30. You really need to start dating a real man, Elizabeth.
30
"You really need to start dating a real man, Elizabeth."
Aaron Miles
Once we wrap up our post-game rituals, we head over to Warlington Lane. It’s only Adler, Hawthorne, Beaumont, Wilcott, and me tonight. As it often is after a loss. Although, Wilcott coming with us is a surprise. Especially after he let four goals through, but maybe he doesn’t want to be alone after getting slammed like that.
“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Hawthorne tells him as we’re walking to the bar. “You did great.”
“Still the best goalie in the N HL,” Adler chimes in, slapping his back.
Wilcott grunts. “I wish I could have done better. They were bloody fast.”
“We’ll beat them next time,” Beaumont declares, his voice full of confidence.
“Let’s take our minds off it for tonight, okay?” I say. “We’ll get back to work tomorrow.”
Adler stops in his tracks. “Seriously? That’s your reaction to a scorching loss? Why aren’t you setting trash cans on fire or something?”
I burst out a laugh, and the others follow. “I don’t do that. Losses happen. It’s fine.”
“Um, no it’s not. At least not for you, Mister King of Sore Losers!”
I scoff. “I am not a sore loser.”
“You definitely are,” Beaumont says, and I want to smack him.
I look to Hawthorne and Wally for support, but they’re not contesting.
“Remember our loss against the Cavaliers last year?” Hawthorne says. “You exercised for three hours post-game without peeping a word.”
I freeze, vaguely remembering what he’s talking about.
“No need to go that far back, ” Adler says. “A few days ago, when he lost at Uno, he stopped playing, screwed his headphones on, and brooded the entire last leg of the trip.”
They all laugh, and my chest tightens.
“It was like you turned into Wally,” he adds, and Wally grunts, throwing him a death stare that makes us all laugh even harder.
“Yeah, well,” I say, adjusting my cap, “It’s called growth, I guess. I’m trying to be a better man. You guys should do the same.” Or, maybe for the first time, I was thinking about everything I have in my life rather than focusing on our loss.
“Hey, we were never as bad as you in the first place,” Beaumont says, hitting me in the stomach.
“Right.” I roll my eyes. “Then let’s get our minds off of it,” I say, pushing open the bar’s front door.
I understand why the other guys would rather just go home on a night like this, but I feel it’s even more beneficial to be with friends after a loss than after a win. It’s a great way to get your mind focused on something else and move on.
Marissa jumps into my arms as soon as I step into the back room. The smell of her amber perfume and the sensation of her heart beating against mine are already enough to push the loss from my mind. I sneak in a kiss on her neck, and she breaks the embrace. “You played a great game,” she says, nodding firmly. “You’ll get your revenge.”
“Thanks.” I smile. Even if she’s a fierce fan of the game, Marissa has always supported me, in wins and in losses. But tonight, she’s been even more of an anchor, and a big reason why the loss didn’t ruin my mood. I know she’ll be here either way, even if it’s only in private.
No one seems to have noticed that outburst of affection—or they did, but they don’t care. It’s not like Marissa and I never hug in public.
We sit on the couch, and Deacon joins us for a while. We chat about anything and everything, and the conversation takes the edge off. Suddenly, we’re not hockey players after a loss anymore, we’re just a group of friends hanging out in a bar. Even Wilcott is participating, and there’s a shadow of a smile on his lips.
The music stops, so I walk to the jukebox and pick a new song. “Only Girl” by Jack Rose. Cheesy as heck, but it’s the perfect way to tell my girl I’m thinking about her, even though she’s sitting across the room from me, sandwiched between Alice and Beth. She’s gorgeous, her eyes sparkling and her glossy hair shimmering in the low light. I don’t know how I managed to resist her all these years, because right now, everything in my body is attracted to her like a magnet.
“Who put that on?” A dler says, eyes roving the room until they fall on me. “Ah, makes sense. Elizabeth,” he adds, waggling his eyebrows at her. “How about a dance to ease my pain?”
We all laugh out loud, even Wilcott.
Beth’s reddening cheeks compete with the flaming crimson couch, but she just shakes her head. “Still have a boyfriend.”
“Reeaally?” he drawls. “I’m not seeing him here.”
“He’s home. I’ll see him later,” she snaps, grabbing her phone.
“Home?” Adler frowns. “I thought the dude was on an away trip or something. You really need to start dating a real man, Elizabeth.”
Marissa glances at me, holding back her laughter. I sit back down next to Adler and tap his shoulders. “Easy, tiger.”
He just shakes his head. “Easy for you to say. You have a woman in your life.”
There’s a general gasp in the room, and everyone’s eyes land on me—including Marissa’s, a hint of panic in them.
“It’s new,” I say, readjusting my cap. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Beaumont whistles. “Good for you, man. Nice surprise,” he says before glancing to Marissa. At first, I think he’s onto us, but judging by his e xpression, I think he’s more surprised that I moved on from her and found someone else. As if anyone could ever move on from Marissa.
She gets up and heads to the restrooms, and after waiting a few minutes, I do the same. No one notices, too enthralled by a heated discussion about chicken reproduction—don’t ask.
When the door opens, I take her hand, and she giggles, looking side to side before kissing me. “Aaron,” she whispers. “What if someone sees us?”
I steal another kiss, and she deepens it. “I just wanted a quick kiss.”
“Later,” she murmurs, taking a step back, though her hand is still tucked in mine.
“Later.”
“Sorry,” someone grunts, and I don’t need to glance at the source of the voice to know it’s Wilcott. We yank our hands apart and take a step back, but I think he definitely saw something.
“Hey, Wally,” I say casually. “What’s up?”
“Going to the loo,” he grumbles, pushing the door open.
Once he’s inside, I muffle a laugh, and Marissa hits me on the torso. “It’s not funny. We have to be more careful.”
“Relax. I don’t think he saw anything, and even if he did, Wilcott’s a fortress.” It’s not like he talks much anyway.
“I know,” she says, biting her lip. “Still. No touching unless we’re at home.”
I shake my head. “No, you’re right. That was dumb.” The truth of that statement hits me hard. I might be on cloud nine right now, but we’re keeping this a secret for a reason, and I don’t want to blow it for a quick kiss. Especially since I know I’ll have her all to myself when we get home. I’ve waited my entire life for this. I can wait a little longer if it means us having a real shot.