.” I down half my white wine and set my drink aside. “I am seeing someone. It’s new. I don’t know how to define it yet, and I’m also not sure I should be sharing it with the world.”
“That sounds scandalous.” She arches an eyebrow. “Is it someone famous? A politician?Pleasetell me it’s the president’s daughter. She is so hot.”
“Daphne Montgomery? I’m so far out of her league, but it’s a nice daydream. This glow you think I have? It’s thanks to a man, which, I know. Shocking, right? But we’ve been spending time together, and I’m having a lot of fun.”
“Amanmaking people smile? My god. The world might be ending. Who is he?”
“I guess technically he’s famous? The girl I’m coaching, Olivia, it’s her dad. Who also happens to be Grant’s coach.”
Tierney chokes on her wine. “You’re sleeping withBrody Saunders? You’re not serious, Han.”
“Oh, I’m eight inches and a dirty mouth serious.”
“Holy shit. How did this even start?”
“Almost two years ago at a club.” I laugh and trace the rim of my glass with my finger. “The night the Stars won the Stanley Cup, he came back to my place, and we hooked up. That was also the night of Riley Mitchell’s accident, and Brody had to leave early to be with the team.”
“Makes sense. Gosh, I was so sad for Riley.”
