24. ALI - ROOKIES & ROOFTOPS
I filled my next week and a half with creating a huge list of things I had to accomplish, and each time I started overthinking myself into an anxious mess, I dove straight into the list. Between Mer giving me hand-me-downs and Piper forcing me to go shopping with her and then demanding to pay for everything, I was in decent shape for the baby. As for the job front, apparently Kappy was acting as the Coliseum’s interim rink manager, and I had an interview set up with him for next week.
On Wednesday afternoon, everyone was out of the house, and I finally let myself rest, which turned out to be a terrible idea. Nervous thoughts about tomorrow’s doctor’s appointment bombarded my brain.
In an effort to comfort myself, I shot off a text to JP confirming again that he’d pick me up in the morning from Colt and Mer’s house because I still didn’t have my own car.
A minute later, my phone dinged with an incoming text, but it wasn’t from JP.
An unknown number with a Michigan area code sent:Whatcha up to, blondie?I was instantly reminded of the young rookie from the family room. He confirmed it a second later with a double-text that read:Btw this is Niko.
I typed back:Honestly?
His reply was immediate:Of course
I responded:I’m kind of freaking out because I have my first appointment for the baby in the morning.
His next reply came quickly:Freaking out as in overthinking?
Yupp, I confirmed.I had no reason to sugarcoat things with him. I wasn’t trying to impress him at all. I strictly felt little brother vibes toward him.
Ah perfect,he typed.
I stared at his response in confusion.
Then my phone dinged again:I can help with that. You’re staying at Colt’s?
I looked around Colt and Mer’s quiet living room. On one hand, I desperately wanted to get out of the house to stop worrying. On the other, I didn’t want to go on an actual date with Niko and give him the wrong idea. I didn’t want to go on a date with anyone… except maybe JP, but I needed to push that desire way,waydown.
Another text came in, pulling my eyes back to my phone:Don’t worry so much. C’mon, let’s just chat and have some fun. It’ll take your mind off things,Niko implored.
I smirked down at my phone. There was something disarming about him, and I liked that he didn’t make me feel anxious or threatened. Besides, if I found myself in a bad situation, I knew I’d have three guys willing to show up for me—something that made my heart swell in my chest. I typed back:How do you know I’m worried?
His response was immediate:I can tell. But at least now you’re worried about me instead of the baby, right?! So c’mon, let’s hang out tonight.
I chewed on my lip before typing:Okay, but this isn’t a date, right?
Ya nah, just hanging out,he replied.
That text finally pushed me over the edge, but that meant I had to get dressed.
Dashing back up to my designated bedroom, I tore through my suitcase. I basically only owned leggings and sports tops. I had one pair of jeans, but those were uncomfortably tight now. My only choice was a black spaghetti-strap dress that I usually wore when going out with friends on cruise stops.
“Shit,” I mumbled after pulling it on. This dress was usually loose and comfy, but it was now stretching at the seams. To make matters worse, I had to put some tights underneath for warmth or else I’d look like an idiot going out bare-legged in the freezing cold night. Ihated wearing anything tight on my stomach and being pregnant made that feeling so much worse, but it was predicted to snow tonight, so I had no choice.
Taking stock of my shoe options, I shot off a text to Mer asking if I could borrow some black boots.
About two minutes after smoothing my short hair into a slicked-back half pony and swiping on some mascara, a fancy sports car’s engine roared in the driveway.
_________
I could hear whispers and stares from people as I followed Niko into a swanky bar in downtown Chicago. For a guy who’d just gotten to the NHL, he definitely had more facial recognition than our boys. Then again, Niko was younger and had a huge social media following. On top of the usual hockey player charisma, Niko’s sarcastic comments to reporters, raspy voice, and flowy brown hair gave him even more popularity.
As soon as we were seated at a high-top table, his phone started buzzing incessantly.
“Sorry,” he apologized with an eyeroll, then he flagged the waiter over. “We’ll have two waters, a coke, and…” He eyed me, questioning if I wanted anything else.
“I’ll take a sprite,” I added with a smile of thanks.
