10. Xander
Ismile like an idiot, excited to see this genius girl wear my jersey.
My phone rings. I glance at the screen and see it’s my mom calling. Worry sparks in my chest.
Don’t freak out. She’s okay.
“I should take this. It’s my mom,” I tell Sophie.
“Yeah, go ahead.”
I tap my phone screen and answer. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart. You’re not busy, are you? Sorry if you are.”
My chest aches. I hate it when she apologizes for calling me.
“Mom, how many times do I have to tell you? You can call me whenever. No matter what,” I say gently.
I look up and see Sophie staring at me with an expression I don’t recognize. She quickly looks away.
“Oh, but, sweetheart, you’re so busy sometimes. I don’t want to pester you.”
“You never pester me, Mom. Everything okay?”
“Oh yes, everything’s fine. It’s just that the sink in the hallway bathroom is draining kind of slow lately, so I was wondering if you’d be able to bring your tools and take a look at it the next time you come by?”
“Yeah, of course. How’s everything else? You feeling alright?”
“Yes, sweetheart. I’m feeling good. I even felt good enough to go for a walk with Louise today.”
The muscles in my back and shoulders tense. My brain goes into worst-case-scenario mode. I imagine her slipping on a patch of ice or snow and breaking her leg. Or hitting her head.
I press my eyes shut and will away those thoughts.
She’s fine, Xander. She’s completely fine.
“You sure that was a good idea?” I say before I catch myself. My mom is a sweet and patient woman, but she hates it when I fuss over her too much.
“Xander, sweetie, I’m fine. Louise was by my side the entire time. And I brought my cane too. It was just so nice to get out for a bit. I’ve been cooped up inside for too long. I just needed to go for a quick little walk.”
A pang of guilt hits me. I love playing hockey for a living, and I know how lucky I am to be able to do it professionally. I get paid millions of dollars to skate around and hit a puck. But it also comes with a crazy schedule. During the season, I have limited free time. When I’m not playing games, I’m training or at practice, or traveling. If I had a normal work schedule, I’d be able to spend more time with my mom and look after her instead of having to hire caretakers to do it for me.
“I just want to make sure you’re safe, Mom,” I say.
“I know that, sweetie. And I love you for it. And for all that you do to take care of me. I’ve got the best son in the whole world.”
Emotion swells up inside of me. But then a sliver of doubt crashes through.
She’s your mom. She has to say that.
I try my best to ignore that voice and focus on our conversation.
“Now if only you’d settle down and give me some grandbabies. Then you’d be the best son in the whole universe.”
I roll my eyes and let out an embarrassed laugh. “God, Mom.”
“I’m just being honest. Goodness knows you fool around enough with all your lady friends.”
My face is burning. “Mom, seriously?”
“What are they called again? Puck rabbits?”
I hold back a groan. “Puck bunnies.”
Sophie bursts out laughing. I try to frown at her, but I’m laughing too.
“Sweetie, Are you with someone?”
“Uh, yeah, actually.”
“You should have said something! I didn’t mean to interrupt. Say hi to Theo and Dylan and Issac for me.”
“Oh, I’m not actually with the guys…” I look at Sophie.
“Then who are you…” My mom goes quiet for a sec. “Sweetie, are you on a date with one of those puck bunnies?”
I roll my eyes. “No, Mom.”
“Well, you’re clearly with a young lady, judging by how flustered you sound right now.”
I can tell my mom is smiling. She loves busting my chops when it comes to my dating life.
I let out a breath. “Okay yes, I’m with a woman. Her name is Sophie. She’s my girlfriend.”
Sophie’s eyebrows lift. She looks surprised but also amused.
My mom makes a high-pitched excited noise. It’s so loud, I have to hold the phone away from my ear.
Sophie’s eyes go wide at the noise.
I shrug at her. “Your dad knows about us. May as well tell my mom too.”
“She’s taking it a lot better than he did,” Sophie says.
“Mom, can you please make human noises now?”
“Goodness, Xander. Excuse my language, but it’s about damn time. Now, tell me all about this young lady.”
I huff out a breath.
Sophie grins at me. “Want me to talk to her?”
“Seriously? You want to?”
“You look like you could use a break.” She chuckles.
I smile at her. “Mom, actually, you wanna talk to her?”
“Oh, I would love that! Yes, put her on!”
I hand the phone to Sophie, who’s smiling as she accepts it.
“Hello, Mrs. Williams?” She laughs softly. “You’re sure? Well okay then, Jeanette.”
For the next couple of minutes, Sophie completely charms my mom with small talk. She smiles the whole time.
I motion to Sophie that I can take over again.
“It looks like Xander wants to chat with you again…Of course, I’d love to come over and visit with you in person…I enjoyed talking to you too…absolutely…bye, Jeanette.”
Sophie is smiling when she hands back the phone.
“Xander, this girl is a gem! She’s a doctor! At just twenty-four!”
I chuckle and look at Sophie. “She’s incredible, isn’t she?” That pink flush paints her beautiful skin once more.
“She is! My goodness! You need to bring her over soon. I want to meet her.”
“I’ll talk to Sophie about it first, and only if you’re feeling okay?—”
“Oh sweetie, you stop with all that fussing. I’m feeling fantastic to know that my son is dating a sweet young lady who’s also a genius. Bring her over for lunch next Sunday.”
We exchange I love yous and say goodbye before hanging up.
I look at Sophie. “Well. It’s official. My mom loves you and she hasn’t even met you in person.”
“She’s a sweetheart,” Sophie says, smiling.
“You sure you’re okay coming over next Sunday to meet her? I can always make up an excuse for why you can’t come if it makes you uncomfortable.”
Sophie shakes her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “I’d like to meet her. I mean, as long as you’re okay with it.”
“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”
She hesitates. “I just feel bad lying to your mom and telling her we’re in a relationship when it’s fake. She seems genuinely happy and excited about us.”
I soften at the concern in her voice. She’s so damn pure-hearted.
“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” I say. “My mom has been on my case for years, trying to get me to settle down. She’ll just be caught up in the excitement of seeing me with someone.”
“You sure?” Sophie asks.
“Positive.”
She smiles again.
“You handled her really well, by the way. She can get a little excited sometimes.”
“She was adorable. Her reaction was a lot nicer than my dad’s.”
I laugh. “You’re right about that.”
She checks the time on her phone. “I should get back to work.”
We walk out of the coffee shop together. I hold the door open for her, then scoop her hand in mind as I walk her to her car in the parking lot.
She looks up at me, surprised.
“Hand-holding is part of the deal, remember?” I say, smiling down at her.
She grins. “Right.”
As we walk, I think about how much things have changed in just the past few hours. This morning I was the guy who never thought I’d get into a relationship. Now I’m boyfriend material. Fake boyfriend material, but still. Kind of wild.
A cold wind whips around us, blowing the top of Sophie’s coat open. I turn to her, then do up the top buttons. My hands brush her chin. Christ, her skin is so, so soft.
She grins up at me. “Thanks.”
I wink at her.
“So I’ll see you at the game tomorrow,” she says as she pulls her keys from her purse. She moves to open her car door, but I grab her by the waist and pull her against me.
Her crystal blue eyes are dazed as she stares up at me.
“Good-bye kiss. In case anyone sees us and recognizes us. We need to say goodbye like a real couple would,” I say softly.
Her gaze drops to my lips and she nods.
I press my mouth against hers, relishing the pillowy feel of her lips. Jesus, she’s got the mouth of an angel. Her lips are so silky, just like her skin. Is she soft like this all over?
She moves her mouth slowly against mine, sinking into my embrace. When she moans softly against my lips, arousal flickers inside of me. I run my tongue along the seam of her lips, gently parting them open.
She teases the tip of her tongue against mine and that flicker turns into a fire. Her tongue is so sweet, so wet, so soft. She tastes like coffee and sugar and fuck, it’s intoxicating.
Gently, I grip her jaw with my hand and tip her head up, deepening our kiss.
A car horn blares and we jump apart. I stumble back at a step and tug a hand through my hair as I get my bearings back.
I look at Sophie, who’s standing in front of me, touching her fingertips to her lips as she gazes off to the side, a cloudy look in her eyes.
She blinks and looks at me for a long moment before a shy smile pulls at her lips. The corner of my mouth quirks up. I think she enjoyed that kiss just as much as I did.
I open the car door for her and help her in.
I lean down. “Wear my jersey tomorrow, okay?”
She bites back a smile. “Okay.”
I shut the door and watch as she puts on her seatbelt. I tap on her window to make sure she locks the door, then watch as she drives away.
As I walk to my car and drive home, there’s a weird feeling in my stomach. It takes a minute before I realize it’s butterflies.