The smile stays on his face as he rounds the car and throughout our journey into the city.
The Mexican restaurant he chose isn’t fancy.It’s warm, with string lights twinkling along the ceiling and the smell of cilantro and lime drifting through the air.It’s the perfect hideaway.
You come here a lot?I ask as we slide into a booth.
Once or twice,he says with a wink.Which probably meansat leastonce a week.I shake my head at his antics.He’s in a great mood, and it’s catching.
You look beautiful tonight,he tells me, reaching for my hand across the table.Our fingers intertwine.His palm is rough against mine.I can see a bruise on his wrist and reach out to caress it with my free hand.
Realizing what I’m doing, I self-consciously tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.Thank you.I’m about to go into all the reasons why I’m sure I must look a mess and he’s being nice, but Sidney brings me out of my thoughts with a gentle squeeze.
I accept the compliment and change the conversation.
How was your road trip?Joey and I watched a couple of the series.All but the one in LA.That one was too late for me to stay up for.
He nods while taking a sip of water.It was good.It felt a little odd to be on a long road trip so soon after the home opener, but the team’s really vibing this season.
When the waitress comes to our table, she delivers a tray of chips and salsa.After taking our drink orders, she sashays away.My eyes dart from her ass over to Sidney…who’s looking directly at me.
Enjoying the view?he teases.
She likes you,I state.
No, she doesn’t.She’s play-acting, hoping for a good tip at the end of the night.
He has a point.Not able to wait a second longer, I reach for the chips and take a large dunk of the salsa.
Ohmygod,I moan, still chewing.The salsa is perfect.Closing my eyes, I savour every bite.Going back for more, I notice Sidney’s hooded eyes watching me.
Good?he asks, his voice a little husky.
Perfect.
He looks stupidly pleased, hypnotized by my lips.I get a thrill out of his response to me enjoying my food.I feel light and alive, my body so aware of how close Sidney is.I still feel the ghost of his hand on mine.The tingles still linger.
Our drinks come quickly, and we both put our orders in.After that, conversation flows.We might talk or text every day, but there are little things to catch up on too.I want to hear more about his road trip, and he wants me to go into more detail about how I’m feeling and the follow-up with my doctor.And through it all, we exchange little touches, heightening the mood.
He tells me stories about team pranks, about rookies who mixed up protein powder with powdered sugar, about Max accidentally flooding a hotel bathroom when he decided that he had to have an ice bath.When he says ‘don’t tell anyone,’Sidney says,he means ‘tell everyone after half a beer.’
Sounds like a guy that keeps you on your toes.
He’s chaos with skates.But yeah, a great captain and friend.Hell, he’s practically family at this point.Him and Mason.My sister has absolutely no problem bossing them around when we’re all together.
I laugh, warmth blooming through my ribs.
Your sister sounds amazing.I know I only met her briefly, but I can totally see her owning a room.Harper was a sweet girl too, so your sister must have other low-key qualities besides busting your balls and threatening death.
He takes a sip of his iced tea.She does.I just don’t see them.Often, that is,he laughs.When our amusement dies a bit, Sidney’s gaze turns serious, and I brace myself.I think I know the question that’s about to come.
I don’t want to pry, and you can tell me to piss off if you don’t want to talk about it, but do you and Joey really not have any other family?
I don’t want to talk about them and ruin a perfectly good night, but there’s also a need for me to unburden myself.To tell someone about the events that led to me being a single mom, cut off from her family.It must be the soft lighting and the warm food that has me trusting this is the right moment to share.The way Sidney is watching me also unravels me a little.
I got pregnant during my first semester of university,I hear myself say.Joey’s father…didn’t take the news well.He said it wasn’t the life he wanted.That a baby wasn’t part of his plan, and if I decided to have it, then he wasn’t going to be a part of my life.
Sidney’s expression tightens.
Once I knew of the baby’s existence, I was hooked.I did want to be a mom—maybe not so young—but there was no going back for me.So he left.Transferred schools to get away from it all,I say.And I kept going with school until I couldn’t anymore.I thought…I thought my family…The words catch in my throat.
