Chapter 24 #2
“Thank you.” His words and actions surprised me. He seemed much more mature and perceptive than I would’ve originally guessed. “Do you think I could meet her? Your sister?” I shook my head. “Sorry, that’s probably weird.”
“Not weird at all,” he said with a grin. “She’s coming to some games this season, I'll make sure it happens, Ali.”
___________
After walking out of the restaurant, Niko moved me to the inside of the sidewalk and guided me with a protective hand on my lower back.
“You’re very good at this date thing,” I told him, my teeth chattering from the cold despite my wrap coat. “You don’t even need pointers.”
He grinned. “Well, the night’s still young. We could go dancing, check out the movies, play some indoor mini golf?” he suggested. “What do you feel like doing, m’lady?”
“Umm…” I came to a stop on the sidewalk and looked down at my feet, which were smushed into Mer’s painfully small boot heels.
“Ah, your feet hurt?” he guessed with a grin.
“You wanna go home?” His phone buzzed again, making him drop his head back with a groan.
“Excuse me for a sec.” After pulling out his phone and peering at it for a second, he held it out to me.
“JP texted again saying I better let him know you’re safely back at Colt’s.
Jeez, he’s being a bit controlling, eh?”
My mouth dropped open as I read his demanding text. “He is. What the hell’s gotten into him?” There’s no way he would’ve been monitoring my moves like this if I was still out on tour. The past three months passed by without a single word from him.
“Wait.” Niko’s dark eyes glinted under the streetlight lamps. “Wanna mess with him a bit?”
I rolled my lips together. “Is it bad that I do?” I laughed.
“Nah, let’s do it,” he said with a wicked grin.
___________
Giggling together, we burst into Niko’s luxury penthouse apartment and started stripping our jackets and shoes.
“Yeah, throw ‘em around, just like that,” Niko advised.
“You think that’ll sell it?”
He rolled his lips together in thought while looking me up and down. “The dress would help too.”
“Oh my God, what?” I shrieked. “I’m not taking off my dress for you.”
“Shucks,” he said, snapping his fingers.
I swatted at his chest, making him grin.
“I’m just kidding. Wait one sec.” He dipped into what I guessed was his bedroom for a second and then came out holding flannel pajama pants and a comfy looking hoodie.
“Here, you can change if you want. Bathroom’s down the hall on the right. ”
“Oh my God, yes,” I moaned.
“That’s what she said.” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, thank you. I’ve been so uncomfortable. I can’t wait to get this off and finally breathe.”
As soon as I came out of the bathroom, two other hockey players from the team walked inside wearing towels over swimsuits and dripping water all over their nice hardwood floor. Feeling unsure of them, I instantly moved toward Niko.
He swung his arm around my shoulders. “Ah, Ali, these are my roomies. That’s Zukes.
” Niko pointed to the shorter of the two guys who was built like a tank and had an impressive eight pack and long curly hair.
“And that’s Nilsson,” he said, pointing to the tall, blonde Swede.
Niko rubbed my back and met my eyes. “They’re both very stupid and very harmless,” he added.
“You’re missing hot tub time.” Zukes frowned. “We just came in for more s’mores stuff.” He ripped a bite off of a Twizzler. “Nilsson ate all the fucking chocolate.” He shot an unimpressed glance at his tall friend.
Now that he mentioned it, I could spot the remnants of s’mores on the two guys’ faces. I had to slip a hand over my mouth to smother a laugh.
“Damnit.” Niko looked like he was about to stomp his foot. “Why didn’t you guys wait for me?”
Zukes eyes widened. “We can’t deviate from the routine, dude. Hurry up and join us. You too,” Zukes said, pointing his half-eaten Twizzler at me. “Wait,” his eyes scanned the floor. “What are you guys doing?”
Niko grinned. “Making McQuaid jealous.”
“Oh no,” Nilsson groaned. “You’re poking papa bear,” he said in a thick accent.
“He’s gonna kill you,” Zukes said with a dry laugh.
Niko wagged his eyebrows. “I’d like to see him try.”
“I kinda feel for the guy,” Zukes said, pushing his long hair back. “I think he really loves you,” he said to me.
Hearing that had my heart wavering a little. “We’re just friends.”
Niko snorted. “Maybe this will finally show you that he does not view you as a friend.”
“Well,” I said, twisting my lips, “he kinda deserves this. He’s being super weird and controlling.”
Niko weighed his head to the side. “True.” He bent down to rearrange the clothes a bit more. After straightening up, he pulled out his phone and took a picture, then quickly typed something before showing it to me.
Our clothes were strewn on the floor with the words: “Love my luck, lads” with a little four-leaf clover.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you sure it’s okay for you to post this? It’s not gonna hurt your reputation or anything?”
“Nah, if anything it’ll make me look good.” He smirked. “I just wonder if McQuaid will recognize your stuff.”
“I’ve had that coat for years,” I said with a shrug.
“Perfect.” He rubbed his hands together like an evil scientist. “All right, while we wait for the fireworks, wanna hot tub with us?”
“Me?” I questioned. “Oh, no, I don't think I can,” I said, my hand finding my stomach overtop of the hoodie.
“Just put your feet in, they were sore,” Niko said with a shrug. “And have a s’more with us.”
“Yeah, have some s’mores,” Zukes jumped in.
I hesitated. “That does sound good.”
“It’ll feel good too.” Niko gently grasped my shoulders and started steering me to the deck. “It’s a heated patio and we’ve got an incredible view of the city. You’ll love it.”
I spent the next half hour having fun chatting with the guys while looking out at the insane downtown Chicago skyline.
At one point I realized I was alone with three guys, which probably wasn’t smart, but for some reason I felt safe with them.
It was like I somehow adopted three younger brothers.
And in the back of my mind, I knew I had a safety net here in the form of a 6’3 defenseman that was definitely checking up on me.
“She’s so confusing,” Zukes said, talking about a girl he’d been seeing. He tossed his phone aside and sunk further into the hot tub.
“Don’t blame the girl,” I told him, kicking some bubbles at him. “Girls are not confusing at all. Girls only want one thing, and it’s very simple.”
All three boys stared at me cluelessly.
“Love,” I said with a laugh. “Duh. A girl will mirror how you treat her. If you act unsure, she’ll be unsure.
But if you’re consistently lovely, she’ll get to be consistently lovely.
At the end of the day, she’s just looking for someone to love who’s not gonna make her regret it.
” I shrugged. “But I honestly can’t say the same for guys. I have no clue what guys are after.”
“We wanna be loved, too,” Niko argued.
Nilsson shrugged. “I want back scratches.”
“Well,” Zukes started, “I just wanna f—”
“We know,” the rest of us chorused, making him laugh. After hearing some stories, it was easy to conclude that Zukes was a bit of a playboy.
“That’s how I feel loved,” Zukes said innocently.
“Okay, you”—I pointed at Zukes—“are not ready for a relationship. I hope you tell the girls all you want to do is…ya know,” I said, waving a hand in front of my face.
“Oh shit,” Niko said, holding up his phone. “JP’s calling. Do I answer?”
My heart picked up speed hearing his name, but I forced myself to reply calmly. “No, we’re busy. He can text and call a million times for all I care. He’s not the boss around here.”
“Okay, but…” Niko cracked up laughing while reading his phone. “He’s really losing his mind, guys.”
Zukes paused mid-bite into his gooey s’more. “You think he’ll come over? He knows where we live, guys.”
“So what?” Niko shrugged.
Zukes eyes widened. “So what? So what?” he repeated. “Are you serious?” He clambered out of the hot tub and grabbed all the snacks. “We have to hide the junk food.”
“Wait, you’re right,” Niko said, snapping his fingers.
“Smart,” Nilsson added.
“Huh?” I arched an eyebrow at Niko.
Niko’s eyes widened. “You don’t know that JP is a total food bully?”
“Food bully?” I snorted.
“Yeah, he’s a food bully,” Niko repeated. “If he sees you eating junk food, he basically rips it from your mouth. He’s so judgy about nutrition. I’m surprised he hasn’t lectured you about it.”
I rubbed my stomach. “I’m sure it’s coming,” I murmured, but I couldn’t push away the slightly bitter feelings rising inside of me. I kind of hated that they seemed to know more about JP than I did. That just felt…wrong.
“So, why aren’t you and JP together? Do you need some advice?” Zukes asked.
I bit my lip in indecision. “Maybe.”
“Let's hear it.” Zukes waved me on. Nilsson and Niko went silent, clearly way too interested in my love life.
While I didn’t want to air out our business, this could be a chance to get a stranger’s perspective.
I loved my friends, but they couldn’t help but be slightly biased.
They would never be able to be solely ‘Team Ali’ because I couldn't even be ‘Team Ali.’ Deep down, I’d always be rooting for JP.
But these guys, well, they honestly didn’t even like JP all that much. It was actually a little refreshing.
With my decision made, I told them the quick version of our story, and I wrapped it up by saying, “So, now I can’t tell if he genuinely wants to be with me or if it’s just because I’m pregnant. And I’m afraid of being blindsided by him again. So, it’s probably better to stay just friends, no?”
“Wow, okay,” Niko rubbed his jaw. “So now I know why JP was a total dick at preseason camp.”
“In August?” My eyebrows flew up. “He was?”
“Ohhh yeah. He was so mean. He took it out on us,” Zukes complained.
“Very mean,” Nilsson added.
I gasped. “Are you serious? Who could be mean to you three?”
“Right? We’re innocent,” Niko burst out.
“He gave me a bruise.” Zukes pouted while holding up his elbow. “I swear, my elbow’s never been the same.”
I cackled. “Want me to kiss it and make it better?”
“I think that would help, yes,” he said mock-seriously, making the other guys crack up laughing.