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“Just water tonight?” I ask, taking a sip of my wine.
He groans. “Yeah, I know. Water is so boring. But I don’t drink much during the season. I have to keep up with the youngsters.”
“Is that challenging?”
He scoffs. “I mean, I’m still fast. But there’s always someone younger, faster, and more talented. And now that I’m thirty, the pressure is on.”
“But that’s so young.” I study him. He doesn’t have a single grey hair among his dark ones.
“Thirty is young in most things, but not in hockey.” He brings one arm up and flexes it. “But don’t you worry your pretty little head. I’m staying on top of my game.”
“Tell me more about your parents,” I say, remembering him touching on their divorce on the drive here. I’m curious why he doesn’t say much on the topic. It must not be something he talks about often.
He blows out a dramatic breath. “Another important lesson; don’t ask about parents on a first date.”
I roll my eyes. “But this is our second not-real-date. So, it’s fine.”
He tilts his head back and forth as if he’s contemplating it. “I think this is more like fifth date conversation.”
“Well, since we won’t be going on a fifth date, we should probably squeeze all the lessons into tonight.”
He groans. “Didn’t realize you were such a rule-breaker, Dr. Woodcock.”
I tap my fingers on the table.
“Fine.” He slumps back in his chair. “My dad left me and my mother. Said he was too young to settle down, needed to experience life while he was young. And experience he did. With who knows how many women until his current girlfriend got pregnant. Hence my little sister. He’s still with Serenity, but he’ll get bored soon.”
“Wow, that must’ve been hard for you and your mom.”
“It sucked,” he says honestly. “Watching my mother cry over him for years made me never want to be in a relationship. Falling in love seemed horrible. Dangerous.”
“But you changed your mind?”
He shoots me a half-smile. “It was impossible not to after watching Ma and my new stepdad, Charlie. He loves her the way she deserves. He’s so good to her. And how could I not want what they have? Or what West and Mel have, and Mitch and Andie? Mitch fell in love and now I actually enjoy being around him. And on the opposite end of the love spectrum, I’ve seen my dad leave a trail of broken hearts. I don’t want to be like that. The women I’ve been with always knew what they were getting into, but they often changed their minds. I’ve hurt people, not intentionally, but still.” Colby’s mouth turns down slightly and he studies his menu. He looks genuinely dismayed that he’s hurt people.
Trying to soften the mood, I say, “Mitch was so scary the first time I met him. Andie definitely softened him up.”
He smiles at that. “What about you? Never been afraid of falling in love?” Colby lifts his glass to his lips and drains half of it in one gulp.
I can’t help but notice the sturdy column of his neck, and the muscles that move when he drinks. “My goodness, you’re like a camel.”
“Now who’s avoiding the serious questions?” he teases.
“Fine. No, I haven’t. My parents are high school sweethearts. They made it look so easy. I thought I’d meet someone in college, get married, and have three kids before I even made tenure.” I pause, taking a small sip of wine. “Then I met a guy in college. Fell head over heels. He was there on a hockey scholarship, and he was handsome. I was flattered he noticed me. But while I was planning our future together, he was screwing around with sorority girls.”
Colby’s face darkens and he mutters a nasty word to himself. Colby doesn’t look angry often, but when he does, it’s intense. “What’s his name?” He clears his throat, as if trying to dispel his own anger. “Does he play professionally?”
“Colby, it was a long time ago, no need to be angry. Last I heard, he was in the minor leagues, not sure which team or if he still plays. And his name is Travis.”
His eyes narrow like he’s deep in thought. “So, that’s why you hate hockey players.”
I grimace. “I don’t hate hockey players.”
“Yes, you do. You think we’re all like that?” He seems genuinely annoyed, and I feel bad.
“I’ll admit, I’ve been leery of athletes in general since the whole debacle. And some of the hockey players that come through my class are so cocky and lazy in their studies. Always expecting me to bend over backward for them, since some schools do. It gets annoying.”
“I forget Arlington University has a D1 hockey program.”
