And so when the game ends, and I’m waiting for Grady and Landon, of course, Theo sees me.Of course.
Chapter26
Theo
Seeing her for the first time in over a month was like having my heart opened with a rusty can opener.She was just standing there, holding Randie and looking like my personal slice of heaven.She could barely look at me, and I don’t blame her.I’ve been avoiding her.It’s clear, and she’s a smart woman who doesn’t suffer fools, and I am most definitely a fool.I wasn’t just calling that cute little girl “baby girl” when I left the friends and family room either, and Lola bristled, which means she caught onto that too.
My heart ached a little throughout the game, but I played better than usual because I knew she was watching.We won, which makes me feel good, except that good feeling isn’t diluting the ache.And then, I come out of the tunnel and glance toward the Friends and Family room, looking for my parents, but instead I see my name on the back of her shoulders.I come to a complete, abrupt stop, and Callan bumps into me.
“Dude, why’d you…” His gaze follows mine, and he makes a face like he was just assaulted by something foul.“Lola?”
She turns, and her cheeks are red.Her eyes are closed as she sighs.“Someone spilled a drink on me, and I needed to change.”
“So you bought my jersey?”
“It was offered to me, and I thought it might be more suitable than going topless,” she replies coolly.“Although if I didn’t think I’d be arrested, I would have picked topless.”
Great.Now I’m thinking of her topless.She has the best tits I’ve ever seen, and I have seen a lot of tits.Hers are full and perky, and her nipples are pink and so suckable, and… she’s standing in front of me, glaring.In my jersey.And now I’m gonna have to spend a stupid amount of time fumbling around in my gear because if I take these hockey pants off, my teammates will be greeted with a boner.Not at all okay.
“I should get…” I point with my stick toward the locker room.
“Yeah.Whatever,” Callan mutters and glances at his twin again.“You look weird.”
“Thanks, bro!”Lola snarks, then does something I definitely don't expect.She reaches for my arm and tugs on my sleeve.“You have to meet the person who owns this jersey.She’s a huge fan.She won’t even care that you’re a sweaty, smelly mess right now.”
“I just played a hockey game,” I mutter, but my body instantly fills with dread.Lola turns, still holding my sleeve so I can’t escape, and she lifts her arm and waves down the hall.I take the moment with her back turned to admire her hair, skimming my name across the back of her slim shoulders.I’ve always liked the idea of women in my clothes.I’ve had bed buddies throw on one of my dress shirts or a team hoodie, and I’ve liked the way it skims their thighs or swims on their frames.But this… I never had a girl I know and like, other than my female relatives, wear my number.It feels possessive, like she belongs to me, and I love that.It’s stupid and, in this particular situation, almost offensive, because I’ve spent the last several weeks trying to distance myself from Lola Casco.
Suddenly, my teammate Tanner’s wife is in front of me—I forget her name—and she’s standing with another girl who is literally making heart eyes at me.Lola smiles, but it’s hard, and I know her well enough now to know that means it’s forced.“Theo, you know Melissa.Well, this is her friend Candice, who was kind enough to offer me her shirt.She’s your biggest fan.”
“I don’t know about biggest…” Candice blushes and extends her hand.“And it was the least I could do because I’m the one who dropped soda on you.”
“It was still very sweet.I’m going to go see if my brother has a sweatshirt or something I can borrow for the ride home so I can give this back to you,” Lola says and takes a step.I want to reach for her and stop her from leaving, but I can’t.She wouldn’t want me to.So I just watch as she walks away.
“Theo, that was a great game.You were amazing,” Candice coos.
I make small talk with them for a few minutes, but then, thankfully, I see my family, and it’s the perfect reason to excuse myself.I walk over to where they’re standing, and Harlow immediately pinches her nose and takes a step back, like she’s been doing since she was six.“Stinky.Go shower.”
“I will I just… wanted to say hey…” I glance over my shoulder and run a hand through my sweat-soaked hair.
Candice and Melissa are where I left them, and Lola walks by, holding a sweatshirt and pointing to the co-ed washroom at the end of the hall before heading that way.Randie is nowhere to be found, so I’m guessing she’s with Landon or Grady.
“I have to head straight to the airport.We’re flying out to Toronto tonight.”My parents nod.My mom is smiling.“And I have some stuff to do, so I’ll be running out of here.”
“In other words, bye.Thanks for coming.Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”Dad chuckles and clasps my hand, pulling me in for a hug.He doesn’t worry about how bad I smell, probably because he spent half his life smelling equally as bad.
Mom motions for me to bend down to her level and gives me a quick peck on the cheek.“I met your friend Lola Casco.”
I straighten and find her grinning.“She’s a friend and my teammates’ sister.My linemate’s sister.”
“So what?I was the kid sister of the girls your dad vowed to treat like sisters.”Mom waves her hand as if clearing a stench from the air.“Those rules are all stupid and drenched in misogyny.”
“Go, Mom!”Harlow says.
“Do not encourage her,” I warn my sister.“Or I’ll tell her about your ice dance partner.”
Mom’s eyebrows shoot up.“What about him?”
“He’s a former hockey player.The one Harlow used to have posters of in her room,” I announce, and my sister takes a swing at me with an open hand.I dodge her artfully.“Love you both.Drive safe!”
