I don’t know how her husband is still this good. At thirty-six, he’s approaching records that have been held by some of the all-time hockey greats, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. If anything, he’s better than he’s ever been. A couple years ago when New York re-signed him, there was talk of his current contract possibly being his last. Now, I can’t imagine him retiring any time soon.
Coach Wilcott sends in all new players for the face-off, and Aidan is among them. While we lose the face-off and New York brings the puck across the neutral zone into our defensive zone, he swipes the puck as it’s passed and takes off with it. Watching him navigate his way around New York’s defense, his skill and speed are evident—it’s exactly what everyone needs to see from him tonight to show that he’s back and as good as ever.
When he fakes a shot, spins, and then sends it top shelf in the other direction, lighting the lamp on New York’s goal, his face isplastered on the Jumbotron, right at eye level up here where I’m working. A coast-to-coast goal like that doesn’t happen often, and I love that he gets to celebrate on the ice with his teammates in this way.
Obviously, I love it just like I’d love it for any player on our team who was coming back from injury. Nothing more.
The way the announcers are talking about that play, combined with the enthusiastic response from our players and the fans who traveled to New York for the game, tells me this is a good live update for our social platforms. I shoot a text off to our photographer asking her for any photos she got just now, and then I grab some clips of the video stream so I can get a post lined up.
Though New York comes back to score two more goals and we end up leaving the arena as the losing team, there’s an energy as we get on the bus to head to the airport for our late-night flight home. Even though we lost, our veteran players were on fire and one of our rookies, who was drafted a year ago and just got pulled up from his college team, had two goals. Both of these things bode well for the comeback season everyone expects us to have—because if there’s one thing I’ve learned since taking on this position, it’s that everyone in this organization expects us to bring home the Cup this year.
I settle into my seat while people are still loading onto the bus, and watch Aidan as he walks down the aisle. When our gazes meet, there’s a familiar heat in his eyes, and it has me crossing my legs to quell the ache there. Petra’s words ring in my head:You don’t have time for a relationship right now anyway. So in the meantime, why not have great sex?
Before I can lose my nerve, I pull out my phone.
Morgan
I’ve given your proposition some thought and I’m in, as long as we establish some clear rules.
From where he sits, across the aisle and one row in front of me, next to McCabe, I note that he doesn’t take out his phone on the drive to the airport outside the city. As much as I am dying to see his response, it’s probably better that he doesn’t look at my text while sitting so close to his teammate.
Half an hour later, I’m walking across the tarmac toward our plane, and he’s several people in front of me waiting to walk up the steps to the jet. That’s when his text comes through.
Aidan
There’s only one rule for friends with benefits... don’t catch feelings.
Morgan
That won’t be a problem.
Aidan
Perfect.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
AIDAN
I’m walking out of the locker room after Thursday’s practice when I see Morgan chatting with the social media intern in the hallway.
“You’re going to be great,” she says, reaching out and giving the younger girl’s shoulder a squeeze. “We’ve gone over what types of things to post during the game, and I’ll only be a phone call away.”
“You’re right, I don’t know why I’m nervous to do this without you,” the other girl says, and I take this to mean that Morgan’s not planning on being at this weekend’s home game.
“Being nervous is a sign that you want to make sure you do a good job,” Morgan says. “And you will, so stop worrying.”
“Thanks. But I have you on speed dial, just in case.”
Morgan laughs and tells her again that she’s going to be great. The girl thanks her and turns to open the door to the staircase behind her, leaving Morgan in the hallway where she glances down at her phone, not having noticed me yet.
It’s been almost a week since she texted me about my offer, but in that time, we’ve barely seen or talked to each other. And the last text we shared was me saying that our arrangement was “perfect.”
I’ve been telling myself that I’m waiting for her to make the first move. But the truth is, I’ve opened that text thread a hundred times a day and each time I overthink the hell out of what I’d say and end up closing it without reaching out. Knowing her, she’s expecting me to make a move, since I’m the one who offered our little arrangement in the first place.
Her dad’s warning to stay away from her echoes in my head, but it doesn’t stop me from walking toward her when I could just as easily have turned and gone in the other direction. Now that the offer is out there, and she’s agreed, I’d be a dick to keep avoiding her. This isn’t about my mild infatuation with her; it’s about not wanting to make her feel like I changed my mind because she wasn’t worth the time or effort.
That’s what I tell myself, anyway, as I walk down the hall.
