11. Sophie
Istand at the end of the tunnel that leads from the Bashers locker room to the arena, my stomach doing flips.
It’s almost time for the team to head out to the ice and warm up before the game. I glance down at the maroon Bashers jersey I’m wearing.
I grab the hair tie from my wrist and pull my hair into a ponytail. That way people can see the name on the back.
Williams.
I’m wearing Xander Williams’ jersey. Number twenty-three. I still can’t believe it.
I think back to this morning when I walked into my office and saw his jersey draped over my office chair. There was a small white envelope on my desk and a bouquet of pink roses. I swooned. Hard. No guy’s ever gotten me flowers before.
When I read the card, I swooned even harder.
Can’t wait to see you in this.
-Xander
I grinned so hard, my cheeks ached. Even now just thinking about that has me giddy.
That’s why I’m standing here so that he sees me wearing his jersey before he hits the ice. Anticipation bubbles up inside of me. I’m giddy for his reaction. I want to see his face light up when he sees me wearing his name and his number.
I try and think of the last time I was this giddy and excited about a guy. I come up blank. I was excited when I dated Ethan, but I was also more nervous too, probably because that was my first relationship.
But with Xander, it’s different. Things are more fun, more lighthearted, more laidback. Easier.
Probably because this isn’t a real relationship. It’s fake, which means there’s zero pressure, zero at stake.
A weird feeling course through me. It feels wrong to call it fake when everything feels pretty real so far.
I halt the flurry of thoughts in my brain. No need to overanalyze this. Just enjoy it.
Just then my phone buzzes with a text from Xander.
Xander: Did you like my surprise?
I grin and type a response.
Me: I’m surprised that you managed to correctly guess my jersey size lol
Xander: Hey, I’ve got beauty AND brains, don’t underestimate me.
I giggle.
Me: Should you be texting me right now? My dad would want you to be focused before the game.
Xander: He’s standing with his back to me, I’m all good.
I chuckle.
Me: And yes, I loved the flowers. They were beautiful ? Thank you
I had no idea Xander could be so romantic. And sweet.
I think back to yesterday when I heard him talking to his mom on the phone. Just from those few minutes, it was obvious just how much he cares about her. He clearly looks after her and sees her often. And I could tell from his expression and the way he was questioning her about how she was doing that he worries about her a lot.
My chest aches. It seems more than the regular concern a person shows for their parents. I worry about my dad too, especially ever since he’s lost my mom. He spends most of his time working and thinking about work, even in the off-season. Every time I suggest he take some time off, he always says he doesn’t need to and he likes focusing all his time on hockey.
But there was something in the way that Xander spoke to his mom. He was on high alert, almost like he expected something was wrong.
I think back to the few minutes that I chatted with her. She sounded chipper and happy and totally fine. Maybe Xander is just an overprotective son and worries a little too much. Even though I would have never pegged him for that when I first met him, I can see it now. And it’s honestly so sweet and endearing how much he cares about her.
Just then I hear noises from the locker room. Out walk the Bashers players on their way to the ice. I stand off to the side so I’m not in the way. They all nod hello at me as they pass. I watch as Xander makes his way up. I take in the focused look in his hazel eyes, how he stretches his neck and rolls his shoulders.
For a moment, I second-guess my decision to surprise him right before the game. He’s clearly in the zone, mentally preparing himself to play.
But then he sees me, and the biggest, sexiest smile spreads across his face.
All that doubt instantly disappears.
He breaks away from his teammates and steps over to me.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Still smiling, he rakes his gaze along my torso.
The look in his eyes is hungry. My stomach does a somersault at that look…and that nickname.
Gorgeous.
I used to think it was silly when couples gave each other pet names. But I was wrong. Hearing Xander Williams call me gorgeous when his voice is low and rough has me in a tizzy.
I twist to the side, showing him the back of my jersey. He rests a gloved hand on my hip and pulls me to face him. My skin tingles at the confident, familiar way he touches me. Like he’s done it a million times before.
I really, really like that.
Something flashes in his eyes as he gazes at me.
“You look incredible,” he says, his voice a low growl.
“You like it?”
“I fucking love it.”
I grin. “Good luck out there tonight.”
“Thanks. You gonna throw your panties on the ice? That would bring me the best luck.”
I roll my eyes and laugh.
His gaze turns fiery and drops below my waist. “What kind of panties are you wearing, by the way?”
I shove his shoulder and he laughs. One of his teammates nudges him and he rejoins them. He winks at me before stepping onto the ice.
Just then I see my dad. For a second, I think about walking off before he sees me. We haven’t spoken since yesterday, when he saw that photo of Xander and me kissing and we told him that we’re dating.
But then he spots me. His frown eases and that knot in my stomach loosens the slightest bit.
He walks up to me, the look in his eyes soft again. “Hey, honey.”
His gaze drops to the jersey I’m wearing. His frown reappears.
“Dad—”
“I’ve got a game to coach. We’ll talk about this later.” He walks off.
I sigh, my shoulders falling. I hate that he’s still pissed. But this is exactly what I expected would happen—and why I wanted to fake date Xander in the first place.
I need my dad to stop looking at me like his precious baby girl. I need him to see me as an independent adult who can make my own decisions about my life—my love life especially.
And if him being mad about it is part of the process, then so be it.
Just then Dakota runs up and hugs me. I squeeze her tight, happy to see my best friend. Even though her brother Del plays for Nashville, she counts herself a Bashers fan since she grew up here and attends the games when she’s free.
When we break apart, she holds me by my shoulders and looks at the Bashers jersey I’m wearing. We met for dinner last night after work and that’s when I told her about my fake relationship with Xander. She was reluctant about it at first given the way he acted when I met him, but then I told her how Xander helped me in front of my ex Ethan. She admitted that was sweet of him to help me out like that. And when I told her how this fake relationship would show my dad that I’m a grown woman who can call the shots in every aspect of my life, she understood and supported me.
“Look at you. Officially a hockey girlfriend.” She shakes her head and smiles like she can’t believe it.
“Fake hockey girlfriend,” I say, careful to keep my voice down so no one hears.
Dakota tilts her head at me. “I saw the way you and Xander were looking at each other before he walked onto the ice. All that flirting and touching looked pretty real.”
She’s right. Flirting and teasing with Xander is a lot of fun. I don’t have to fake that at all.
As the teams warm up, I ask Dakota how things are going at the school she teaches at and how her brother Del is.
“He says he’s okay, but something’s going on with him. I can tell.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s more closed off than normal. And when I ask him what’s up, he says it’s all fine.”
“When he plays, he seems fine,” I say. “He almost broke Xander’s nose the other night, remember? That’s pretty par for the course.”
I expect Dakota to laugh, but she barely smiles. I can tell she’s worried about her big brother.
I touch her arm. “I’m sure he’s okay, Dakota. He’s always been a pretty quiet and inward guy, at least what I’ve seen of him.”
She nods, despite the worried look in her saucer-like brown eyes. “I just wish he’d be honest with me when I ask how he is. Like, if he’s having a hard time or something, I wish he’d tell me so I could try and help him. He’s always been the one taking care of everyone. Growing up, after our dad left, he always looked out for me and our mom. And when he became a pro hockey player, he supported us, which was so wonderful of him.”
Del paid for Dakota’s college and her apartment so she wouldn’t have to take out loans while she earned her teaching degree. He also bought a new house for their mom and paid off all their family debt.
“He deserves support too,” Dakota says. “Sometimes I wonder if that’s why he’s so brutal on the ice. Like it’s the only way he knows how to take out all the stress he holds inside because he doesn’t want to show it to anyone.”
“Yeah, that’s a good point,” I say.
Dakota and Del were raised by a single mother. When I met Dakota and became best friends with her, their dad wasn’t in the picture. When I asked her about it, I could tell it upset her. She told me their dad was an alcoholic who mistreated their mom. He left their family when Dakota and Del were little kids, and their mom struggled a lot financially to support them.
Dakota shakes her head, like she’s putting aside her worries for her brother. A sweet smile tugs at her lips. “Never mind all that. Did you bring panties to throw on the ice for Xander?”
I roll my eyes and chuckle. “He asked me that too. But I have something else planned.”
* * *
I’m in the training room, examining Braden Blomdahl, the Bashers goalie. He just caught a stick to the face during an intense scramble with a handful of players and landed head-first onto the ice. Even though he wears heavy-duty protection, our protocol is to be extra cautious when it comes to possible head injuries
I check his pupils and have him answer some routine questions to check brain function. He answers them easily.
I look over the left side of his head where he landed, just to make sure I don’t see any bruising or swelling.
“How does it feel? Still no serious pain?”
“Nope. I feel good, doc. I swear. I could smack my head ten more times on the ice and still be good.” He taps the side of his head with his fist. “This thing’s made of concrete.”
I can’t help but chuckle. Goalies are weird.
“Okay. You should be fine. But if you experience any sudden swelling or pain, you need to come see me immediately.”
“I will. Thanks, doc.”
He hops off the table, and walks out of the room. I check the time and see that it’s almost the end of the second period. I run to my office and grab the surprise I set aside for Xander.
I make my way to the ice during the last minute of the period. Time runs out and the buzzer sounds. Play ends and the players start to skate off the ice.
That’s when I toss the stuffed bear onto the ice, right in front of Xander’s path.
I watch as he skates over to it, frowning. But when he sees it’s a teddy bear hugging a bright red heart, he grins.
He turns around and catches my gaze. His eyebrow quirks up and he winks at me.
That stuffed bear is nowhere near as sexy as a pair of panties. But that doesn’t seem to bother Xander one bit.
The crowd makes a collective “aww” sound. His image flashes on the massive screen above. He’s beaming. He gives the teddy bear a kiss, which makes the crowd go wild.
I turn around and head back to the training room, giddy at just how happy Xander seems about my surprise.