We drive the short distance to the upscale restaurant.
The host escorts us to our table. Usually, we end up tucked away in a quiet corner, but tonight we’re in the middle of the room.
Once we’re seated and have placed drink and appetizer orders, Flip holds out his hand, palm up. I slip mine in his. “How are you feeling?” he asks.
Unreasonably horny. I keep that thought to myself. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight, but I feel like a cat in heat. “I think I’m just ready for the next chapter,” I say. “The last four years have been fun. I’ve grown a lot, learned so much, made amazing friends, and gained independence, but I’m excited to fully step into adulthood.” I want a regular job with a steady income so I can contribute and be a partner. Being out of university will put us on more level ground.
“I felt the same way when I finished university.”
I nod. “You went from university to the farm team.” He made more than half a million a year as soon as he graduated.
“I was fortunate to have a contract right away.” He sips his water, eyes on our clasped hands. He moved teams twice before he was given a long contract with the Terror.
The server delivers our drinks, and we select our mains.
“Do you think it’ll be the same for Brody?” He’s a top player for Tilton, and the scouts are always talking to him.
“I would wager, yeah. It’d be best if he was picked up by a team other than the Terror, though.”
“Otherwise he’s competing with his brother,” I finish. “Not that he won’t always be compared to him anyway.”
“Yeah. Chicago has their sights on him. That would be a great team for him,” Flip muses.
“I’m sure he’d love to play there. It’s a fun city.” But if he’s in Chicago, he’ll never be able to ask Enid out.
“It is,” he agrees. “If we could go anywhere this summer, just the two of us, where would it be?”
My heart skips a beat. “Like a couple’s vacation?”
His eyes light up. “Exactly.”
I tap my lip. “Are there parameters? Like inside Canada or North America?”
“No parameters. No destination limits. Name your ideal summer vacation.”
The server drops off our appetizers.
I ponder the question again while I cut into a pan-seared scallop. “Honestly, Canadian summers are so short. I hate to leave here when the weather is nice. I’d love to go back to the lodge in Huntsville and spend a week enjoying the beach and you shirtless. It’s so pretty and peaceful up there.”
“I have my eye on a piece of property in that area. We could build a cottage,” Flip says.
“Are you taking notes from Connor these days?” I tease. But the fact that he’s talking in terms like “we” and building a summer home feels like he’s planning a future with me.
“Dallas has a place, now Connor and Dred, so I can see the allure. Especially since you want to stay local and dance in Toronto,” he says.
“What about you? You have lots of time left in your career. What’s your dream after hockey?” He could do anything, go into sportscasting, work for the Hockey Academy like Roman and Hollis, or be a coach and end up anywhere.
“I want to help you pursue your career goals and find a second career that fits our life.” He says this so matter-of-factly.
Like it’s the only possibility.He wants to builda future with me.My heart soars. Does this mean he feels the same way about me as I do him? Is he falling for me, too?
Is this how my parents were when they fell in love? Did they promise each other the world, and slowly the dreams they imagined faded as life and my dad’s career took over? Did my mom just smile and tell him it was fine, but really she was dying inside, alone and wishing for more? What if Flip gets traded? What if I get a job outside of Toronto? What if we make a plan and it all falls apart?
“Hey.” He squeezes my hand. “Sorry, was that too much? I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not too much. It’s just…everything you’re saying—” I lick my lips. “—is exactly what I want, but…”
“You’re scared?” he asks.
