Chapter 5 Eli
FIVE
ELI
The diner by the rink is one of those places that hasn’t changed in forty years—cracked red vinyl booths, a jukebox that only plays classics, and a menu where everything comes with a side of fries whether you ask for it or not.
Daniel slides into the booth across from me, still grinning, and clearly dying to say something since the shoot wrapped.
“You were ridiculous,” he says, pointing his fork at me before his burger even hits the table.
“Ridiculously photogenic?” I ask, feigning innocence as I unwrap my straw.
“Ridiculously obvious.”
I shrug, leaning back in the booth. “What? We were supposed to sell the December fantasy. I just…committed to the bit.”
Daniel snorts. “By ‘bit’ you mean holding onto Calder exactly how you would if you were posing for a wedding announcement?”
“That’s called chemistry,” I say, sipping my soda. “You can’t fake it.”
He smirks. “And the extra latte you brought him? That wasn’t part of the assignment.”
I grin into my drink. “Nope. That was a personal touch.”
Daniel laughs so loud the waitress gives us a look. “You’re gonna kill him.”
“Or melt him,” I counter, stealing one of his fries. “Either way, we look great on camera.”
He shakes his head, still smiling. “You really think you’re gonna crack the Grinch?”
I pop the fry into my mouth, my gaze drifting out the window toward the rink. “Already got a foot in the door. Just need to keep pressing.”
Daniel tilts his head, studying me like he’s trying to figure out the play. “Press too hard and he’s gonna slam the door in your face.”
I smirk. “Or he’s gonna realize he enjoys it.”
“Uh-huh.” He drags out the sound, leaning back in the booth. “So what’s the endgame here, Eli? Just another notch on the belt? Or are you actually—”
“Don’t say it,” I cut in, plucking my straw out of my drink and pointing it at him.
His grin widens. “—interested?”
Before I can answer, the bell over the door jingles, and Luke strolls in with complete confidence, his eyes dark with guy-liner and his cheeks dusted with glitter.
He spots us instantly and beelines over, sliding in the booth beside me without waiting for an invitation.
He’s not on the hockey team, he plays football, but he’s part of our friend group.
Him and Daniel are two peas in a pod, except Luke pushes boundaries way more than either of us.
“Well, well,” Luke says, reaching across the table and stealing one of Daniel’s fries. “If it isn’t my two favorite troublemakers.”
Daniel arches a brow and smacks his hand. “We’re in the middle of something here.”
Luke just grins. “Yeah, and now I am, too. What’s the topic? One of your love lives? Eli’s obsession with the Grinch? Both?”
Daniel snorts. “You have no idea.”
Luke points the fry at him. “I’ve known Eli long enough to make an educated guess.” He glances at me. “And judging by the smug look you’ve got right now, I’m probably right.”
I bite back a smile and take a long sip of my soda. “Maybe. You’ll have to earn the details.”
Luke leans back, one arm sprawled across the back of the booth. “What do I have to do? Buy the next round of fries? Take your next shift at the rink? Pretend to be your boyfriend in front of your mom again?”
“That was one time,” I remind him, though the corner of my mouth twitches.
“And I played it perfectly,” Luke says, completely serious. “She loved me, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to introduce anyone else to her. We might have to get married.”
“She hasn’t asked about you since,” I lie.
She has, but only because she wants me to be happy, and she thinks happiness is found in a relationship. That might have something to do with her being married to her high school sweetheart and still being obnoxiously in love with each other. It’s gross. And really nice all at once.
“Okay, liar.” Luke snorts, and pins Daniel with a look. “Tell me the details that has him grinning.”
Daniel smirks, flicking his gaze between us. “You want the details? Fine. Picture Eli, all wrapped up in Christmas lights, standing nose-to-nose with Max Calder—”
“I wasn’t wrapped up,” I cut in. “Not at first.”
“Fine,” Daniel says, grinning. “You were holding the lights. But the way you were looking at him? I’m shocked the ice didn’t melt right through the boards.”
Luke’s grin widens. “Oh, this I like. Tell me Calder at least blushed.”
I shrug as though it’s no big deal, but my lips curl. “Maybe a little.”
Luke leans forward, eyes bright. “Oh yeah. You’re so in.” He tips his head toward the window, where the rink sign peeks over the row of parked cars in the lot. “So…what’s the next step in Operation Crack the Grinch?”
Daniel groans. “Oh, God. Don’t encourage him with a cute little operation name.”
“I’m not encouraging,” Luke says, swiping the last fry before Daniel can. “I’m participating. Big difference.”
I shake my head. “I don’t need backup.”
“Sure you do,” Luke says, way too confident for someone who just crashed lunch. “You’ve got the charm locked in, but sometimes you need a wingman to cause a little jealousy. Keeps him off-balance.”
Daniel points his straw at me. “He’s not wrong. Calder’s too controlled. You’re gonna need to mix it up.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re acting like this is a team sport.”
Luke grins. “It is now. So…where’d he go after the shoot?”
Daniel shrugs. “Probably back to his dorm.”
“Then let’s find out,” Luke says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. He’s already sliding out of the booth. “C’mon—can’t crack the Grinch if you’re not in his vicinity.”
I glance at Daniel, who’s already tucking a few bills under his empty glass, eyes glinting, already in on the game. “Let’s see where this goes.”
We spill out of the diner into the crisp midday air, the rink just a parking lot away. Luke falls into step beside me, pretending he’s been part of the plan since the beginning.
“You realize stalking is illegal,” I say, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets.
“Relax,” Luke replies. “We’re not stalking. We’re… strategically appearing where he happens to be.”
Daniel smirks. “That’s literally stalking.”
Luke ignores him. “So, Calder’s dorm should be the same building as the team’s? Easy in, easy out.”
“Unless he’s holed up somewhere else,” Daniel says. “But my money’s on him hitting the rink gym first. He’s the type to work out stress.”
I glance between them. “You two have way too much insight into my target.”
“It’s called doing the homework,” Daniel says, tone smug.
We cut across the parking lot, boots crunching over dried and dead leaves on the ground. The glass front of the rink glints in the sun, and through it, I can already see a few players lingering in the lobby. No sign of Calder.
Luke tips his chin toward the hall that leads to the gym. “Bet you he’s in there.”
Daniel’s grin widens. “If he is, you’re up, Eli.”
I swallow back a flicker of nerves, straighten my jacket, and head for the door.
The gym’s not even half full, which makes it impossible to miss Max. He’s at the free weights, black T-shirt stretched over his shoulders, hair damp with sweat, the steady rhythm of his reps making him look annoyingly unbothered.
Daniel leans back on his heels, smirking as though he knows exactly what Luke’s up to. “Alright, lovebirds, I’ll leave you to…whatever this is.”
Luke doesn’t even look at him. “It’s called strategy.”
“Uh-huh,” Daniel says, already pulling out his phone. “I’m gonna hit the cardio machines while we’re here. Text me if you need a getaway car.”
And just like that, he disappears into the maze of treadmills and ellipticals, leaving me alone with Luke’s scheming.
Luke’s grin turns downright wicked. “Perfect. Let’s get his attention.”
Before I can stop him, he’s dragging me toward the benches.
I’m still in the ridiculous Christmas outfit from the shoot—suspenders, bow tie, glitter, the whole humiliating package.
Luke doesn’t care. He practically shoves me down onto the bench, barely giving me time to shrug out of my jacket, and grabs the bar.
“Spot you?” he says, already stepping over me, his legs wide over the bench, straddling me, in a completely unnecessary way.
I give him a flat look, but he leans in closer than needed, his chest brushing mine as he positions my hands. “Play along,” he murmurs. “He’s watching.”
I flick my gaze toward Max. Sure enough, he’s looking over, expression unreadable but focus sharp enough to pin me in place and steal my breath.
He sets his weights down and crosses the room, not hurrying but not wasting time either. “You’re doing it wrong,” he says to Luke, his tone calm but edged. “You’re going to get my player injured.”
Luke steps back without argument, winking at me as he goes.
Max moves in, too close, too much heat radiating off him. His hands slide under the bar, fingers brushing mine, and his knees bump against my sides as he leans over me. The scent of clean sweat and late fall air fills my head.
“Your form’s off. You’re going to strain your shoulders like that.” He adjusts my hands. “Lift.”
I push the bar up, and his hands follow, not touching but close enough that I can feel the promise in them.
Every time the bar lowers, his chest nearly grazes mine, his stance bracketing me in place.
The way he’s standing over me is not the way most people spot for the bench press, and we are getting more than a few looks. He’s practically in my lap.
And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying it. A little too much.
“You should have at least put on workout clothes before trying this,” he mutters, glancing at my outfit as if it’s the real offense here.
And still, he doesn’t stop straddling me.
I beam up at him, pure sunshine. “This is my workout gear today. I’m spreading Christmas cheer like glitter—you never really get it off.”
One of his brows kicks up. “That supposed to make me feel better about it?”
“Nope,” I say cheerfully, lowering the bar again. “Just trying to make sure you leave here festive.”