We shake hands, and he leaves me to settle in.Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I stare out the window in the weak late-January sunshine at the ocean.All my life, when I thought of the ocean, it was the Pacific Ocean.Growing up in Oregon and then playing in Washington state, that was the ocean we visited on vacation.It’s so different here.No dramatic cliffs, no rocky shores, just flat sandy beaches.I hope this change is a good one.
My phone dings.I can’t help but smile at Phoebe’s text.
Phoebe: Has our newest Devil Bird landed?
Me: Yeah.I’m staying at Devil’s Den tonight.
Phoebe: Going to video call you, okay?
Me: Yeah.
My phone lights up with Phoebe’s beautiful face.With sparkling brown eyes and hair like the richest chocolate, she looks like one of the sweet confections she bakes as a pastry chef.I’d love nothing more than to nibble on her.If only she weren’t my sister-in-law’s younger sister… Phoebe thinks of me as a brother figure or a friend.Not someone she’s attracted to.
The truth is, I couldn’t kiss the bachelorette because the only woman I want to kiss is Phoebe Albright.
And she has no idea.
When we first met at our siblings’ wedding two years ago, I was instantly smitten.Even though we were in school thousands of miles away from each other, I would’ve made a move romantically, but she had a boyfriend in Paris.I overheard her and her sister Shelby talking last summer about how Phoebe was now single.I figured it was finally my time.But then Shelby mentioned how cute a couple we’d make, and Phoebe laughed and said I was her best friend.That was all I needed to hear.I’m not going to risk our friendship plus the harmony of our family by telling Phoebe I’m in love with her when she doesn’t feel the same way and making things uncomfortable.There would be a lot of awkward Thanksgivings over the next fifty years.Passing the cranberry sauce to the guy with the unrequited crush on you…I can’t torture her like that.
“Hey, Phoebs,” I say when I answer the call.“I’m here.They have me in a swanky room.Wanna see the view?”
She nods, and I turn my phone so she can see out the window to the pier across the Boardwalk and the ocean beyond.
“Ooh, jealous!No wonder you aren’t at my place!Not that I’m there either.”She laughs.
Ugh.I’d much rather be with her in her cozy condo.“Where are you?”
“At Finn and Shelby’s, cat-sitting Marsha while they’re on a babymoon in Key West.”
That’s news to me.“Trust me, I’d rather be with you, Phoebe, wherever you are.But without a car, it’s more practical for me to be close to the rink.Once my stuff arrives, you’re stuck with me.”
“I can come over if you want,” she offers.
Oh, I want.“I’d love that, but I’m going to be studying plays and watching games to get ready.That won’t be any fun for you.Don’t you work early tomorrow?”
“Ollie, I work early every morning.That’s the life of a baker.I can’t let that stop me from hanging out with one of my favorite people!”
One of her favorites.Notthefavorite.
“I’ll know my schedule better after meeting the team tomorrow.I want to see you, but we’ll be living together soon enough.You’ll see me so often, you’ll look forward to me being gone.”
“Not true.”
There’s a knock on my door.“I think room service is here.Hold on, Phoebe.”
Pulling open the door, I’m greeted by an older man with a cart.
“Good evening, Mr.King.Miss Penhall sent up a tray of sandwiches and snacks.There are drinks and other treats in the mini fridge, and the room service menu is on the counter.My name is Frederick, and I’m happy to get you anything you need.Breakfast is served at the rink prior to practice, and of course, there’s room service.”
I step back so he can enter.“Thank you, Frederick.On the counter is fine.”I pull my wallet out to grab a tip.
He shakes his head.“Thank you, sir, no gratuity, it’s covered.”
“No, I can’t do that.Please, Frederick, take it.”I hold out a ten-dollar bill.
Frederick inclines his head and takes the bill.
“Thank you, sir.You can leave the tray in the hall when you’re done.Have a good evening.”
