“You’re right on time,” I assure him, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible. “I ordered water so I didn’t sit here fidgeting.”
He lets out a quiet laugh. “Glad I’m not the only one.”
And there it is. The honest nervousness I suspected but didn’t expect him to admit. It definitely helps soften something in my chest.
The server comes for Harrison’s drink order, and after she leaves, an awkward beat stretches between us. I pick up the menu so I can look anywhere but directly into his eyes and I pretend to study the enormous variety of hotdog offerings. Harrison shifts his legs under the table, accidentally brushing my ankle, and he freezes.
I freeze too, but neither of us moves away.
I need a safe topic. Something that doesn’t involve the electricity shooting up my leg where our ankles touch.
“So, Connor’s doing great,” I blurt, then immediately regret bringing my—our—son into this charged moment.
Harrison brightens instantly. “Yeah? He’s working hard. I’m really proud of him.”
“He’s obsessed.” My smile is genuine despite the guilt twisting in my stomach. “He watches your highlights on YouTube like it’s homework.”
“That means a lot,” Harrison murmurs, a blush creeping up his neck.
“You mean a lot to him. You know that, right?” The words taste both sweet and bitter on my tongue.
His piercing blue eyes lock with mine, filled with such naked longing that I have to look away. I fidget with my napkin, tearing the edge. “I care about him,” he says softly, and I hear the unspoken accusation, not as his coach, but as his father.
I swallow hard. Every moment Connor spends adoring Harrison-the-hockey-star is another lie I’m letting stand between them. Yet every moment Harrison spends with Connor-the-student is another chance for him to decide fatherhood isn’t what he wants after all. And there’s always the possibility that the more time he spends with me the more he’ll realize I’m not the one for him.
I nod, watching him. “I know.”
The server returns with drinks, breaking the moment. We both sit back like we’ve been caught doing something illicit.
As soon as she leaves, he clears his throat. “So…big day for you, huh? Your Zoom meeting? New clients?”
I groan, grateful for the change in the subject. “Three extremely handsome, very talented men in their early twenties. All on one screen. All brothers. Triplets, in fact. I’m pretty sure my computer fan is still recovering.”
He laughs quietly, like he’s genuinely amused, not playing it up.
“Triplets. That’s wild.”
“It’s worse than wild,” I say. “They’re charming and they know it. It’s downright dangerous. They’re going to break hearts one day, that’s for sure.”
He smiles into his glass of water. “You thrive on dangerous.”
I freeze, pulse quickening in that way that feels both thrilling and terrifying. The same feeling I had at nineteen when he’d leaned too close in front of my professor, trying to kiss me. His eyes widen slightly. He must see it on my face, that I’m caught between wanting to lean into his words and needing to run from them.
“I meant professionally,” he says quickly, voice tight.
“Right. Of course.” I nod too enthusiastically while my mind screams,but what if you didn’t? What if we just?—
No.
Connor.
Remember Connor.
“Do you think they’ll be successful?” he asks. I appreciate that he keeps the conversation flowing while my mind races with old feelings and new. Being here with him feels easy yet charged with something I can’t quite put my finger on.
“Without a doubt,” I tell him, leaning forward, my enthusiasm for what I do accidentally spilling out like glitter in an elementary art room. “They’ve got talent, charm, and a good support system. And let’s be real, it’s been a while since the sports world has had a triple threat like this at the same time. I mean, triplets? All ready for professional leagues? They’ll be disgustingly famous if they play their cards right, and I’m excited to help them get there. It’s what I do after all.” Helping others achieve their dreams. I guess that’s something we both value.
“I really admire your passion, Harp. Just listening to you talk about your clients…” He shakes his head. “You’re exactly the vibe they need. Someone who has a deep respect for sports of all types, you’ve always been that way, yet someone who knows when to be cut-throat when it comes to contracts. I have no doubt you’re amazing at what you do.”
