23. Michael
“Hi, Ma,” I say as I approach the elegantly dressed woman.
She turns to me and beams. “Oh, Michael. You won’t believe who was able to join us tonight.”
She steps aside and standing behind her is the woman whose DMs I’ve been actively avoiding.
“Oh, hi,” I say, reaching a hand toward Cassidy Jones.
“Hi,” she whispers with a smile.
We shake hands awkwardly. And when she takes the seat next to my sister in law and turn to my mother and give her a blank stare.
She gives me a terse nod to the girl and we speak volumes in our silent exchanges.
She’s trying to set me up. The woman will never give up. I sigh heavily but take the empty seat next to Cassidy.
She’s a simple girl. Pretty, but simple. Her gown is floor length and doesn’t hug her curves. Like she’s purposefully trying to avoid looking too sexy. Her chestnut hair is pulled up into a braided updo and she’s covering her shoulders with a shawl. She gives a demure look up to me as I pull my chair in.
“So, Cassidy,” I begin.
She perks up and swallows hard. She has a hard time looking me in the eye.
“Do you… enjoy hockey?”
“Michael,” my mother scolds. “Forgive him, Cassidy. My son seems to have a one track mind these days.”
“It’s a fair question. We’re at a hockey team charity, Ma.”
“I actually do like hockey,” the shy girl says. “I watch your team play pretty regularly.”
“You do?” I ask.
“Yeah. You guys have one of the highest scoring lines in the league.”
I look over at my mother whose glare is taking on a softer edge.
“Would you look at that, Ma? Someone else who appreciates hockey. Shocking, no?”
My mother waves my comment away and I smirk.
“Who’s your favorite player?” I ask Cassidy, turning my attention back to her.
She gulps.
“I won’t be offended if it’s not me.”
She laughs gently. “It’s actually the left-winger, Joshua Hicks.”
“Really?” I can say I’m genuinely intrigued.
Hicks is a showman. He’s known for his trick plays and tip ins. And he won’t hesitate to rub it in our opponent’s faces when he scores a sneak shot.
“Well, I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.” I say scanning the room. “I’d be happy to introduce you.”
My mother stiffens across the table. “I don’t think that’s necessary, Michael.”
“It’s her favorite player, Ma. It would be rude of me not to.” I give her a stern look. “In fact, there he is now.”
I point to where Hicks is surrounded by a group of fans. He’s making charades that look like a recap of our last game against Vegas. The crowd gathered around him bursts into laughter at something he says.
“Come on,” I say pushing my chair back.
Cassidy looks at my mother, almost as if asking for approval. And my mother rolls her eyes. “Make it quick, please.”
I extend my hand out to her and she slips hers in. With that, my mother is very pleased. She and Lillian both look at each other with matching grins, as we dismiss ourselves from the table.
Away from the watchful glare of the matriarch of my family I can finally say what’s on my mind.
“I’m sorry I haven’t responded to your messages,” I say.
She looks up at me as we stop near the group of Hicks and his fans.
“Oh, it’s… um… it’s ok.” She looks down at her shoes.
“It’s just, if I’m being honest with you. I am single, but my heart… is taken, I guess.”
She meets my eyes again. “Oh.” She sounds disappointed.
“But, I have a lot of great teammates. Many of whom are single. Hicks, as wild as he can seem, is a great guy.”
She blushes at that comment.
“Not that I’m insinuating anything.” Though I kind of am. I don’t want to keep playing musical chairs with this girl. Handing her off from one matchmaker to another. That’s just unfair to her.
“He is fun to watch,” she admits with a smile.
But, maybe there’s something here after all. She’s not the kind of girl Hicks would go for. In fact, she might be the total opposite. But I’ll just do my part and let fate do the rest.
“Hicks,” I whistle at him. He looks up from his enraptured crowd and searches for me. I wave to him from where we’re standing.
“Duty calls,” he winks at his fans, before bounding over to us.
“What’s up, preacher boy?” His arm slips over my shoulder as he tugs me to him. “Yo, your brother is a total nut. You sure he’s getting married because some of the things he’s—“
I clear my throat to interrupt him.
“Hicks, I want you to meet someone. This is Cassidy Jones. Her father is the pastor of another well known church in the area and she’s a low-key fan of yours. Cassidy, this is my roommate, teammate and linemate, Joshua Hicks.”
Hicks gives me a quick look before he plasters on a smile and extends his hand, “A fan? Is that so?”
Cassidy blushes again as she takes his hand. Hicks brings it up to his lips and brushes a small kiss over it.
“I am,” she admits. “You’ve been playing really well in the conference finals. Not that you need me to tell you that.”
She recoils her hand and holds it to her chest.
“Well, thank you, Cassidy. You know sometimes I wonder if my linemates really appreciate the way I carry the team. They seem to only focus on the heavy hitters, but it’s us sneaky ones the other team doesn’t see coming that usually get the most unexpected goals.”
I roll my eyes.
“You know it’s true,” he says pointing a finger at me.
I swat it away and he and Cassidy go back to discussing some of his most recent plays. My eyes scan the bar area for my fiery red head. But she isn’t there.
I turn around to see if she’s at her table and she’s not there either. She did pound back quite a few drinks earlier. She’s probably taking a bathroom break.
“So, what is it that you do, Cassidy? Do you work at your dad’s church?”
“Kind of,” she says softly. “I watch the little kids during some of our services. But during the week I nanny.”
“I’m sure the kids love you.”
She smiles coyly. “Thanks, kids are just so easy to get along with. It’s adults that make me nervous.”
They continue their conversation as I scan the room one more time. What’s taking her so long? Kesley and Zane are nuzzled up whispering to each other at their table.
I pull out my phone and shoot her quick text.
Me
Where are you hiding, butterfly?