Chapter 17 - June
June
The next day was a busy one.
First, I took my car to the dealership to complain about the spark plug crapping out on me.
Three mechanics examined the car, and eventually said that nothing could explain what had happened.
“Maybe an animal got under the hood and damaged it?” the head mechanic eventually said.
“These things have good protection. It’s almost like someone who knows what they’re doing broke in and damaged it. ”
Then we had a Reapers staff meeting at the arena.
And since I was the head physical trainer, my presence was required.
The other coaches spent most of the three-hour meeting discussing strategy and tactics, which I didn’t care about at all.
The only relevant part to me came at the end of the meeting, when I gave an update on the rehab progress of the players on the Injured Reserve list.
After that, it was time for the team’s regular practice. Drills, workouts, and rehab. I was exhausted by the time I drove home.
But I was happy that I was busy, because it kept my mind off my date with Cole! I would have been a nervous wreck if I was sitting at home thinking about it all day. As things were, I had just enough time to run home after practice, shower, and do my hair.
Cole texted me while I was getting ready and said he was stuck at the arena doing marketing stuff with the team’s social media manager.
So rather than picking me up for the date, I drove to meet him at the restaurant.
It was a swanky place in the Vine City neighborhood, with brick walls and lots of plants around the windows.
Nice, but not too nice. Exactly the kind of vibe I was hoping for.
I got a table and ordered a drink, and Cole came walking in before it arrived.
“Sorry about that. Marketing stuff.”
“I get it,” I replied, showing him my phone. “I’ve already seen the video on Instagram.”
He groaned when he saw his face on the screen. “They post them quick, don’t they. Sometimes I miss playing in college. Back then, all I had to do was play hockey without all the extra stuff.”
“Poor Cole Thibault, captain of the Reapers and the face of the franchise,” I teased.
He smirked at me. “Yeah, it probably sounds shitty for a millionaire athlete to complain about his job, eh?”
I quickly shook my head. “I was just giving you a hard time. I get it. You guys have to deal with a lot during the season. A lot more than I knew about before I started working for the team.”
I reached across the table and touched his hand. He glanced down at my hand, and gave me a curious look. Fortunately, the moment was interrupted by the waitress arriving to take his drink order.
“I’m just sad I missed a chance to see the awesome car you were bragging about,” I said.
He chuckled. “I forgot about that. Any more issues since the spark plug died?”
“Nope. Knock on wood.” I rapped my knuckles on the table. “It’s still weird that it happened to both of our cars at the same time.”
“It has to be some sort of manufacturer’s defect,” he said, running a hand through his dirty-blond hair. “Although I think that Bronco has been bad luck since I got it. I had two flat tires during the off-season.”
“Better ask them for another free car,” I joked. “What I’m trying to say is that dinner is on you tonight.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Awfully presumptuous of you.”
“Well you’re the one who offered to take me to dinner. And I have a monthly Ford Bronco payment burning a hole in my bank account. But I’ll pay for the second date.”
“Second date? Even more presumptuous.”
I started to make a joke about how Rhett had said he takes things slow, but stopped myself. I didn’t want him knowing Rhett and I had talked about this date. That might lead to Cole asking why we were talking about the date, and… other things.
“Well, you know, first dates are for all the bullshit questions,” I said. “Second dates are where you really get to know a guy.”
“I think we’ve covered a lot of bullshit questions,” Cole pointed out. “We know where we both work. We know what cars we drive.”
“Hmm. Good point. Anything else I should know?”
He furrowed his brow. “Let’s see. I don’t believe in horoscopes, but I like reading mine anyways for fun. Pisces, by the way. I’m also allergic to peanuts.”
“Peanuts? I would’ve starved in college without peanut butter.”
“Yeah, I’m deathly allergic. Have to carry an EpiPen around with me.” He patted his pocket. “There are only about ten restaurants in town that I know don’t use peanut oil in their kitchen.”
“Yikes. Any other deadly information I should know?”
“Hmm. I think that just about covers it. Should we jump straight to the second date, then?”
“Excellent idea,” I replied. “Our first date was great. I really like how you walked me to my door.”
“What can I say? I’m a gentleman.” Cole smiled and leaned forward on the table. “I like how you took the initiative and kissed me on the cheek.”
“I’m a modern woman.”
We ordered two appetizers when the waitress returned, and nibbled on them while chatting about other basic stuff.
I already knew Cole was from Vancouver, so I told him my backstory.
Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina.
Going to the University of Georgia, and becoming one of the athletic trainers by the time I was a senior.
“That basically covers all the first date questions we might have missed,” I said. “What are some good second date topics?”
Cole immediately grinned. “I’ve got a good one. We got into a huge argument about it in the locker room the other day.”
“On Tuesday? When you guys were shouting at each other? I wondered what that was about.”
“It might lead to us arguing,” Cole warned.
“That’s okay,” I said, nodding solemnly. “Better to find out now rather than in ten years when we’re married and have two kids.”
He blinked in surprise, then chuckled. “All right, here we go. The big topic that almost broke up the team…”
I drumrolled my fingers on the table as he pulled out his phone. When he showed me the screen, I had to lean forward and squint to see the photo.
“Is that a bracket? Like for March Madness?”
“Yes, but it’s not sports teams,” he said. “This is a bracket of the best chairs.”
I stared at him. “Best chairs? That’s what the entire team was fighting about?”
“Just wait,” Cole assured me. “Let’s go through the matchups. At the top of the bracket, we have Rocking Chair versus Office Chair.”
“Rocking, no contest.” I said.
He nodded, tapping on the screen. “Next matchup. Lawn Chair versus Recliner.”
“Recliner.”
“I agree.” He tapped again.
“I thought these were supposed to start an argument?”
“Just wait. The next matchup is Bean Bag Chair versus Camping Chair.”
“Camping,” I answered without hesitation.
Cole’s smile disappeared. “You’re joking.”
“You think Bean Bag Chairs are better?”
“Obviously. They’re much more comfortable.”
“You can’t get out of them!” I argued. “You sink into them, then have to roll sideways.”
“Still better than a Camping Chair.”
I scoffed in disbelief. “Camping Chairs are extremely versatile. They fold up and fit into a bag you can throw over your shoulder!”
“That’s extra work. Bean Bag Chairs don’t require anything. They’re ready to go.”
“A pile of dog poop is ready to go, but that doesn’t mean I want to sit in it!”
Cole busted out laughing, covering his mouth and almost spitting out his beer.
“Okay, I get why this started such a big fight,” I admitted.
“We haven’t even gotten to the tough ones yet,” Cole said. “Wait until we get to Stools versus Booths.”
“What? A booth isn’t a chair!”
“Sure it is,” he argued, gesturing to the booths we were currently sitting in. “It’s basically a long chair without armrests.”
I threw up my hands. “No it’s not!”
For the next twenty minutes, we nibbled on our appetizers and argued about chairs, of all things. It was good natured, and I had to admit that it was a great way to get to know someone.
“Okay, we’re down to Recliner versus Rocking Chair in the final,” Cole said. “Which is the greatest chair?”
“The one chair to rule them all,” I said dramatically. “You know my opinion on Recliners. I think it has to be Recliner.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “I thought for sure you were going to pick Rocking!”
“Why?”
“Because you’re from Charleston. The airport is famous for having rocking chairs in the terminal.”
I gave him a polite smile. “You’re thinking of Charlotte.”
He let out a long sigh. “Damnit. You’re right. They both start with C and are in South Carolina.”
“Charlotte is in North Carolina, actually.”
He groaned and gestured with a French fry. “I’m from Vancouver. My Carolina knowledge is limited. Why are there two of them, anyway? You Americans have too many states. British Colombia is the size of thirty Carolinas.”
“I’ll be sure to let my Senator know,” I joked.
The waitress reappeared, and we ordered our main courses and another round of drinks. Cole got up to use the bathroom, so I flagged the waitress down and asked for a pen and children’s menu. By the time Cole got back, I had my own bracket drawn on the back.
“Okay, I’ve got one for us to fill out,” I said.
“Uh oh. We haven’t argued enough already?”
“Nope. It’s important that I learn your opinion on these.” I held up the paper. “Favorite Junes.”
He snorted. “Junes?”
“You heard me. The number one seed is June Wilder, of course.”
“Of course.”
“Then there’s June Lockhart, the actress. June Cleaver, the character from Leave it to Beaver. June the month, of course, and Junebug the insect, Juno the Roman Goddess…”
“Juno is a stretch, but I’ll allow it,” Cole said.
In contrast to chair opinions, Cole and I were on the same page regarding most of this bracket. After filling out most of the bracket, it was down to Juno and myself in the final.
“I think the answer is obvious,” I said. “I can’t compete with a Roman Goddess.”
Cole shook his head. “Hell no. My pick is you.”
“You’re just being nice.”
“Juno is a mythical god, and you’re a very real, very attractive woman,” Cole insisted. “You’re also paying for dinner, which puts you over the top.”
I cocked my head at him. “I’m paying?”
“Sure. This is our second date, after all, and I paid for the first date.”
I sputtered a laugh, and he laughed with me. Our chemistry felt easy and natural. I realized I was leaning forward because I wanted to be just a little bit closer to him.
I’ve never had a first date go this well before.
As if he’d read my mind, Cole suddenly said, “I’ve never had a date go this well before.”
“I was just thinking that!”
“I think I’m comfortable around you because you’ve already touched my body more than most women,” he said with a sexy smirk. “Although most women don’t dig their fingers into my calf so hard I wince.”
“You need to date better women, then.”
“I actually never date during the regular season,” he admitted. “Between games, practices, road trips, and marketing obligations, I usually don’t have the time or energy.”
“Why’d you make an exception for me?”
“Because,” Cole said, “you’re exceptional.”
I wasn’t expecting the compliment, so it hit with extra force. Something in my chest tightened, and I found myself leaning forward even more. If Cole had leaned forward with me at that exact moment, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from kissing him.
Forget kissing, I thought. I’d go home with Cole right now if he asked.
But then another thought occurred to me. One which made my stomach twist.
I’ve slept with Rhett.