It’s not like she would lie about being here. She was a little odd when Fallon told us that we were going to be flying out tonight, and maybe it was because she had to change her plans or she doesn’t like flying, which is crazy considering how much flying we have to do when we do away games on the east coast, but I digress.
She’s not here now.
And we’re going to be late, and I hate when I’m late. Especially when we have to go through security.
“El!” someone calls out and my head whips around. Taylor is there with a bright smile wearing Vortex branded gear. She’s a walking billboard for them at this point, but it looks ridiculously comfy. I’m going to have to talk to our social media team to see if I can get some of the leggings and sweats.
They’re magenta pink, and cinch at the waist and ankles. They’re loose enough that you can’t see the entirety of her physique, but they allude to it. Her sweater is cropped, and I can see a hint of her obliques when she raises her arm. She’s far away, so I can’t tell if there're freckles that dust her stomach the way they’re splattered across her face, but what I wouldn’t give to…
No, bad Eloise. You don’t think about a coworkerlike that.
Even if she’s your long-time crush and is actively being nice to you now.
I finish checking in and race to her. “Come on. We’re going to be late,” I say, taking her hand in mine while I pull my carry on in the other.
“We’re going to be fine,” she says in a blasé tone, and I raise an eyebrow looking back at her.
“You’re just as stressed as I am,” I declare. She shakes her head, trying to protest. “Come on, Taylor. You were stressed at the rink, and you’re stressed now.”
She releases my hand, and I forget we were holding hands for a moment. It felt so right, as if she’d become an extension of my body or I’d become part of hers. She’s gnawing her bottom lip when I watch her. She nudges me away, a soft smile breaking out on her face. “Leave me alone. I had plans this weekend I had to rearrange.”
“Date?” I ask and immediately duck my head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
She laughs softly. “No. I just… I have a routine for the weekend, and I don’t like when there’s a change.”
“I mean, that’s fair.”
“But it’s alright.” She looks at the security line. “This doesn’t look too bad. Let’s get through this and then we can grab a coffee.”
“As if I need coffee tonight. I won’t be able to sleep on the flight.”
Her brows furrow for a moment, and I wonder if there’s something I’m missing. Did she mean to say that it was going to be decaf? Did she mean a beer instead?
We’re through security quickly and we’re at the gate before I knew it.
“Did you want to get a coffee?” I ask, and she looks at the ground shyly. “There was a cafe a little ways back if you wanted to get some.”
“Oh, I’ll be fine.”
I bite my tongue in response. “I could probably get a decaf cup if you wanted company to get your own.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s alright. Sometimes I find coffee helps me mellow out, but I think I’m a little too keyed up tonight for it to be useful.”
“Oh.”
She’s sheepish. “Anyway, it’s alright. I’ll take some of my melatonin when we get to the hotel.”
“If you say so.”
“Yeah, did you let Kenzie know that we were going to be in town?”
I nod. “Of course. She’s hoping the three of us can get drinks tomorrow night. I think Blake might also be in town, so he could potentially join us if he doesn’t have a game.”
I watch the way her face remains neutral at the thought of Blake joining, and I thought that a single woman would potentially be excited at the idea of meeting another eligible bachelor, but maybe I’mwrong. “Do they know I broke up with Frank?” she asks.
“Kenz does… She asked, but I didn’t share anything.”
“You didn’t?”
