“Can we get a quote about how serious this is?”
I force my winning Bougie smirk. As always, I’m ready to keep the show going. Only this time, my heart pounds in my throat, in my ears, in my dick, through every part of my body. This time…there’s no acting necessary.
“You want a quote about how serious this is? She’s the woman of my dreams, and I’ve never been more serious about anything, or anyone, in my life outside of hockey. She’s accomplished in her career. She’s smarter than I am, that’s for damn sure. She’s amazing at everything she does, and that doesn’t even account for how gorgeous she is. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. She’s my whole world, and I’ve never been happier. So yeah, you could say this is serious.”
My hands shake, a truth that’s been buried so deep, finally finding the light of day.Focus Jordan.I take a deep breath through my nose, my chin in the air to keep the show going for the audience.
“Now, do you have more questions about my game? If not, I think we’re done here. Why don’t you go talk to the manwho only let in one goal from forty-one shots tonight? Vladi…you’re up!” I yell across the locker room, hoping to divert their attention elsewhere.
I let out a sigh of relief as they make their way over to our goalie, swallowing down the giant lump in my throat.I gave them a fucking statement, alright.That was the first press statement about my love life that was actually true.
Hopefully, that statement, theactualtruth about how I feel about Kennedy, will keep them off my back for a bit. Plus…I need to shower and make a call.
“Hey, JJ! Great game tonight, bud; we’re so proud of you!” my dad says over the phone after the game. The team is packing up and making their way to the bus, but I snuck out for a quick minute to make sure my dad knew what was going on.
“Thanks, Dad. Can’t believe I’m going to the playoffs this year. Two years in the league and I, somehow, am going again. Some guys don’t make it here for years.”
“You really lucked out getting drafted by Milwaukee. You guys have a hell of a team. You could take it all the way this year!”
The corners of my lips tip up. My parents are always my biggest cheerleaders, even if they never fully understood my draw to hockey. “Yeah, well…this is the first step. One game at a time, just like we’ve always said.”
“Exactly. I’m proud of you, son,” he says, his slight pause sitting heavy between us, “but you never call this soon after a game. Everything alright? Is this about what Hannah told me earlier? She filled me in on the situation.”
I bite my lip. I hate having to do this over the phone, but my dad is more than just my dad. He’s my best friend who knows everything about me. And I can’t help but love him for it every day.
“Yeah, it is. With game day prep, I didn’t have a chance to call you, and I figured you had questions, and?—”
“JJ, it’s okay. I know your game day routines. It’s been a bit of a crazy day here as well, dealing with all of this. I know you’re probably still processing everything. Listen, bud…it’s going to be okay.”
I run my hands through my freshly washed hair, tugging at the smooth strands. “Is it though?” I glance around the small janitor’s closet I found, triple-checking no one is around. “What if I screwed everything up? We can fix a PR crisis. I know that. Hannah is the best, and we’ve been changing the narrative on things for as long as I can remember. I just…I just never expected this to happen with…”
“With Kennedy,” my dad finishes the thought for me.
I nod. “Yeah.”
When your dad’s one of the only people you can trust to not leak things to the media, you have no choice but to confess that you like someone to him. It’s honestly been that way most of my life. When there are only two men in the house, you learn to stick together and have each other’s backs.
“How has her reaction to this been?” he asks, the worry in his voice not relieving the ache in my chest.
“Have you ever seen those videos where a cat gets pissed, then hisses and lunges at someone with their claws?”
My dad cackles. “So, it’s going well then?”
“She shoved me against a wall in an elevator, and I genuinely feared for my life,” I recount the incident to him, leaving out the part where I was more turned on than a fully pre-heated oven. “But, after her initial shock, I think she’s better. Maybe? Hell, Idon’t know. Being anything but friends with women is not my strong suit. Funny enough, the fake dating washeridea.”
I close my eyes, my heart twisting in my chest.
“I think she’s embarrassed to be seen with someone who has a reputation like mine, and this makes it seem less grotesque. She’s got her own career, and now she’s tangled up in this mess and…God, I really fucked this up.”
“I will not tell your mother you used that language,” he chides in a jokingly stern tone, “but I see where you’re coming from. She seems like she’s got a great career and a level head. When Hannah and I were talking today, we thought this may finally be a way out for you. A way to get rid of the image we all played into. A way to finally show the world who you really are and all the great things you’ve accomplished.” My eyes burn, the weight that’s been so heavy on my shoulders for so long loosening just enough I can breathe. “Let me ask you something. Why did you go up to her at that bar? What gave you all this confidence after being afraid to talk to her for so long?”
I shrug. “I saw that guy hitting on her, and I could tell she wasn’t into it. She looked like she was in trouble, and I wanted to help her. No one should ever be put in that situation.”
My dad hums in agreement. “Then you keep showing her that, JJ. You have such a good heart—don’t ever forget that. If I were a betting man, I’d think if she starts to see who you really are, she’ll see that heart of yours too.”
“I hope so. I just…I don’t know how to get over this fear of talking to her. Or opening up to any woman again. I can’t even speak to her without getting all tongue-tied and sweaty. Got any great words of wisdom for that?”
“Think about your pre-game nerves. A little nervousness gets your adrenaline going, so just take a deep breath and be confident. Play your game and don’t be anything but yourself.That’s all you can do. If she’s the right person, she’ll appreciate it.”
