“No.”
“A necklace then? We have some stunning diamond pendants.”
I’ve never seen Elliot wearing a necklace. I’m not even sure what style or length she’d prefer.
“Or earrings, perhaps?”
She wears the same small pair of gold studs everyday. Has since the day I met her. She’s definitely due for an upgrade.
“Yes. Diamond studs, please.”
“Of course.” The man practically floats to an adjacent counter. He slides a glass panel and gingerly picks up a black velvet display case filled with glittering studs.
I barely have to glance at them. “Do you have anything bigger?”
His eyes light up. “Absolutely.”
I leave the store ten minutes later with five-thousand dollar earrings in my pocket and one less thing on my mind.
It’s a closercall than I would like when I reach the airport. The rest of the team has already boarded, but I am technically on time. No harm, no foul.
A small group is gathered around my seat at the front of the plane. They all turn when they see me, relief and concern written across their faces.
“Thank Christ,” a goalie coach mutters, stepping aside.
“Quite the welcoming committee, boys. I’m touched.”
No one laughs. The looks they exchange say enough.
A flight attendant appears and tells everyone to take their seats. Mercifully, they disperse until only Don remains beside me.
I catch him watching me out of the corner of my eye. “What?”
“Everything alright?”
“Everything’s fine. I’m not even late.”
“Not for takeoff,” he says.
“What?”
He tilts his head, studying me. “We were supposed to have a coaches’ meeting in the lounge before boarding.”
Fuck.
I had asked Don to gather the assistants, goalie coaches, and specialty staff before we left. It had completely slipped my mind.
“Sorry, Don. Something came up.”
He nods, unconvinced. “Team-related?”
Buying a birthday gift for my girlfriend who works for the team. Close enough.
“Yeah,” I say. “Nothing to worry about. Sorry again.”
He offers a tight smile. “Let’s meet once we’re settled at the hotel. We’ll prep for tomorrow’s team meeting, then grab dinner.”
I nod. “Make it happen.”
