34. The First Text Messages
The First Text Messages
Luke: It was my pleasure, Green Eyes. I’m at the airport now. Let me know when you land.
Princess: Landed in not-quite-Chicago. Have three hours before my first web meeting… would rather be floating in the ocean.
Luke: Landed in it’s-really-Minnesota. Times like these, I really appreciate that I play a game for a living.
Luke: What sort of meetings do you have today, Corporate Princess?
Princess: Canadian ones. I’ll wave to your state from the air.
Luke: Tell me the time and I’ll wave back.
Princess: Don’t you have practice or something?
Luke: *groans* Yes, but I’m pretending I don’t because I don’t want to get out of bed.
Princess: Such a lazy athlete. You gotta put all those fancy muscles to use.
Luke: So… You think my muscles are fancy?
Princess: (puts phone on airplane mode)
Princess: Saw your face in the airport today.
Luke: Oh yeah? Was I handsome?
Luke: That’s a rhetorical question because obviously.
Princess: Someone slapped the magazine barcode sticker across your forehead. So maybe not as handsome as you’re hoping.
Luke: Hmm. Good to know. Forehead tattoos were next on the docket.
Princess: Might I suggest something other than a barcode?
Luke: Guess I’m heading back to the drawing board.
Luke: What are you doing tonight?
Princess: Eating takeout in my hotel room.
Luke: Want some company?
Princess: You in LA?
Luke: I’m in my kitchen. But I’ve heard of this thing called FaceTime. And I’d like to try it.
Princess: With jokes like that, how can I resist?
Luke: I am irresistible. Okay, let me order my own food, then I’m calling.
Princess: So, first game of the season this week. How are you feeling?
Luke: Excited, but in the way where you might throw up.
Princess: I can only imagine the pressure of playing in front of a crowd like that. But according to my friend, The Internet, you’re pretty good at what you do. So I doubt you have anything to worry about.
Luke: Thanks, Princess. That’s sweet of your friend to say, and I still feel good. But…
Princess: But…?
Luke: I’m gonna be thirty-seven in a few months, and I feel it. I know I’m good for this season. And maybe the next. But I know I need to start thinking about what’s after.
Luke: Sorry, I didn’t mean to go that deep.
Luke: That’s what she said.
Luke: But seriously, I wasn’t trying to complain.
Princess. First, did you seriously just do a that’s what she said to your own comment? Second, I don’t mind you going deep.
Princess: That’s what she said.
Princess: But seriously, I’m happy to talk or not talk about whatever you want.
Luke: I respect you so much more now that you set yourself up for that same joke.
Princess: Thanks?
Luke: Distract me. Ask me a question.
Princess: Why do you call me Princess?
Luke: Because that very first time I saw you, you were languishing across that weight bench like a princess in a drawing. Or like those cartoons growing up where the reigning royal was always reclined on a pile of pillows while someone fed them grapes and someone else fanned them with palm fronds.
Luke: I wish I’d taken a picture.
Luke: But I didn’t because that would have been creepy.
Princess: Now I kinda wish you’d taken a picture too.
Luke: Plus you looked super hot with your ass peeking out of your cover-up, and I wanted to bury my face in your tits.
Princess: And there goes the sweet moment.
Luke: Morning, Princess.
Princess: Morning, Player.
Princess: You don’t need it, but good luck at your game tonight.
Luke: Thanks, Green Eyes.
Luke: You gonna watch?
Luke: Better yet, don’t tell me.
Princess: You’re going to do great.
Princess: Since the game has started now and you won’t see this until after it’s over… I’ll let you know that, yes, I am watching. Yes, I’m in my pajamas. And yes, I’m thinking about how you got your dick all sandy in Mexico.
Princess: Congrats on the win! And the goal!
Luke: Thanks, Little Royal.
Luke: And thanks for reminding me about the sandy-dick trauma.
Princess: You’re welcome.
Princess: I gotta admit, hockey is much more entertaining than I thought.
Luke: I’m pleased and insulted.
Princess: Consider me a convert.
Luke: Does that mean you’ll keep watching my games?
Princess: Only if you promise to get into one of those fights. Those were fun!
Luke: I’ve created a monster.
Luke: Glad you watched.
Princess: Me too.
Luke: Where are you off to this week?
Princess: Flying to Denver tomorrow and finishing the week in San Fran.
Luke: Any chance you want to squeeze a stop in at Vegas on Thursday night? We have an evening game and then a few days off after, so we’re gonna hit the strip.
Luke: And by hit the strip, I mean grab some drinks and walk around people watching.
Princess: I might be able to make that work.