11. Eric
Chapter eleven
Eric
T he airport’s chaos is in full swing as we step out of Jake’s expensive SUV. The pre-holiday rush has brought out the worst in people, making everything feel tenser than it should be. People are hustling everywhere, their arms full of overstuffed bags, kids whining, announcements echoing overhead about delayed flights—it’s like the world is on edge. And now, with Jessica by my side, I’m trying to keep things calm, even if my own nerves are buzzing with an energy I can’t shake.
“Allie and I had a blast this weekend. We have to do it again sometime,” Jake says, clapping me on the back as we stand on the curb. Allie smiles warmly at Jessica, and for a second, the noise around us fades.
The weekend with them was a much-needed escape from the pressures of the season… and my fake relationship with Jessica. I’m glad Jake didn’t ask, and I certainly didn’t tell him anything about it. It’s no accident that Allie sent us to the opposite wing of the house from where they stay, letting us choose any room we wanted without them hovering.
I was disappointed when Jessica chose her own room and didn’t offer to bunk in with me, but this isn’t real, even if it feels like it is sometimes.
“I’m glad we did it, man,” I reply, giving him a quick, tight hug. “Thanks again for everything.”
Allie and Jessica exchange hugs, promising to keep in touch, and I notice the way Jessica’s face lights up when she talks to Allie. Despite the whirlwind of this fake relationship, she fits right in with my friends like she’s always been there.
Jake and Allie drive off, leaving us standing at the entrance of the airport. I glance at Jessica, who’s holding her carry-on a little too tightly. She’s quiet, like she has been for most of the ride here. Something’s on her mind she’s keeping from me, but I don’t push. Not yet.
“Ready to face the madness of the airport?” I ask with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood as we walk toward the entrance.
“Do I have a choice?” she replies with a small smile, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
As we weave through the sea of people, the noise and activity only seem to ramp up. We’re almost to the security checkpoint when a group of young guys, maybe in their early twenties, spot me from across the terminal. One of them nudges the others, eyes wide.
“Holy crap! It’s Gator!” one of them shouts, his voice cutting through the clamor of the airport. I groan inwardly. Here we go.
They rush over, all grins and excitement. “Dude, can we get a picture? You’re a beast on the ice, man. That fight on the ice? Epic.”
I smile, even though my stomach clenches. I’ve heard this too many times since the trade. That damn fight. “Yeah, sure,” I say, keeping it casual.
I pose for a few photos, and I try not to let the frustration creep into my expression. The guys are still talking, hyped up on adrenaline.
“You gotta tell us, man. What was going through your head when you took that guy down? Do you like Denver better than Nashville? What are you doing back here, anyway?”
I force a laugh, downplaying the whole thing. “Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal. Just part of the game, you know?”
But the truth is, that fight changed everything. It wasn’t my fault, but it was all anyone wanted to talk about. No matter how hard I tried to leave it behind, it followed me, like a taunting, dark shadow I couldn’t shake.
Jessica is standing off to the side, quiet, watching the whole thing. Her eyes meet mine for a split second, and I can tell she knows how much I hate this. She seems to see me lately for who I am, underneath who I have to pretend to be for my image.
After what feels like an eternity, the guys finally walk away, leaving me feeling a little more drained than I was before. I turn to Jessica, ready to leave the chaos behind. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
We make our way to the private airport lounge, and once we’re inside, the noise of the terminal fades into the background. I can finally breathe again.
Jessica settles into one of the plush chairs, her posture still a little stiff. I take the seat next to her, watching her out of the corner of my eye. She’s been distant since we left Jake’s house, and I can’t ignore it any longer. I can’t because… I care. I care about her.
“What’s going on with you, Sunshine?” I ask, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees with a friendly smile. “You’ve been quiet ever since we left Jake’s.”
She glances at me, then looks away, her fingers fiddling with the strap of her bag. “It’s nothing. Just… a lot on my mind, I guess.”
I don’t push, but I don’t drop it either. “It’s not nothing. I can tell.”
For a moment, she’s silent, like she’s deciding whether to let me in or not. Finally, she sighs, her shoulders dropping slightly. “I don’t know. This whole fake relationship thing… it’s starting to feel like a lot of lies. And that’s not what I pictured for myself when I signed up for it.”
“Lies?”
“Jake and Allie think we’re together. The world thinks we’re together thanks to the news. And the PR lady Allison all but hacked into our social media pages the other day to force us to post about each other.”
I rub a hand over my face. That’s an exaggeration, but I get what she means—Allison is pushy.
“I hear you,” I say finally, my voice low. “But we’re in this together. In for a penny, in for a pound, right? Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out.”
She looks at me then, really looks at me, and for a second, I think she’s going to say something. But instead, she just nods, her expression guarded.
We sit in silence for a while. I can see that’s she’s brooding and I want to make her feel happier, if I can. Eventually, I break the tension, shifting the conversation. “You ever think about what you’d be doing if you weren’t a sports attorney?”
She raises an eyebrow at the change in topic. “Honestly? I don’t know. It’s been my life for so long, I can’t imagine doing anything else. My dad wanted me to be an attorney, so that’s what I did.”
I nod, understanding more than she realizes. “Hockey’s been that for me too—my life. After my parents died, it was all I had. I’ve been on the ice since I was like five years old.” I chuckle at the memories. “I don’t know who I’d be without it.”
Her eyes soften, and for the first time in what feels like hours, the tight energy between us eases. “I didn’t know that,” she says quietly.
I shrug, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. “It’s just… how it is.”
But as the words leave my mouth, I realize how much I’ve been holding back. Hockey isn’t just a career for me. It’s been my lifeline. The thing that kept me going when everything else felt like it was falling apart.
***
The next day in Denver, everything feels like it’s falling back into place. The familiar rhythm of the Avalanche’s schedule, the energy of excitement in the locker room as we gear up for the start of the trio of NHL holiday games—it’s all the kind of normal I’ve been craving.
Jessica and I settle back into our routine at the house, but with the pressure of the holidays and the games coming up, it feels like everything is on the edge of tipping over. She’s holding something back and pulling away, but I don’t know what or why.
I’m in the kitchen, sliding a homemade pizza into the oven, when the doorbell rings. I wipe my hands on a towel and head to the door, expecting it to be a package delivery or something. But when I open it, I’m greeted by a sight I hadn’t expected.
A man stands on the porch, looking like he’s just come from a high-end ski resort with his deep blue ski jacket and suntan lines around where ski goggles would be. Beside him is a woman who can’t be more than a few years older than Jessica.
Her blonde hair is perfectly styled, and she’s dressed in tight spandex style pants and a designer ski jacket that looks like it’s never actually seen snow. She beams up at the man, seemingly unaware of the tension that follows them into this house.
“Eric, right?” Nigel says, his voice sharp and direct as he extends a hand. There’s no warmth in the gesture, just a formality. “I’m Nigel, Jessica’s father. Heard a lot about you.”
I shake his hand, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Nice to meet you.”
Nigel nods, his eyes scanning me briefly before turning his attention to the woman beside him. “This is Trixie.”
“Hi!” Trixie chimes in, her voice bright and bubbly and about as authentic as aspartame. “I’ve heard so much about you!” Her eyes linger on my body for a second too long before she continues, “Nigel and I are in town for a ski trip. We thought we’d stop by and say hello.”
I nod, though the whole situation feels a little off. I had no idea Jessica’s father was in Denver, let alone that he’d be dropping by unannounced.
Jessica appears in the hallway, and I can see the surprise on her face when she spots her father. “Dad? What are you doing here?” she asks, her tone a little more strained than usual.
Nigel shrugs as though this is all perfectly normal. “Trixie and I are in town for a few days. Thought we’d stop by and check in. Plus, I heard the news.” He pauses, eyeing Jessica with a slight look of disapproval. “Trixie saw something interesting on TV about you and Eric here.”
Jessica’s eyes widen slightly, and I can see the color drain from her face. “The news?” she echoes, her voice tight. “Oh.”
Trixie jumps in before Nigel can say more, her voice full of enthusiasm. “Oh yeah! It was so cute! You two were in the background of a segment about the team, and they said you were dating.” She giggles, clearly unaware of the tension she’s causing. “I was so excited when Nigel told me we’d stop by and I could meet you!” She’s looking at me, not Jessica when she says this.
Nigel doesn’t seem bothered by this revelation or Trixie’s wandering eye at all, but I can see the discomfort in Jessica’s eyes. “Dad,” she starts, clearly trying to figure out how to handle this. “It’s not like that.”
Nigel waves her off, clearly not interested in the details. “I don’t care what it is, Jessica. As long as you’re advancing your career, you can do whatever you want in your personal life, as far as I’m concerned. It’s about time you used your connections to get ahead.”
Jessica flinches at his words, but I’m not surprised. From what little I know of Nigel, he seems like the type to push for status and success above all else. Still, hearing him talk about her like that—like she’s just a pawn in some game—rubs me the wrong way.
“Actually, we were just about to head out,” Jessica says the lie like it’s true, her voice a little too polite, trying to get her father and Trixie out the door before things get more uncomfortable.
Nigel raises an eyebrow but doesn’t protest. “Fine, fine. We won’t stay long. Just wanted to stop by and see how my daughter was doing.”
I can feel the irritation radiating off Jessica, and I step closer, offering her a subtle nod of support. She catches my eye and offers a small, grateful smile. “Thanks for stopping by,” she says, her voice still strained but polite.
Trixie beams at me one more time before turning to Nigel. “Ready to go, darling? We’ve got reservations at that fancy restaurant you wanted to try.”
Nigel nods and glances back at Jessica. “We’ll catch up more later. I’m sure you’re busy with… whatever this is,” he says, gesturing between Jessica and me with a dismissive wave of his hand. Then, with a final look around the house, he turns and heads back out the door with Trixie in tow.
The second they’re gone, Jessica lets out a long breath, her shoulders sagging with relief. “I can’t believe that just happened,” she mutters, rubbing her temples as if trying to fend off a headache.
“You okay?” I ask, stepping closer. I pull her into a hug and she relaxes against me.
She looks up at me, her expression the color of embarrassment. “Sorry about that. My dad’s… well, he’s always like that. And Trixie… ugh. She’s just one in a long string of too-young airheads who date him for his money and connections.” She shakes her head, clearly not in the mood to deal with any of it.
“Hey, it’s not your fault,” I say, offering her a reassuring smile. “You handled it well.” I find myself kissing her forehead in a gesture so familiar, it’s like we’ve been “real” dating for years.
She lets out a short laugh, though there’s no real humor in it. “I doubt that.”
Her energy feels heavier, and I want to pull her into the bedroom and rock her world, boundaries be damned. We’ve crossed almost all of them already, anyway. I can see the stress in Jessica’s eyes, the weight of whatever’s going on between her and her dad pressing down on her.
“You don’t have to explain anything,” I say quietly, sensing that this is a sore spot for her. “But I’m here if you want to talk.”
Jessica looks up at me, and for a brief second, I see something vulnerable in her expression—something like longing. But just as quickly, she shakes her head, brushing it off. “Thanks,” she says, her voice soft. “But I’ll be fine.”
I nod, respecting her boundaries, but sooner than not, all the things she’s not telling me will need to come out.
Jessica sighs and gives me a small smile. “I’m starving. Let’s eat.”
We head to the kitchen, and for now, at least, things feel somewhat normal again. But meeting Nigel gives me a world of compassion for Jessica. I can see the little girl in her wanting to please her dad and be the success he wants her to be. I wish she didn’t have to try so hard to please him.