“You are full of confidence on the ice.”
“Hockey I know. Women? It’s a whole different ball game, if you will.”
“We’re not that scary,” I tell him, smiling.
“You’re not? Seems it to me.”
“Then let me help you.”
I don’t know why I’m pushing this. Maybe it’s because I watched this date go off the rails, but there’s something sweet about the man sitting in front of me. So confident on the ice, but shy and awkward now.
It’s hard to figure him out. Could that be part of the allure? The reason I want to do this?
“And it’s not a conflict of interest?”
I shrug a shoulder at his question. “It’s not like we’re dating. A few tips here and there for both of us. Get us through the hard part so we can each find a date…”
“Who’s not an influencer. At least for me.”
I shake my head. “Who set you up on this date?”
“The guys did. Well, Piper too. But yeah.”
“Easy for them since they’re all partnered off.”
“Not Noah. He’s focusing on recovering,” Nick corrects me.
“I’m hoping he gets back to where he was. A busted knee is never an easy recovery.”
It was a hard hit to watch. By no means vicious, but the hit Graham Fisher leveled on our star player took him out for a few months. The road to recovery has been longer than anyone wants. Having to move your star center to the third line to limit his playing time? Not an easy thing to do.
“He’ll get there. No one is more committed to the team than he is.”
I throw my hands up, nearly knocking into a passing waiter. “I’m not saying that. Just saying it’s hard.”
“Hey, I did it.”
“You did.” Of course, Nick’s injury wasn’t as severe. He was only out a few weeks. But the fact that Nick is talking to me in full sentences, without stammering? I’ll take it. “We need our goalie now more than ever.”
“It’s going to be a hard few weeks ahead of us.”
“You’ll manage.”
“Even if I have you teaching me the ropes in the meantime?” Nick quirks a brow at me.
It sends a ripple through my belly. Something I haven’t felt in a long time. Averylong time. I ignore it, sipping on my wine.
“I’ll have you ready to go in no time.”
Nick leans across the table, coming within a few inches of me. Again, there’s that ripple, the one I do my best to ignore.
“And you really want me to help you? After witnessing this disaster?”
“Like I said, Nick. You showed up. If you can help me get someone to show up, maybe it’ll turn things around for me.”
Nick leans across the table, his blue eyes playful now. “Can I just say that whoever stood you up is insane?”
“That’s sweet of you.”
