But since he showed up at my place on Sunday, he’s given no hint that he still feels that way. Interested. As in, sexually. He’s been clear about wanting to look after me. But not in a hootchy kootchy kind of way.
Until just now.
14
MAREK
I hate leaving Nikki again, but we have a practice this morning. A light practice, supposedly, and a meeting to watch video of last night’s game.
I almost kissed her.
Shit.
But I’m not beating myself up over it. She almost kissed me, too. I read the look on her face, the way she moved toward me. I felt the sexual tension buzzing around us. It wasn’t just me.
What is up with that? She clearly told me she’s not interested. Was that a lie? Or… I don’t know. I shove a hand into my hair as I drive to the arena. I decided to bring my own car today so I can make a quick exit.
After our win last night, everyone’s in high spirits. Which means it’s time for shenanigans.
When we’re getting changed for practice, Benny tries to put his jersey on and can’t get his right arm through the sleeve. He starts jerking his arm and then dancing around. “What the fuck!”
“What’s wrong, Benny?” Trev asks innocently.
“This fucking sleeve is…” Benny shakes it then finally gives up and takes off the jersey. Turning it inside out, he sees the sleeve is taped together at the wrist. “Fuuuuuck.”
Everyone else cracks up laughing.
Then it’s my turn. The first time I lift a water bottle to my mouth, the whole thing pours onto my face and jersey. Some asshole loosened the lid. It’s a classic prank. “Who did this?” I yell and get a lot of guffawing in response. I look around for Trev, but he’s way down at the other end of the ice.
After practice, when Crusher goes to check his phone, he discovers that every contact in his phone now has an image of Hakim lying on a beach, grinning.
Even I’m laughing, despite my concerns about Nikki.
Today’s lunch buffet includes chicken parm. We all carefully avoid the one piece of chicken that has no cheese or tomato sauce, because that’s made specially for Archie, our, uh, eccentric goalie. He has to have mayo for the chicken, which is weird. He also eats his spaghetti with just butter and parmesan cheese, no sauce. I take my chicken and a big serving of salad which is thinly sliced brussels sprouts with almonds and dried cranberries. I then sit and start shoveling it in.
“Jesus, you starving today, or what, Smitty?” Crusher asks me.
He, Dilly, and Benny are the only ones who know Nikki’s staying in my condo. I shoot him a warning glance and say, “I have to be somewhere.”
“Oh, yeah? Where?”
After a beat, I say, “I have a colonoscopy appointment.”
Benny chokes on a piece of chicken.
“Ohhh,” Crusher says. “That’s not fun.”
“I had one once,” Turks says. “Not the worst experience of my life, but it was up there.”
Most of the guys groan but Archie cracks up. “Good one, man!”
“Wait.” Crusher frowns. “Don’t you have to do a lot of prep for a colonoscopy? Like, you can’t eat?” He points his fork at my plate. “But you’re eating.”
“It’s a new kind of test.” I’m really scrambling here. “They use a laser.”
The guys all give me weird looks.
I shoot Benny a help-me-out-here glare.
