Chapter 32 Joelle #2
I look at Emmett. He looks at me. This is going to be a long wait.
Fifteen minutes later, we're all sitting on the floor.
"I'm bored," Sully announces.
"We've been here for fifteen minutes," Emmett says.
"Feels like an hour." He moans.
"Let's play a game," Collette suggests.
"What kind of game?" I ask.
"Twenty questions. I'll start." She points at Emmett. "What's your biggest fear?"
"Besides being stuck in an elevator?" He smirks. "Letting my team down.”
"Boring," Collette says.
“Lettie.” I look at her. "I think it’s very honest of him to say that."
"Of course you would." She rolls her eyes. "He's the captain. If that isn't his biggest fear, then he's not a good captain."
"She has a point there, Cap," Sully adds, which earns him a glare from Emmett.
"Fine. Not being worthy of real love."
The elevator goes deathly quiet.
"What do you mean?" my sister asks.
"I'm a hockey player. It's hard to meet people who don't want something from you. You always have to be on guard that people want you for the right reasons." Emmett looks up at me. Does he think I don't want him for the right reasons?
"That's dark, Cap, but true," Sully adds.
"Are you talking about the puck bunnies?" Collette asks.
"Yes and no. They are easy to spot, but sometimes you can be caught off-guard."
"That's sad," Collette says.
"See, we're real people too," Sully teases her.
She pokes out her tongue at him. "Worst date you've ever been on?" she asks him.
Sully laughs. "There was this girl in college who brought her ex-boyfriend to dinner because he was a big fan of mine." We giggle. "It gets worse. The ex started hitting on me." We all burst out laughing.
"Your turn, Jo," Collette says. "Most embarrassing moment?"
I groan. "Do I have to?"
"Yes." I glare at my sister. "Don't worry, I won't say anything about that." She smiles.
"Fine. I walked into the men's showers by accident at the rugby club and saw the entire team naked. I was so flustered that I slipped over and landed on my back. I hurt myself badly and couldn't get up. So, the boys had to rescue me. Naked."
My sister cracks up. "That isn't embarrassing. That is a dream. Did you get a good look?"
"Shut up." I smack her.
"How did that happen?" Emmett asks.
"I turned left when I was supposed to have turned right. I couldn't look at any of the guys for ages afterwards. Next question."
Sully points at Emmett. "If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?"
Emmett thinks for a moment. "My dad. He died when I was sixteen. I'd like to tell him about finally winning the Cup. About making captain. All the things he's missed out on."
The elevator goes quiet.
"That's so sweet," Collette says softly.
Sully squeezes his shoulder.
"Yeah," Emmett says, clearing his throat. "All right, my turn. Jo, worst injury you've ever treated?"
"Dislocated shoulder. Rugby player. He screamed so loud I thought he was dying."
"Did you fix it?"
"Of course I did," I say proudly.
The speaker crackles again. "The elevator will be moving soon. Thank you for your patience."
"Finally," Collette says.
But I'm watching Emmett. He's smiling at me, that soft smile he saves for when no one else is looking. And I realize we just spent fifteen minutes trapped in an elevator, and it didn't feel awkward at all.
"So, are we going to talk about the elephant in the elevator? What the hell is happening between you and Cap?" Sully grins.
Now it's awkward.
"What the hell, man?" Emmett pushes his friend.
"Well, we're stuck in this elevator. You two can't run from each other. Thought it would be the perfect time to have some tough talks."
"You knew?" Collette questions.
"Yeah. Of course. I'm his best friend."
"Who else knows?" I turn and look at him.
"My sister," Emmett says quietly.
"And mine. They come as a package pair," Sully informs us.
"Shit." I stand up and start pacing. "This is getting out of hand."
"No, it's not," Emmett says, standing up.
"It is if your brothers know," Sully adds.
"They don't," Collette says.
"Then all is good."
"I think it's a good idea," Collette adds.
"Excuse me?" I stare at my traitorous sister.
"That you two talk. Because I am sick of the tension."
"You feel it too?" Sully asks her.
"Yes. It's insane. They need to just bang and get it out of their systems."
"That is what I tell him, too."
"Um, we are standing here," Emmett says, looking at them both.
"And yet neither of you are talking," Sully adds.
"Maybe, just maybe, we don't want to have this conversation in front of other people."
"Or you're both chicken shit to talk about it," Sully pushes.
"Or I'm respecting Jo's wishes."
The elevator goes quiet.
"What does that mean?" Sully asks.
"It's none of your business," Emmett snaps.
"I told him I thought it was too complicated, and I didn't know if I could do it because of that. We have so many things against us. Why start something when it's going to hurt so many people?"
The elevator is silent.
Tears start to fall down my cheeks. This might be my most embarrassing moment, saying what was in my head out loud.
"Hey." Emmett grabs me and pushes me up against the wall. "Don't cry." He looks at me with concern as he brushes away the tears. "I get it. I understand. You're right. I have the same thoughts, but ..." His voice drops. "I can't stop thinking about you either."
I look up into those stormy green eyes through my tear-soaked lashes. "You can't?" I sniffle.
"No. I can't," he says softly, giving me a smile. "But I can't say your brothers wouldn't be upset with me."
"They would."
"They would kick my ass. As would my team. But it would be worth it if I got you in the end."
Thud. Thud. Thud. There goes my heart.
"Oh my god." Collette gasps.
That’s right, we aren’t alone. Suddenly the elevator jolts, and Emmett grabs me as we start moving again.
The crackle of the intercom comes through. "Sorry for the inconvenience."
And the next thing we know, we arrive at our floor.
"This is us," I say to Emmett as he moves away from me. I grab my bag and walk out of the elevator without looking back.
"Holy shit, Jo."
"Don't," I tell her as we continue down the corridor.
"Jo, that was like a romantic movie. He just declares his intentions, and you just walked out and didn't look back."
We stop at the door.
"What was I supposed to do?"
"I don't know. Kiss the ever-loving shit out of him. Tell him that you feel the same."
"I can't." I push past and storm into the hotel room.
“You sound like a broken record. Why not?” She stomps after me. “Walk into HR when we get back and tell them that you want to date Emmett."
"Dating Emmett is the easy bit, but that doesn't fix the problem of our brothers.
What this would do to the team. I will not be the person who messes up their chances to go to the playoffs.
This isn't a romantic movie, Lettie. This is real life, and sometimes love doesn't conquer all.
" I'm hysterical now as I sink onto the bed.
My sister is quiet for a moment. "Okay." She places a reassuring arm around my shoulders.
"You're right," she says softly. We sit there in silence as I try to wipe away my tears again.
"Or ... now hear me out ..." she says. "You two see each other secretly, and once the season is over, you come out.
That way no one gets hurt because the season is over.
You could tell the team, and everyone is happy. "
I turn and look at her. "You want us to lie?”
“White lie,” she says.
“You think that is going to work?"
"Of course. Especially if you have me and Sully on your side. We would help you guys keep your secret."
"You would? Why?"
"Because that man is adorable and I can't believe you're not rushing into his arms." My eyes widen at her reaction. "I get it. I totally understand the tension and why you haven't been able to quit him. Girl, go for it. Put that man out of his misery."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Unless you don't like him."
"No. I like him. A lot." I giggle.
"Yay. Jo has a secret boyfriend. This is so cool. It's like we are spies or something." She smiles. "We need code words and disguises."
"That seems extreme."
"Love is extreme."