Chapter 28 Hannah
TWENTY-EIGHT
HANNAH
“You are glowing, Han.” Tierney knocks her glass against mine in a cheers. “Who are you sleeping with and why haven’t you told me about them?”
“What?” I fan my face, pulling my hair up in a high ponytail. The bar we’re in is warm with bodies cramped together at tall tables, and I scoot closer so I can hear her better. “Why do you think I’m sleeping with someone?”
“Because it’s not the economy that has you smiling like that. Spill, woman.”
“Okay, okay.” I down half my white wine and set my drink aside. “I am seeing someone. It’s new. I don’t know how to define it yet, and I’m also not sure I should be sharing it with the world.”
“That sounds scandalous.” She arches an eyebrow. “Is it someone famous? A politician? Please tell me it’s the president’s daughter. She is so hot.”
“Daphne Montgomery? I’m so far out of her league, but it’s a nice daydream. This glow you think I have? It’s thanks to a man, which, I know. Shocking, right? But we’ve been spending time together, and I’m having a lot of fun.”
“A man making people smile? My god. The world might be ending. Who is he?”
“I guess technically he’s famous? The girl I’m coaching, Olivia, it’s her dad. Who also happens to be Grant’s coach.”
Tierney chokes on her wine. “You’re sleeping with Brody Saunders? You’re not serious, Han.”
“Oh, I’m eight inches and a dirty mouth serious.”
“Holy shit. How did this even start?”
“Almost two years ago at a club.” I laugh and trace the rim of my glass with my finger. “The night the Stars won the Stanley Cup, he came back to my place, and we hooked up. That was also the night of Riley Mitchell’s accident, and Brody had to leave early to be with the team.”
“Makes sense. Gosh, I was so sad for Riley.”
“Me too, but he’s doing better. I didn’t talk to Brody again until he reached out and asked if I would be interested in coaching his daughter.
And while I’ve been doing that, he’s been helping me on my edge work.
Running drills with me and just…” I shrug.
“Skating? Having a good time? One thing led to another, and we hooked up again before Christmas. We’ve been hooking up since. ”
“Does Grant know?” she asks, and I’m quick to shake my head.
“No way. I’m not sure how that would go. Would he be mad at me? Mad at Brody? Is it breaking some team rule I don’t know about?”
“How can it be breaking a team rule if you’re not a member of the team?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t considered the logistics of Grant finding out, and honestly, I don’t want to.
It feels like Brody and I are in a bubble right now, T, and I’m afraid if word gets out that we’re sleeping together, hell will break loose.
” I sigh. “I keep my personal life private because I don’t need the media digging into my previous relationships just because I’m Grant’s sister.
He has a daughter, and that’s not fair to drag her into something public just because people want some gossip. ”
“Does his daughter know about you two?” Tierney crosses her legs and sips her wine. “Would she be okay with it?”
“I think she would be. When Brody comes to pick her up from our lessons, she’s always making comments to him about how pretty my hair is or how cute my figure skating outfit is.” I laugh. “She’s definitely trying to play matchmaker.”
“Hannah and the hockey coach. Wow.” She grins. “How’s the sex?
“God help me. It’s the best I’ve ever had.
I told him the first night we were together that I don’t come from penetration, and no man has ever made me finish during foreplay either.
Then along comes Brody, with his magic fingers and magic tongue, and suddenly there are no issues.
It’s like he’s written by a fucking woman. ”
“Can I ask the question I’m not sure I should ask, but I feel like I need to because you’re my best friend and I love you.”
“Anything.” I reach for Tierney’s hand. “And I’ll answer.”
“How old is he? If he has a kid, he has to be—”
“He’s thirty-nine. I don’t even notice the age difference, if we’re being honest, and it doesn’t feel…
dirty? I know that’s a creepy word to use.
If I was four years younger, I might feel differently, but I’ve always thought I had an old soul.
And Brody is… fun. He has this persona he slips into when he’s in coach mode and on the ice, but away from all of that, he’s…
” I shrug again, the words to perfectly describe him hard to find. “Lovely.”
“Hannah. This is so cute. I’m happy for you. Are you two dating? Seeing other people?” She tips her head to the side. “Falling madly in love?”
“Way too soon for that word.” I laugh. “We’re exclusive, and he told me he didn’t sleep with anyone in the eighteen months apart because he didn’t think it would be fair to lead another woman on when he was still thinking about me.”
“What the fuck?” Tierney groans. “Okay. So he is written by a woman. I’m not jealous at all.”
“I’m excited to see where it goes, and you know that’s not my usual approach to dating.” Reaching for my glass, I take another sip of wine. “I even have a contact photo for him.”
“Let me see.”
She makes grabby hands and I grin, tapping over to his name in my phone. The picture of him and Liv is there, and my heart swells at the sight of the them. Matching faces, matching expressions, they’re the perfect pair.
Liv has been busy with a science fair project and Brody was on a four-game road trip, and it’s been over a week since I’ve seen them.
I miss them, I realize, the admission hitting me straight in the chest. I hope they’re having a good night.
I hope they’re laughing at whatever funny story Liv is sharing, and as if I’ve manifested them to reach out to me, a message from Brody appears on my screen.
“He’s hot,” Tierney concludes. “And he’s messaging you this late? He’s down bad.”
“Stop.” I smile, biting my lip as I tap over to his text. “We always text late at night.”
“What did he say?”
GC
I’ve been requested to ask you something, and please do not feel compelled to answer yes.
Me
I have no clue where this is going, but I need to know.
GC
Liv doesn’t have school tomorrow, and we’re about to head out to do some cosmic bowling. The pins glow in the dark or something? I don’t know.
She wanted me to ask if you wanted to join us, but given it’s Thursday and almost ten o’clock at night, I’m certain you have something better going on.
“He and his daughter are going bowling, and she invited me to come.” I tap the sides of my phone and look at Tierney. “What do I say?”
“Do you want to see him? To see her?”
“Yeah. I do.” I nod. “But I don’t want to ditch you. We just got here and—”
“Sweetie, that man is an adult who knows how to communicate. Wait.” Tierney sits up. “What about his ex? Is she still in the picture?”
“Amicably separated, with the healthiest co-parenting relationship I’ve ever seen,” I tell her, and she’s pushing my chair away from the table.
“You need to go right this second, because people—men—like this don’t exist on every street corner. “And you should enjoy it.”
“I should, shouldn’t I?” I grin, answering him as fast as my thumbs can type.
Me
I’m in. And I’m an excellent bowler.
GC
So am I. Care to wager a bet?
Me
You’re on, Saunders. Which alley are you going to?
GC
*Attachment: 1 link*
Want us to pick you up?
Me
I’m out with Tierney, so I’ll grab a rideshare. Are you on your way now?
GC
ETA 20 minutes.
Me
See you soon!
“Okay. I’m going to go.” I click off my phone and grab my purse, making sure to leave enough cash to cover the tip. “Because why the hell not?”
“I love this for you, Han. Text me if you need anything?” Tierney says, and I grin.
“I will.”
Techno music plays from the speakers over the lanes. Brody fixes the Velcro on his shoes and stands, jumping up and down.
“Is that a new technique I don’t know about?” I ask, lacing my own shoes.
“He has weird superstitions about things,” Liv tells me. “The shoes have to feel right, or he’ll blame his bad score on them being a half size too big or too small.”
“And I thought hockey was the only sport he cared deeply about.”
“Nope, and it’s best to let him just… do whatever the heck that is,” she says.
“How did the science fair go?” I ask, and she lights up.
“So well. I got second place! I recreated a volcanic eruption, and my teacher loved it. Kind of makes me want to think about doing some higher level science classes my junior and senior year in high school. Maybe I’ll study it in college.”
“She gets that from Kali,” Brody says, lifting a ball and testing its weight. “Not me. I don’t know shit about chemical relationships.”
“I didn’t go to college, but science would have been a fun thing to study.” I grab my own ball, slipping my fingers in the holes. “It’s all around us. In the air we breathe. In the light we see. In weather. I follow this meteorologist down in Florida who seems so fun.”
“You didn’t go to college?” Liv turns to her dad. “See, Dad. I don’t have to have an education.”
“I only skipped college so I could skate. In hindsight, I wish I had gone to school. Just in case,” I say, and when Liv goes to grab a soda, I offer Brody an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I hope I’m not bringing up a sore subject.”
“You’re not. I’ve been trying to tell Liv there’s a world outside of skating, but she’s focused on the sport right now. To hear, that means no college. Trying to make an Olympic team, even if the chances are slim.”
“I’m the leading example of why you should always keep your options open.” I laugh. “People I went to high school have their lives figured out, but I’m still unsure about what the future looks like for me. And it’s terrifying.”
“Hey.” Brody glances over his shoulder, finding Liv still in line and staring at her phone. He touches my hip and frowns. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good. I’m so good, and that’s the issue.
The more time I spend away from skating at a such high level, the more I realize all the things I’ve missed out on.
Like, take tonight. Eight months ago, if you had asked me to go bowling this late, I would’ve said no because I had an early training session in the morning.
But here I am, ready to kick your ass,” I say. “And I’m happy about that.”
“Balance. Priorities. It’s all important. Finding the happy medium. You’re doing great, Hannah.” A finger in my belt loop, giving me a gentle tug. “And I’m glad you’re here with us, even if I can’t hear a fucking thing over this music. Do you think if I complain, they’ll turn it down?”
“Probably, but only because you’re intimidating as hell.” I stand on my toes, flipping his hat backward so you can see his face. “There. Now you’re more approachable.”
“I don’t want to be approachable.” He scowls, but he’s smiling too. Stepping away when Liv comes back with a Coke and a bag of popcorn. “You’re up first, Livvy.”
I like that photo of Brody and Liv on my phone, but seeing them together like this is even better.
She steps on the foul line when it’s his turn to bowl.
He sneaks up behind her and rolls a ball between her legs, laughing when it ends up in the gutter.
Liv stops and talks with me, asking if she can braid my hair then tying a ribbon to the end of it.
“Distracting,” Brody whispers in my ear when Liv takes a break to use the bathroom. He plays with the end of my ponytail, giving it a hard tug. “I want to tie you up with those ribbons so you can’t fucking move.”
“If I remember correctly, you have two of them at your place.” I put my hand on his shirt. “Maybe you should put them to good use.”
“Next time.” He’s slower to move away, his eyes roaming down my jeans. “Everything about you is maddening in the best possible way, Hannah.”
“What did I miss?” Liv asks, sitting next to me. “Did someone recognize Dad?”
“We were just talking about how much your dad loves this song.” I point to the music video on the television with flashing lights. “I’m going to ask if they can play it again.”
“Yeah, right. Dad only likes to listen to classical music, and only before a game. Otherwise, he prefers silence.”
“Wow.” I give Brody a look. “Is that true?”
“It’s good for concentration. The one time I didn’t listen to classical music before a game, I got injured. It’s part of my routine now.” He hands a ball to Liv and gestures at the lane. “You’re up, kid. Let’s see if you can beat your score of ninety-eight from the last game.”
“It’s not my fault you were sabotaging me!” Liv pops to her feet, huffing under her breath.
“Speaking of the last game, you lost, Saunders,” I say. “How does that make you feel?”
“Did I? Didn’t even realize.” His eyes lock on mine. “Kind of feels like I won.”