Chapter Seventeen #2
“It will be second nature to you in no time, I promise. You should have seen me on my first day at Real Miami. They were showing me around, and I was like, ‘I will never remember where to get a cup of coffee. Or worse, how to find my way back to my desk!’”
Her eyes light with recognition. “Yes, that’s exactly it. It’s all so foreign.”
I feel as if I could connect with Georgie. But do I dare? She’s dating Beckham. I know he’s one of Aiden’s friends, his closest one on the team. Would it be a good thing? Or just more lying to people?
Again, I try to bury the thought because I don’t want to examine something so wonderful and beautiful through this lens. If people could see the way Aiden treats me, looks at me, and cares about me?
Nobody on earth would think it was wrong.
I go back Georgie’s last comment. “But look at me. I’ve not only found my way to the coffee, but out of the building and all the way to the Premier Airlines Arena,” I say, smiling. “I have full faith you will not only find your way to your seat, but back to the lounge at intermission.”
The elevator stops on the concourse level, and we exit. Georgie stops and takes a picture of the location, and I wait for her. We walk together toward the end of the rink where the Manatees will warm up.
“So do you come to warm-ups often?” she asks.
“Yes. I love hockey, so I take advantage of watching practices, games, everything I can when Real Miami is off. I mean, I still have my job to do, but now it’s nine to five.”
“You say you do social media for Real Miami, but what does that entail?”
“I do it all. On a game day, I arrive early so I can get a video of each player for a fit check,” I say.
“Fans love seeing what players are wearing on game day. Then I go down on the pitch and video warm-ups. I upload content throughout the game, like starting lineup, goal shots, et cetera. Then there’s postgame content, and if it’s a home game, I drag myself back to my apartment and crash.
If it’s a road game, then I’m traveling with the team, and the hours are crazier.
But I love my job, so it’s all worth it. ”
“You have to be skilled in so many different things,” Georgie says as we walk through the concourse. I notice a woman pass me wearing Aiden’s jersey, and I smile to myself.
Because that’s my boyfriend, even if nobody can know it.
I circle back to Georgie’s question about having to do a lot of different things for social media.
“You do,” I say. “I have to admit, my passion is photography. I love the rush I get from capturing a great moment.”
“That’s something I have to work at for my business.
I sell painted Mason jars, and getting the photography right for my Etsy shop is always a challenge for me.
I’m good at setting the backdrop and display part, but I’m not so skilled when it comes to taking pictures. The lighting is tricky for me.”
“Oh, you’re an artist?” I ask, intrigued by this. “That’s fantastic. I cannot paint. Or even draw a good stick person, for that matter. What’s the name of your business? I want to look you up!”
“It’s called Georgie’s Jars. I have a website, and I’m on Etsy. But don’t judge my photos!” she says, holding out her hand in a stop motion.
I’m getting the same feeling about Georgie that I did about Hadleigh. I could be friends with her.
Hope fills me. After trying to make friends for so long, after painfully watching my college friends drift away, I feel like I can build a whole new life now in Miami.
With a boyfriend and friends.
I decide to take a risk with Georgie, just like I did with Hadleigh. I don’t like having to lie about Aiden, but hopefully with any friends I make, they will understand why I had to protect him when the truth can be revealed.
Aiden has to be a secret for now. Not forever, I remind myself.
“Here’s the entrance you’ll always want to take for the best view,” I say, leading Georgie to sections 108 and 109. We enter through the tunnel and begin to walk down the steps. “Georgie, if you ever want some photography tips or for me to take some pictures for you, I’d be happy to help.”
Her face lights up. “Would you really? That’s so generous of you, Scarlett.”
“I have downtime now. It would be my pleasure.”
“Yes, I would love that. I can pay you for your time.”
“Oh no, I’m offering my services for free. I’m not pitching you for a side hustle,” I reassure her.
“Well, if you like my jars, I’ll gift you one.”
“Now that sounds like a payment plan I can get on board with,” I say cheerfully.
We reach the ice and find a good spot on the glass, and Georgie and I fall into an easy conversation as we wait for the players to come out. I tell her about growing up in a hockey family and how Jamie plays in Switzerland, and Ethan plays for Las Vegas, and how we moved all the time.
“The first time I felt like I had a permanent home was when I was in college,” I confide. “For four years, at college in Connecticut, I knew I wouldn’t be moving. I can’t explain what a relief that was for me.”
I feel Georgie staring at me, and suddenly my cheeks grow warm. “I’m so sorry. I’m oversharing, and normally I don’t do that. You have this kindness about you that’s making me spill all the tea.”
“That’s a wonderful compliment, thank you,” she says. “And your tea is safe with me.”
Guilt once again claws at me. If Georgie only knew how much tea I had to spill.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” the PA announcer says. “Welcome to Premier Airlines Arena for tonight’s matchup between the Nashville Badgers and your MIAMI MANATEESSSSSSSSSSSSS.”
Both teams hit the ice, with the Miami Manatees coming out of the tunnel on our side of the ice.
And the first person out is Aiden.
My heart flutters like mad the second I see him skate.
He’s so damn hot in his uniform, the golden-brown hair just peeking out from under his helmet.
I see his gray eyes dart around the crowd, and they stop when he finds me.
It’s just for a brief second—but it’s enough to make my breath catch in my throat.
I ache to acknowledge Aiden. To have him stop by the glass to say hi.
But we don’t dare risk it.
I settle for watching him skate. Dad loves Aiden’s skating style, as he’s blessed with both speed and agility.
I watch him head around the net, then he begins to pick up pucks with his stick and fire them into the net.
I see that curl has swept down across his forehead again, touching his eyebrow, and I can’t keep my eyes off him.
I’m lost in my own world for a moment, and then I feel Georgie staring at me. I look at her, and she’s studying me with a thinking expression on her face.
I turn my attention back to the ice, forcing myself to watch Wyatt instead of Aiden. Beckham comes over to talk to Georgie, and while she’s distracted, I go back to watching Aiden, who has started stretching on the ice.
The next thing I know, Beckham is throwing something over the glass to Georgie. She catches it, and I see it’s a friendship bracelet.
“I made it. I hear Swifties like them,” he says. “Gotta go, Cupcake. See you after the game.” Then he skates off, going back to the bench to retrieve his gloves.
Georgie reads the bracelet, and her whole face lights up.
My heart warms. It’s obvious it’s something meaningful for both of them.
She slides the bracelet onto her wrist, and I decide to busy myself by taking pictures.
I make sure to take a bunch of all the players, so Georgie can’t be suspicious if I take some of Aiden.
We continue our conversation during warm-ups, which is good, because it gives me a reason not to watch Aiden so much. After it ends, Georgie turns and looks at me. “Do you sit with the WAGs, Scarlett?”
“Oh no, I sit with my mom,” I explain, putting my camera back into my clear tote bag. “But we should exchange numbers. You can text me whenever you want me to take pictures.”
“Yes, I’d love that,” Georgie says. I retrieve my phone. We add each other to our contacts. Then she smiles. “I think I’m going to make my way to my seat, but I’ll text you soon.”
“Great,” I say, smiling at her. “I’m so glad we met, Georgie.”
“Me too, Scarlett.”
We say goodbye, and I can’t help but be proud of myself. I put myself out there again in order to make some friends, and I think I could find one in Georgie.
As I’m making my way back up the steps, my phone vibrates in my hand. Once I’m in the tunnel, I lean against the concrete wall, flipping the phone over so I can read it. And I grow excited as soon as I see it’s from Hadleigh:
Hey! I know this is planning in advance, but are you free Friday, December 13?
I was thinking a girls’ night out? I was talking about getting together with a friend of mine from college that I haven’t seen in a while, and she’s going to bring a friend, so I thought you could be my “bring a new friend” person.
Okay, that sounds like bringing a dish to the office potluck, but I promise it’s just drinks and dancing in South Beach, and I don’t think of you as some really outdated casserole recipe passed down in the family.
She’s really funny. I like that. And her invitation is perfect. She even used potluck in it, and if that’s not a good sign, I don’t know what is. But I’ll get to know Hadleigh better and meet some more new people, too.
Could I go from no friends and spending my Friday nights with Mochi and Matcha to having a boyfriend and multiple new friends?
Yes. Yes, I could.
I text her back:
I’m in. If you want, I can be the sober driver, too.
Hadleigh is typing …
What kind of ass would I be to invite you out and make you be the sober driver?
I chuckle at that and reply:
Yeah, but I volunteered. So I’ll do all the driving.
She texts back:
Okay, but only if you insist. Thank you. I’ll let Marley know you’re in. I have no idea who she’s bringing, but I guarantee she’ll be better than a tuna casserole.
I text her back:
Do people even eat casseroles anymore?
Hadleigh replies:
Smart ass.
I laugh as I stop at a concession stand, since I feel too lazy to go all the way down to the ice level to get something from the free buffet that’s provided for WAGs and family members.
As I wait in line, I notice the souvenir cups.
One has the Manatees captain, David Dewitt.
Another has Anders Larrson, the hot Swedish scoring sensation, on it.
Then I see the third cup option, something I hadn’t noticed before.
It’s Aiden.
Excitement surges through me as I stare at his image on the large black cup. I’m so proud of him. Everyone has recognized how important his work ethic is, how well he plays defense, and the quiet leadership he provides for the team. Fans appreciate him, and this cup is a nod to that.
I know my dad certainly loves what he does on the ice.
But would Dad love what he’s doing off it with me? Would my dad consider that leadership?
My chest draws tight. I can’t think about this. I’ve been pushing down these doubts, these worries, my fears for Aiden’s future, since I’ve walked into this arena tonight.
I focus on the fact that I know Aiden wants what we have. It’s what he told Wyatt. Would he really take this risk if he didn’t think I was worth it?
He wouldn’t, I reassure myself.
But as I stare at Aiden’s image on the cup, I realize how much I’m going to have to take this into my own hands. Yes, my dad is his coach, but I’m his daughter. It’s going to be up to me to convince him that this is more than a hookup.
I have to show Dad this is real.
And that Aiden is the only man for me.