13. Jackson #2
I gesture to a seat at the end. The table is a large oval of heavy dark wood with seating for ten. Putting Kitten at the end means I can take the spot next to her without being like those strange people who sit side by side in a booth.
Taking my seat, I ask, “You sure you’re fine with just water? I have some wine, but unfortunately no sake.”
“Thanks, but I’m good with this. I honestly don’t drink too often, and between your mother and Meghan I could use a night of hydration.”
Using chopsticks, I start to put some of everything on our plates.
“Meghan? Oh, and to answer your earlier question - I try to limit my alcohol during the season. When we have team outings like we did the other night most of us will have a drink or two, so long as there isn’t a game the next day.
Like you said, hydration is important, so we can’t drink a bunch the night before a game. ”
She nods. “That makes sense.”
I can’t help but stare as she works her chopsticks around a roll and brings it to her mouth. Some of these rolls are fairly large, and it’s a bit pornographic watching her open her mouth wide enough to take one in whole. Then she closes her eyes and releases a moan. A moan I feel low in my body.
Her eyes open, and I’m sure I look slack-jawed and lust-filled, because I am.
Katelyn brings her hand up to cover her full mouth. “This is so freaking good.”
Getting control of my face, I grin. “Told you.”
“You were right. I can see why you ordered an army’s worth.
” Selecting the next one she wants to try, she answers my previous question.
“Meghan is my best friend. We met in middle school, bonded over being book nerds, and have been besties ever since. She was at my place for brunch yesterday and brought some champagne with her. She’s a whirlwind, and I love her. ”
Imagining how it might have played out, I ask, “Was she there when your gift arrived?”
“Oh, she was there all right. But I’d already laid out the whole embarrassing series of events, so - sorry to burst your bubble - but you didn’t get to out me.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Uh huh.” She moans around another bite of sushi.
“So, you were a book nerd even back then?”
I listen in rapt attention while Kitten tells me about how her love of stories started when she was a kid.
She met Meghan in the library after school one day.
They were both reading Goosebumps , and they decided to become best friends.
Listening to her recount the story, and their subsequent friendship, I find myself drawn into her world.
Kitten has such a way with words, pulling me into her story so that I feel invested.
I want to hear her talk about everything.
Anything. All her thoughts are so lit up with emotion, it’s nearly exhausting just to witness.
She tells me she went to college for writing, and how she’s now a copy editor for a local book publisher. I gather that it might not be the road to riches, but she seems to be doing well for herself, and she loves it.
I like the idea of her working from home, curled up on the couch with her laptop. During the off season, I could stop over and distract her from work. Or just sit next to her, reading something of my own.
Whoa, buddy, way to jump ahead ! This is our first actual date and I’m already planning out our afternoons 5 months from now. Somehow she’s turned me into a pussy-whipped glob of putty, and I haven’t even felt her lips on mine yet.
We’ve been steady in conversation, neither of us focusing on food, with the exception of Kitten’s intermittent moans when she tries something new. So we’ve hardly made a dent in the pile of sushi.
Kitten surprises me once again, telling me that she didn’t read about me online, that she’d rather learn about me in person.
She admits that - the morning after we met - she Googled my name to learn what sport I played.
It’s adorable how embarrassed she looks telling me this.
But, apparently - after reading an article about me - she felt like a stalker, so she closed down the browser.
I can’t even express how much I appreciate that.
And honestly, I don’t care that she didn’t know who I was.
I really like the idea that I’ll be the one who gets to teach her about hockey.
Kitten breaks into my thoughts, “Tell me about your sister. According to my flashcard, she’s quite beautiful.”
That makes me roll my eyes. “Yes, Stephanie is beautiful, and that’s been a thorn in my side since I hit puberty.
She’s two years younger than me, and all of my friends liked to talk about how hot they thought she was.
Then I’d have to punch them. Then I’d get in trouble with my mama, or get detention.
And then the cycle would start all over again.
” Kitten fights back a smile as I continue, “Steph was never a troublemaker, just the opposite. And as we got older, she became more and more of a busybody... getting involved in my life, trying to set me up with ‘a nice girl,’ or trying to decorate my apartments. I swear she becomes more like Mama every damn day.” I’m sure my exasperation is apparent in my tone.
I love my sister. I do. But she can be a total pain in the ass.
“How about you? You mentioned a brother. Do you guys get along?”
She scoffs. “Our situations are flipped on this one. My brother, Alex, is three years older than I am. And he’s a total pest. When we were little, he’d do his best to torture me with bugs and rigged faucets, and just pranks in general.”
“Pranks, like what?”
Katelyn leans back in her chair. “Like the time when I was ten and he poured water on my bed while I was sleeping, and then convinced me that I peed myself. I was mortified. I secretly washed my bedding that day because I was too embarrassed to tell my parents. It was years, literal years , before he told me he did that! Ugh. He is the worst . And now he’s a fourth grade teacher, if you can believe that.
He’s actually great at it, but I’m pretty sure that’s because he stopped maturing when he was that age, so he relates well to his students. ”
I can’t help but laugh. “I wonder if I could try that bed-wetting scheme on my sister now.”
Smacking my arm, Kitten scolds me, “Don’t you dare!”
I grin like a fool. The girl I like just touched me.
Katelyn’s expression freezes. “I didn’t even think about my brother.”
My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, he’s a huge Sleet fan! I never really paid attention to his hockey rants, but I know he watches all the games.
I’ve seen him wearing jerseys on several occasions.
I think he has more than one. Oh god, what if he has your jersey!
If he finds out that we’re . . . well . .
. you know . . .” Looking to me for help, she sees me grinning at her expense.
Smacking my arm again, she says, “Oh shut up . When he finds out that I know you, he’s going to hassle me nonstop until I introduce you guys.
So, remember how you’re laughing now when he shows up on your doorstep with a tattoo of your face across his back. ”
My grin has turned smug. “I can handle your brother, Kitten.”
There’s a knock at the front door.
The food is already here; I’m not expecting anyone. Damnit, when I told Henry he didn’t have to call up again, I was referring to the food delivery. I forget how literal he can be sometimes.
I push my chair back from the table. “Sorry for the interruption, I can’t imagine why someone is here. But while I’m up, I can refill our waters.”
“No, you get the door, I’ll top off the glasses.” Kitten stands at the same time.
Eager to get back to our conversation, I stride to the door and pull it open. And find Luke standing in front of me.
When he goes to step past me to come inside, I put my hand up on the door frame, my other hand still holding the handle, well-aware this is probably the least subtle way to keep him out of my condo.
“Uh, hey , Jackson. Whatcha doin in there?” Luke says, craning his neck to try to see what I’m hiding.
“Luke. This is unexpected.”
“You know normal people would start with ‘Hello’ and ‘want to come inside?’ … I might have to give your mama a call to ask where she went wrong raising you.”
I’m not trying to hide Kitten from Luke for any reason other than wanting him to leave. “Sorry, but now is not a good time. Can we catch up tomorrow? ”
“No-can-do, buddy. Coach is on his way over.” His smile turns into a grin. “Now.”
“Seriously? What the fuck?” I drop my hand from the frame, and Luke wastes no time pushing past me.
Spotting Kitten standing in the kitchen he stops in his tracks. “Katelyn! How nice to see you.” He slowly turns back to give me a raised eyebrow look of surprise.
She gives him a little wave. “Hi, Luke.”
“Did Jackson here give you back your twenty yet?” He laughs.
Kitten glances at me before replying. “That was payment for your services. I don’t want it back.”
I make a mental note to tuck the bill into one of her pockets sometime tonight. “This is a lovely little reunion and all, but - Luke - care to tell me why Coach is on his way over?”
“He called me and said he wanted us to go over some footage for the game against Winnipeg this week. He just said he’d meet me here.
Seeing as you never do anything fun. With anyone.
Ever.” He winks over at Kitten. “I didn’t think I’d need to give you a heads-up.
I can call and try to get him to push it back to tomorrow morning. ”
Kitten jumps into the conversation. “Don’t do that! Really Jackson, I can entertain myself while you guys do your thing. Or we can just continue this another night. I don’t want to interfere with your team work.”
Just when I think this girl can’t get any better, she talks about it like playing hockey is an actual job and not just me goofing around. It takes a lot of work to be on a professional team, but a lot of people view it as just showing up for games and having fun.
“Don’t leave. Please.” I walk up to Kitten and bring my hand to the side of her neck. “We won’t be long.”
“Less than an hour, for sure,” Luke chimes in.
“Okay,” her voice comes out as a whisper, and she’s looking at me in a way that has me tightening my grip on her.
I want to close the distance between us.
I want to press my lips to hers. I want to feel her melt into me.
I want us to be alone. She breaks into my thoughts with a question.
“Why is it only you two watching these videos with your coach?”
“Hmm?” My brain takes a second to reset. “Oh, Luke and I are the captains.”
Her eyes open wider in shock. “Really?”
“Geez, don’t sound so surprised,” Luke says. “I know he’s a knucklehead, but Jackson’s a decent hockey player.”
Speaking over my shoulder, I say to Luke, “You’re an idiot.
” Releasing my grip on Kitten, I walk toward the hall.
“I’ll get the office set up so we can get this started and over as quickly as possible.
” Walking away, I hear another knock at the door.
That must be Coach. “Luke, grab the door!” I shout before entering my office.
It only takes a couple of minutes to get everything ready, clearing off the guest chairs and powering up my computer and wall screen. I expected Luke to bring Coach straight back when he got here, but they must still be out there talking to Kitten.
This is the last fucking thing I wanted to happen tonight. I’ve been enjoying Katelyn’s company. I want to spend more time together, learning everything about her. Exhaling my frustration, I promise myself that I won’t let this derail our evening.
Walking back down the hallway, I call out, “Hey, what’s the hold up?”
Expecting to see Luke and Coach standing in the kitchen, it takes me a moment to orient myself to the new scene. Luke is sitting at the dining table with Kitten. And my sister. And my mama.
Stopping dead in my tracks, I scold myself for my previous thought. This. This is the last fucking thing I wanted to happen tonight.