Hayley
“ S o, I know you don’t particularly like hanging at the places the team hangs out, but I figured we could start the night at The Nest and see where it goes,” Cassidy says happily as I finish applying mascara.
The Nest is one of the many hangouts the Skipjacks frequented during the off season and after games. I haven’t been there since my twenty-first birthday. It was one of the rare times I went out since I became a mom at a young age, but I remember it being one of my favorite places.
“It’s fine,” I say, rolling my eyes with a smile on my face as she does her giddy dance.
Cassidy and I walk hand in hand down the sidewalk toward The Nest. I had expected at least a text from Tucker saying he was out of surgery by now being that it was close to nine at night, and then he could come to the bar for a drink or two, but one never came.
We take a seat at a high-top table by the rooftop bar, giving us a clear view of both the bar and the city. Some of the players from the team are mingling and stop to say hello. It’s no surprise that Brooks is among them, his smile cocky as he comes to our table, offering us drinks.
In fact, he stays at our table for quite some time. Is it to flirt with Cassidy or myself? That I’m unsure of, but the number of stolen glances he throws my way, I can’t help but wonder.
He could have any girl in this bar. They practically eye fuck him every time they walk by our table or glance in our direction. Yet he stays at our table talking as if we are his main focus. I can’t help but inwardly laugh at that.
It’s close to ten thirty, and the crowd thickens. The mellow music has turned into a DJ-type atmosphere, and the dance floor is now full of hot, sweaty bodies. Not my scene, but Cassidy has a blast shaking her ass with Channing Halloway.
I make my way to the bar in hopes of closing out my tab when a familiar face catches my sights.
“Tucker?” I whisper to myself as I try to get a better view of the man I’m supposed to be in a relationship with and the blonde dangling all over him.
It can’t be him. He’s supposed to be in a surgery, I think to myself as I continue to stare, but it becomes evident that the man is in fact my Tucker as I glance at the gold Rolex on his wrist. It’s the one I had gifted him for his birthday a few months back.
Limited edition. One out of ten made total.
I couldn’t believe what I’m seeing in front of me. It’s like senior year all over again. The first guy I’ve let into my life after ten years is breaking my heart in plain sight. I rub the tightness that has formed in my chest as I try to keep the tears and anger at bay.
Fuck this !
I close out my tab, but not before ordering a glass of water. One I grab once my signature has been scribbled on the check and walk madly toward the cheater of the hour.
“TUCKER!” I yell over the thumping bass as the music roars throughout the rooftop. As he turns around, a look of sheer panic registers on his face.
“Hayley, wait!” he says, coming toward me as I toss the glass of water over him and his slutty date.
“We’re done!”
I stalk back toward the bar, slamming the glass down before walking toward the stairs to leave this godforsaken bar.
How could I have been so blind to not have seen this coming?
He had become distant and short with me on the phone ever since I mentioned I was taking the job with the Skipjacks.
Maybe this was all part of his plan, a way for him to keep his bachelor lifestyle going.
When I met Tucker, he was nothing but your typical bachelor.
Dates and hookups with different women every night of the week.
How he would use the excuse of working late when one woman started to get too attached.
I know this because before Tucker and I became a thing, we were friends.
However, it felt different when he finally asked me out.
You’re so fucking stupid, I inwardly scold myself as I make my way to the curb to wait for an Uber. Leaning against the brick wall to hold myself up, I wrestle with my phone to get the app open.
Yeah, how fucking stupid and delusional could I be.
“Hayley?” A voice comes from the doorway near the bar. I almost expect it to be Dr. douchebag, but it’s not. It’s none other than Mr. hockey douche.
I groan at him as I continue to struggle with my phone. Attempting to ignore him, but it’s not working. “Are you okay? What the hell happened in there?” he asks, stepping in front of me.
“Why do you care?” I hiss, turning to try to walk away from him but stumbling in the process.
I hadn’t thought I drank a lot, but apparently, I’ve underestimated myself.
“Where do you think you’re going? And in this condition?” he scolds as he grabs my elbow to steady me. “Come on, I’ll drive you home. We can get something to absorb some of that alcohol on the way.”
“No, thank you. I think I’ll wait for my Uber,” I say, turning my back to him. Now only if I can get this godforsaken app open.
“Not happening,” he scolds while stepping closer to me.
My breath gets caught in my throat from the closeness, my teeth dig into my bottom lip as his hands move down my sides.
Before I can register what’s happening, a small moan escapes my lips as he grips my hips tightly, tossing me over his shoulder before stalking to his car.
Sitting at a booth in Donna’s Diner. I haven’t been here since I was a kid, but Brooks seems to be a frequent flyer. Joanna, our server, an older woman with grayish hair, knew his order before he even said hello.
I stare at the phone in my hands as if Tucker’s going to call. Asshole didn’t even attempt to come after me when I caught him with that bimbo.
A stray tear travels down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away as I feel Brooks’ eyes on me. Observing my every move.
“I know it’s diner food, but it’s not bad enough to make you cry,” he says, staring at me with question. “So, wanna tell me what happened back there?”
Do I want to tell him about Tucker — No, but I know if I don’t start talking, he’ll never drop it. Plus, the stinging of tears against the back of my eyes says that I need to let it all out.
“I was dating someone,” I say almost on a whisper. “An old colleague of mine. I should have seen this coming the whole time.”
“What?” he asks, taking a sip of his coffee.
The flashback of tonight’s events run through my mind. Tucker’s hands wrapped around the blonde’s waist. Holding her close. Grinding against her as they swayed to the music. She looked familiar. Like she worked with us at the hospital.
I take a sip of my own coffee, wincing at the taste. Black. Yuck. I reach for the creamer and add two sugar packets before stirring it together.
I take a sip, making eye contact with Brooks as if he’s anxious for me to continue. “He started acting weird. It’s been going on for the past two weeks. I just never thought anything of it.”
Joanna brings our food, the greasy burger causing my stomach to rumble from the smell. She gives Brooks a little wink before walking away.
“Someone has a thing for you,” I say, rolling my eyes as I squirt a glob of ketchup on top of my burger.
He smirks a little before doing the same. “Nah, Joanna and I go way back. She’s like an adoptive mom to me. So, this guy. What makes him so special? Let me guess… big —”
“I’m gonna stop you right there,” I say, coughing from the food I choke on. “I thought Tucker was different from all the others. A unicorn.”
“A what?”
“You know… A unicorn. That rare kind of love you find. Where that person loves and supports your goals and aspirations without dreaming of holding you back.” The one who would accept a single mom and her child.
“I don’t think that’s what the actual definition of unicorn in a relationship means,” he teases.
“Then what does it mean?” I say, narrowing my eyes at him and the cocky smirk he’s wearing.
“I’m pretty sure it means something along the lines of a polyamorous relationship.” His smile grows as my jaw falls open.
“Oh. My. God. That is totally not what I meant,” I say, throwing a French fry at him as he chuckles at my embarrassment.
It’s weird being here with Brooks. It feels all little too intimate, but I’m not about to bring that up.
My buzz is finally wearing off, and I’m sure this was all a ruse to get into my pants.
Which will most definitely not happen now regardless of how buzzed I was or vulnerable.
I’m not sure why he would bother trying anyway when there are thousands of girls who would gladly do it so easily.
He looks like he wants to say something, but Joanne interrupts him. “Can I get you anything else, sugar?”
Sugar .
Yeah, adoptive mom my ass. She has the hots for him.
He shakes his head as he pulls a hundred from his billfold. “No thanks, Jo. This should cover the damage. Keep the change.”
She shakes her head, walking away and taking our plates with her. We walk outside the diner toward his car. Our comfortable conversation disappearing and the tension in the air as thick as pea soup.
“You know you don’t have to drive me home. I think I’m sober enough and can manage to get an Uber,” I say, fishing my phone out of my bag.
He puts his hands in his pocket as he leans against the passenger side door. His muscles flex, revealing the veins of his forearms. Such. A. Turn on.
It’s seriously like porn for healthcare workers.
“Really, I don’t mind, and I’m already here. You’d have to wait… what like thirty minutes for an Uber? And I wouldn’t be letting you wait alone.” He makes his point.
“Fine,” I say begrudgingly as I step toward the now opened passenger side door.
He passes me his phone to input my address into his GPS.
He pulls out of the parking lot, driving toward my home.
I can’t help but glance his way as he drives.
His strong arms flex as he focuses on the road, a lock of his thick, dark hair falling onto his face as his brows furrow as if he’s deep in thought.
Is he being truly genuine tonight, or is it all a part of his game? Could there really be a kind, passionate man beneath that rugged exterior of a hockey player? I doubt it, but I can’t help but wonder.
Fifteen minutes pass, and he’s pulling to the curb to park in front of my townhome. It’s night like tonight that I hate going home alone. Camden’s out with his friends, and where am I going to be? All alone in an empty house.
“Well, thank you for the ride and dinner,” I say, quickly grabbing the door handle and opening the door.
His door flies open just as fast as he makes his way to my side. “Here, let me walk you to your door.”
Seriously?
He can’t be serious. Just because he has driven me home, fed me, and walks me to my door does not mean he will get an invitation inside my home. This night keeps looking more and more like a date I didn’t even ask for.
“No really, it’s fine,” I say, slamming the door and walking toward my stoop.
My door keys in hand, I turn around to see Brooks a few steps behind me. He slows his pace as he reaches the same step as me.
He runs a hand through his hair as if he’s nervous about something.
“Brooks, you don’t have to say anything. I’ll be fine,” I say before turning to my door and putting the key in the lock.
“Somehow, I don’t doubt that. I was just gonna ask if I… could use your restroom before heading home,” he says, shoving his hands into his jean pockets.
“Oh,” I say, a pink blush forming on my cheeks. “Yeah… sure.”
I step inside, holding the door open for him to enter before kicking my heels off into the pile of shoes next to the front door. I place my purse on the entryway table and walk toward the living room, Brooks following close.
“Uh… bathroom down here is currently being remodeled so you have to use the one upstairs. Second door on the right.”
He nods his head and disappears up the stairs.
My nerves build at the thought of Brooks in my house.
I should have told him no; this is probably all just a plea to get into my pants.
The cocky smirk he has permanently on display says it all.
God, sometimes I wish I can wipe It off, but not after I kiss the shit out of him.
I stand in my kitchen, opening a bottle of water when Brooks finally reappears. He looks nervous as he fidgets with his car keys in hand. “Was beginning to think you fell in. You didn’t go snooping around, did you?”
In all seriousness, I was just joking, but the look on his face says that may be exactly what he was doing.
He rubs the back of his neck as if to relieve some tension, and I can’t help the urge to tease him some more.
“You didn’t happen to wander into my bedroom, did you?
Cause if you did, I just hope you didn’t see any of my unmentionables on the floor. ”
“No!” he says, looking more and more nervous, guilty almost. “Uh… I’m going to get going.”
Gotcha.
“You did go into my room,” I tease, a smirk playing at my lips. “Did you touch any of my panties that were lying on the floor up there?”
The guilt even more evident as he clears his throat. “…No.”
He turns on his heels quickly, making his way to the front door. I follow closely, knowing that I certainly caught him redhanded. A devilish smirk playing at my lips as he turns to say something to me. “See you Monday, five a.m. Don’t be late.”
Standing in the doorway, I watch him rush down the stairs to his car.
I’ve gotten under his skin as he did mine.
I know nothing can come of this, but what’s the harm of playing this little game he’s started?
Nothing really. Except the fact that it’s a dangerous game, and my heart could get trampled in the process.