5. New York v. Chicago
5
New York v. Chicago
Asher
“So, are you a hockey fan?” I ask Daisy enroute to the game. I need to gather as much personal information as I can if I want to give the password a try. When I looked up the Archi7000 online, I couldn’t find anything, which means it’s a proprietary software and probably the key to their competitive edge.
“Not really. My roommate, Lucy, is the die-hard sports fan. I just tag along, but hockey is fun. What about you?”
“Not a bi g fan? What’s with the Chicago Cavaliers scarf, then?”
She blushes, tying it tighter around her neck. “I have to support my team, don’t I? That’s what real fans do when they love their city.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She shrugs, peering out the window. “Well, I’m not seeing a New York Raptors scarf around your neck.”
I choke out a laugh. “Because I didn’t know we’d be going to a hockey game. What was I supposed to do? Pack a jersey for every sports team in New York? I’d need a huge suitcase.”
She presses her lips, withholding a smile.
The roads become congested, and more and more supporters are crowding the sidewalks, so I’m guessing we’re getting close. Soon enough, the shape of the hockey arena appears, and the cab driver drops us off.
We’re jostled by the rest of the crowd as we shuffle toward the arena, soaking in the energy. Fans in team jerseys and scarves chat excitedly, and vendors are hawking street food and merchandise. Unfortunately, no Raptors gear in sight. The bright floodlights of the arena illuminate our path, and the hum of anticipation grows as we approach the entrance.
Shortly after stepping into the a rena, we find our seats, and I must say I’m impressed. We’re super close to the ice.
“Wow,” I say as we sit down. “These are great seats. Is that part of the job package or something?”
“Why?” She tilts her head. “Is that what it would take for you to accept the job? Hockey tickets?”
I can’t fight the smile that splits my face. “Nice try, Red. Just curious, that’s all. It would be a nice perk.”
She sighs, flicking her braid over her shoulder. “It’s not. I got them myself. It’s actually part of the ‘Daisy package.’”
I press my lips into a line, repressing a laugh. This girl really is something.
“Lucy, my roommate, is a sports journalist. She can get tickets to any game in Chicago with a snap of her fingers.”
“Sounds like a pretty cool roommate,” I say. “Thanks for sharing the perk with me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So, does your brother live in Chicago too?” I ask suddenly, the abrupt topic shift taking her aback. Not very subtle, I know. But I have to get moving. Doug has already texted me twice today, and he’s expecting my first progress report tonight after the game. I need to make some headway on that password. “Your brother called earlier, right? Sorry. You’ll have to excuse my bad attempt at small talk.”
“Oh, yeah.” She chuckles, and despite the clamor of the crowd, I hear it clearly, as if it were the only sound in the arena. “I have two, actually. Zane, the one who called earlier, and Darwin.”
“What do they do for a living?”
“Both are business owners in Winter Heights, our hometown,” she says with a smile. “Darwin is a ski instructor, and Zane has a mushing farm—you know, dog sledding rides and hikes.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Fun! So, you’re the only one who left?”
“I did. Moved to Chicago for college and never went back. How could I when this city is so breathtaking?”
I laugh softly. “Right. So, are you the youngest?”
“I am, actually. Darwin’s the oldest. He’s also the only one with a kid, though Zane just proposed to his girlfriend, so he’s heading down the same road.”
“Wow. And you . . .?”
The big question finally leaves my lips. I know she’s not married, since she’s not wearing a wedding ring. But if there’s a boyfriend in the picture, it’s going to complicate things. I’m sensing a vibe between us. She’s definitely not immune to my charm, and I can work that to my advantage.
“Oh no!” she shakes her head vigorously. “Happily single. I was in a long-term relationship, and it ended badly, so . . .”
“I know the feeling,” I say, my mind drifting to my own tumultuous love life. “I’m definitely not ready to get back in that saddle yet.” I chuckle. “Do you see your family often?”
“Not as much as I’d hoped. I’m the one who goes back. They’re both kind of mountain men,” she says with a soft laugh. “And it’s easier that way. But I can only come back so often. We do get paid vacation time—three weeks a year, which is very generous,” she adds, not missing a beat, and that makes me smile. “But that’s still too little, and my nephew is growing up so fast.”
“Yeah. I bet,” I mumble, then pause, wondering if my brother ever got married or had children. I’ve been so used to not having him in my life, I never thought about him forming a family. Since yesterday, though, I’ve been thinking about him and my mom more than ever. Not that it means anything. It’s only natural for me to wonder, being here in Chicago. But that doesn’t mean I’ll ever forgive them. “What’s his name?” I finally ask, as much to chase away thoughts of my own family as to gather more information about Daisy. Maybe she’s one of those super aunts who have their nephew’s name as their password.
“Aaron. He’s three and the cu test thing ever,” she says, her silver eyes gleaming. “So, anyway. Guess there’s no need to ask who you’re going to root for tonight.”
“Well, you did bring me to a New York vs Chicago game. What am I supposed to do, Red? Deny my origins?”
She chuckles, a hint of red coating her cheeks, true to her nickname. “Good point. I didn’t think of that. But to be fair, there was only one game scheduled this week.”
I smile. “I’ve heard the New York Raptors are pretty good. So, we’ll see. May the best team win.”
“Definitely.” She nods eagerly. “May the Chicago Cavaliers win.”
Daisy
Last night was fun—probably the most fun I’ve had at a hockey game ever. I’ve also never rooted for the home team so hard. I yelled, screamed, and jumped for joy all night. Alas, despite my extensive cheering efforts, New York won by one point, to Asher’s utmost pleasure. He nagged me about it until I got into a cab to head home.
“Hey,” Lucy says, dragging he rself out of her room in her PJs. “Did you enjoy the game? I heard it was a good one.”
“I did.” I offer a warm smile. “Would have been better if we’d won, though.”
“Yeah.” She pours herself some coffee. “I bet your New York friend loved that. Or does he not care about hockey?”
“Oh, he cares. About everything . Especially if it’s related to New York and its ‘superiority’ to Chicago.”
“Uh-oh. Is he a pain in the butt?”
I sigh. “No, not really. It’s all in good fun. I guess he just discovered it was a way to get under my skin. He’s the type—I can tell.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, the type to tease, banter. It is a little annoying, but it’s harmless.” I shrug, suppressing a smile.
“Well, well,” she says, her eyes glinting as she leans against the counter. “Looks like someone’s having fun.”
My eyes widen. “Fun? No way. I’m still working. This is not a joke, and there’s a lot at stake, but—”
“Relax.” She takes a sip of her coffee. “I meant that in a good way. It’s about time you let loose a little. All you’ve focused on since you broke up with Todd is work. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’ve escaped his claws. But you’ve been kind of a recluse since the breakup. This assignment has been good for you.”
I try to look offended at her choice of words, but to be fair, I have been a recluse. I needed some time off from my social life to recharge my batteries. But Lucy’s right. I haven’t felt this alive in months.
“Hey, do you have time to help me pack for the San Francisco Scorpions event? It’s tomorrow, and I have nothing to wear.”
“Oh, right. That’s tomorrow already? How long will you be gone?” I ask, my stomach sinking. I’m not a fan of staying by myself. I know I’m a grown-up, and I should act like one, but being alone in our house creeps me out. I’ve never lived alone. I had a roommate in college, then after graduating, I moved in with Todd, and now I’ve been living with Lucy for over a year. I always dread the times she travels for work, or when she sleeps over at her boyfriend’s.
“Just one night.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “And really? Nothing to wear? Your closet is a literal safety hazard,” I joke, but it’s kind of the truth. The other day, I went to her room to borrow a bag, and her closet was practically bursting at the seams.
She arches an eyebrow. “No. It’s just full of love.”
I scoff. “It’s alive. ”
She laughs, the melody flooding the room with warmth. “So, will you help me? I always feel particularly large next to those skinny Californians.”
I shake my head. “Come on, Luce. You’re gorgeous. You make every outfit work for you, curves and all.”
“Still, I’d like your opinion.”
A sigh escapes me. And because I know that, despite her many layers of confidence, my friend still needs reassurance like the next person, I stand up and wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s take a look.”
After watching Lucy show off four different outfits, each more gorgeous than the next, I hugged her goodbye and left to meet Asher at his hotel.
He emerges from the building shortly after I arrive, with the same swagger as yesterday, and once again, my skin tingles at the sight.
“Hey, Red. How are you? Not too devastated after that loss, I hope.” He smirks, holding up two paper cups. “I got you coffee to drown your sorrow.”
I burst out a laugh. “It was one point, Forbes. Hardly a devastating loss.”
“A loss is a loss.” He shrugs, clearly enjoying this way too much.
I grab the cup he’s offering, taking a sip of the coffee. The rich aroma of espresso rises first, warm and familiar, before the velvety texture of almond milk hits my tongue, perfectly tempered by just the right touch of sweetness from the vanilla, hazelnut, and cinnamon.
“Wait.” I lower the cup, my pulse kicking into high gear. “Did you get me a quad espresso, steamed almond milk, one pump of hazelnut, two pumps of vanilla, with a sprinkle of cinnamon?”
“Yeah?” He frowns.
My heart starts its own private marathon in my chest. “How did you know that’s what I drink?”
“We went for coffee yesterday morning, didn’t we?”
Heat creeps up my neck, flooding my cheeks as my throat tightens. Is he really that attentive? Sure, maybe if it was a simple order. But it’s really not, and Todd would always forget something, a missing pump or the wrong milk. Yet Asher, in a single try, got every detail right. My mind buzzes, caught between disbelief and something I can’t quite name. “It’s a pretty complicated order,” I say, though my voice comes out more accusatory than I intend.
“So?” He arches an eyebrow, u nfazed. “I have a sharp memory. No big deal.”
I force a smile and fall into step beside him, but my thoughts are spinning. It lingers in my brain—how he got the order exactly right. How something so small feels so big.