4. Bryce #2
“That ‘I just met the love of my life’ look,” he says, matter-of-factly. “It’s comical, really.” He makes a face, complete with big eyes that look like dancing hearts should shoot out of them and swirl around his head like a little love tornado.
“I do NOT look like that!” I’d better not; that’s ridiculous. “Besides, I didn’t meet the love of my life at a bookstore halfway across the country from where I live. What kind of cosmic joke would that be?”
Colt raises an eyebrow and grins. “Sounds like someone doth protest too much.”
I scoff. “Now you quote Shakespeare?" I ask, looking around. “Is this some sort of gag show? Is someone going to pop out from around the corner and show me the cameras?”
Colt laughs and holds his hands up in surrender. “Alright, you caught me,” he says, his tone mocking. “You’re on Hockey Set-Ups. The woman you met was a plant. Clearly, they have a way to read your mind and know exactly where you’re going and what you’re thinking.” He rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, pointing to his plate with my fork. “Eat your dinner.”
Thankfully, the conversation shifts, and Colt and I spend the rest of the evening discussing the upcoming tournament schedule.
It’s going to be a packed couple of weeks.
Between practices, events, pressers, and games, it’s going to be busy.
Which is good; less time to spend thinking about a certain redhead with green eyes that sparkle when she’s surprised.
“I’m going to head back,” I say once we’ve paid the bill.
“I’m supposed to FaceTime my nephew and show him my hotel room.
” I grin. Matti is almost more excited about this tournament than I am.
He’s even asked Lacey if he can invite his friends over for a watch party.
I had some hockey swag sent to her house for Matti to give out to his friends.
I’m pretty sure that will make him the coolest kid in school.
“See you later,” Colt says. “I’m going to go say hi to some more guys I recognize. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The walk back to the hotel is nice. There’s a slight breeze which is doing almost nothing to cool things off, but it’s carrying the scent of jasmine from somewhere which reminds me of my mom’s garden back home.
Leaving Piney Brook to play hockey was a no brainer.
It’s what I’d always worked towards, but sometimes I miss the simplicity of living in a small town.
No traffic, no crowded sidewalks, just people who’ve known you since you were in diapers.
Growing up, I thought it was terrible. I couldn’t get away with anything, but now… Now, I really miss it.
Maybe when I retire, I’ll move back to Piney Brook and enjoy life in a small town again.
I wonder if Hadley would like Piney Brook.
What? No, I don’t. That’s insane.
Bryce Chambers, you’ve lost your mind.
Ugh! I need to just text her. That way, I can see we have nothing in common, and get her out of my head.
Once I’m back in my room, the door safely shut and locked for the night, I sit on the bed and pull out my phone. I find her number in my contacts and open a text chat.
Bryce: Hi Hadley. It’s Bryce, from the bookstore today. Thanks again for the recommendations.
There. I texted her. She probably won’t even text me back. For all I know, she gave me a fake number.
She gave me a fake number. I laugh out loud, the sound bouncing off the walls of the spacious room. I hadn’t even considered that. All day I’ve been stressed out and she probably didn’t even give me her actual number.
My phone dings with an incoming message.
Hadley: Hi. You’re welcome. I was surprised you bought them all, to be honest. Did you even look at them?
My heart swoops in my chest before landing solidly in my stomach.
It wasn’t a fake number after all. Why are my hands shaking?
I’m Bryce Chambers, a professional hockey player.
I stare down opponents, skate like a dancer gliding on the ice, and take hits like the best of them.
I don’t get shaky hands from a text message.
Except they are shaking. Which tracks, because I’m pretty sure they are keeping rhythm with the butterflies that are beating around my stomach.
I glance at my suitcase where the books are still in the bag the cashier put them in.
No, definitely did not look.
Bryce: I trust your judgment.
Besides, they’re little kid books. I’m sure whatever I send him, Matti will love.
When no response comes right away, I toss the phone down and head to the bathroom to shower. I need to regroup before I call Matti and show him my hotel room. It would be bad if Lacey caught wind that I met someone who makes my hands shake and my stomach riot. I’d never hear the end of it.
I’m pulling a shirt over my head when my phone rings. I yank the shirt down and grab the phone from the bed where I’d tossed it earlier. Lacey’s name lights up the screen. I hit the video button to open the video chat.
“Uncle Bryce!” Matti says, holding the phone way too close to his face. “Are you there yet?”
“Hi, Matti,” I say, turning the volume on my phone down a little. How a small boy can be so loud is beyond me. “I’m here. What do you want to see first?”
I spend the next twenty minutes giving Matti a tour of the hotel room, complete with a view of the closet and the inside of the drawers.
“That’s so cool!” Matti says when he sees the mini fridge. “Mom, can I have one of those in my room?”
Lacey must be sitting close to him because I hear her laugh loud and clear. “Not until you’re a teenager,” she says, her hand coming into view as she ruffles his hair. “Tell Uncle Bryce goodnight. It’s time for you to get ready for bed.”
“Do I have to?” Matti asks, poking out his bottom lip.
“Yes,” Lacey says. “You’re going to Grandma’s tomorrow, remember? You’ll need lots of energy to keep up with her.”
“Okay,” Matti says dramatically. “Goodnight, Uncle Bryce.”
“‘Night, Matti. Be good for your Mom and Dad, okay?”
“Okay,” he passes the phone to Lacey, and I hear him running away.
“So,” Lacey says. “Sounds like you’ve got quite the set up.”
I shrug. “It’s definitely a nice hotel.”
“Are you excited? The team meetup is tomorrow, right?” she asks.
“Yeah, Colt Bradley and a few other guys are already in town, but everyone else is coming in tonight or early tomorrow morning.”
“That’s good. Still feeling nervous?” she asks.
“A little, but I’m feeling more centered today.” More distracted is more like it, but I’m not telling my little sister that tidbit of information.
“Mom! I need your help.”
Lacey looks to her right and shakes her head. “I gotta run. Matti has his pajamas stuck around his face again.”
I laugh, envisioning him stuck in his pjs. “No problem. We’ll talk soon,” I say, letting her end the call.
I notice a missed text from Hadley.
Hadley: Thank you. It was nice to meet you. I hope whatever work thing you’re in town for gives you some time to explore. DC is worth taking the time to do some sightseeing.
Suddenly, I have the urge to ask her to be my tour guide… Maybe? No, right? No.
Bryce: It was nice to meet you, too. How about I buy you coffee and you can tell me all the places I need to visit?
I hit send before I can over think it.
Three dots appear, disappear, reappear…
Bryce: It’s okay to say no.
I hit send just as a text comes through.
Hadley: That would be great. I’m busy tomorrow, but text me next week when you’re free and we can meet at my favorite coffee spot. I’ll give you the lowdown on which things to skip, and which ones you really should see before you leave.
The smile that spreads across my face is one of those smiles that pulls your cheeks out too far and shows every single one of your teeth.
Like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland or something.
I’d roll my eyes if I saw someone else making that face over a coffee date. Thank goodness we get our own rooms.
Bryce: Sounds good. Have a great night, Hadley.
Hadley: You too, Bryce.
I plug my phone into the charger and lay back, staring at the ceiling.
A coffee date.
With a woman I can’t stop thinking about.
In the middle of a tournament that could change everything for me.
Yeah.
This should go well.