Chapter 15
Fifteen
Eloise
“Come on, you’re coming to Toronto for three days and you’re not going to try to visit me in London?” Hannah says through the phone. I sigh. I love my sister, but she’s such a pain in the ass.
“Hannah, it’s literally three days of press and photo ops. I’ll barely have time to breathe, especially with Taylor being with me and us needing to train together.”
“Come on, you signed a decent contract, surely you can skive off for a day.”
I close my eyes as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “No, I can’t. This is part of my job. If you want to come up to Toronto for dinner, we can do that.”
“Oh, no. I can’t do that; I have work.”
I grit my teeth, taking a sharp breath through my nose as I try to avoid screaming into her ear. "Alright, fine. Thanks, Hannah, I’ll talk to you later." I hang up the phone before she protests.
I love her. I love my sister.
She just doesn’t think things through, though. She’s very much a young adult. Like she’s supposed to be, she’s only 18, but sometimes I wish that she understood that I can’t be at her beck and call. Not that I would want to be, but I’d love to be someone she can rely on a bit more.
If I were at the Titans with Kenz, then I’d be a bit more amenable to helping her, but across the country? There’s no way.
Kenz calls me almost immediately after I hang up on Hannah, a weight lifting off my chest as I pick it up.
“Girl, you’re coming to town?” she asks, her face flooding the screen. Brown eyes, tanned skin, the biggest smile a woman could have. Her eyelashes are long and thick and everything I wish I had.
“Of course! Taylor and I are flying in tonight. Did you want to get drinks tomorrow?”
Her black eyebrows furrow, scrunching up, and I bite back my wince.
“Taylor? I’m sorry, Eloise Harper, are you teammates with Taylor Matthews—the number one crush you’ve had since college?”
I can feel my cheeks darken at the thought.
“Maybe.”
She scream-laughs and drops the phone, her cackle insane as she tries to right herself. “I think I have to tell Blake. He’s going to be so excited.”
I wince. “Please don’t.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Wanna tell me why not?”
“Taylor and I are on shaky ground on the best of days.”
Her head pulls forward, waiting for clarification and something about trying to explain Taylor and my relationship, the ups and downs we’ve had and how sacred every smile she gives me feels… cheap. It seems impossible to pare it down into words that fit.
“I’m waiting.”
“I don’t know how to explain it. We hated each other—”
“She hated you; it wasn’t mutual, remember?”
I force myself not to roll my eyes at one of my oldest childhood friends. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right. But because we’re on a team and most likely a line together, they keep pushing us to be on one, so we’re trying to become friends.”
“Trying seems like the operative word there. Are you sure this isn’t a Stockholm Syndrome situation?”
“I would never fall for that.”
She levels me with a stare through the phone screen. “I was talking about it from Taylor’s point of view.”
A cackle forces its way out of my chest. It sounds almost bitter to my ears. “Anyway, it’s fine. We’re going to have a good trip, and it won’t be ridiculous. “
“You’re rooming together?” she asks and I nod.
“Cheaper.”
“You’re going to be in close proximity with the woman who sometimes hates you and you’re in love with?”
My ears burn at the thought, and I nod before the words reach my brain. “Wait! No, of course not! She doesn’t hate me, and I’m definitely not in love with her; it’s just a crush, and I’m getting over her.”
“I think the lady doth protest too much,” she teases, the sing-songy tone grating my nerves just slightly. “But if you’re getting over her, let’s go clubbing when you’re in town.”
I groan. “Kenz, it’s a short trip. “
“On a weekend. You’ll have time to get your obligatory photos in and some practice.” She raises an eyebrow. “And you know, we can count dancing in heels as a part of ankle strength training.”
Smacking the palm of my hand to my forehead, I let it drag down my face. “You’re not being very helpful with packing.”
Her smile is glowing in the mid afternoon sun that is setting her aglow. I wish it were her that I was falling for, but no, I had to get Miss I’m-Running-Hot-and-Cold as my eternal crush. “I aim to please. But I can help you get over her on Saturday. Hell, let’s take her out too! She’ll love it.”
I bite my lip. “I doubt it. She hates changes to the itinerary.”
“So what? It’ll be for fun.” Her train of thought stops for a moment, and I can see something registering in her eyes. “Oh wait, is her fiancé one of those guys who hates to see his partner happy dancing with friends?”
“What fiancé?” I ask, my brain offline for a moment before realization comes flooding back into me. “Oh, I don’t know. They broke up a few weeks before training camp.”
Kenz shifts. “No fucking way. Do you know why?”
Shaking my head, I say, “And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
She falls back on what I realize is her couch. Her face was blocking just about everything that could have told me where she was sitting. “You’re such a good friend that it’s no fun to tease you.”
I snort. “I’m sure you’ll find something new to tease me with. But I’ll text you once we get our full itinerary from HQ, and we’ll work something out.”
“I can’t wait! Go get packing! Love you and chat soon!”
She hangs up after I return the pleasantries and groan at the layers of clothing that’s on my bed.
I have to be quick, because we have to be at the airport in an hour, and traffic can be a bitch downtown, especially near the airport.
It’s probably the only real downside to being in Vancouver instead of Calgary.
I miss the ability to drive everywhere without traffic being a huge issue.
My heart twinges a bit at the thought of Calgary.
I do miss it. I lived there for three years; it became home.
I wanted it to be where I started a family with my ex.
And now?
Well, I’m restarting and in a city that I thought was going to be shit, but this seems to be the best-case scenario that I could have experienced. The team is fantastic, Winnie has become a fast friend and Brynn is over-welcoming to make up for the fact that Taylor doesn’t do well with new people.
That’s what I’m going to assume she struggles with because we’re starting to get comfortable with each other.
I like it.
Even if every time we talk, my heart hurts a little because of how painfully straight she is. This has been the best choice for me.
And a quick trip to Toronto to show the world how much of a good decision this was for the two of us to be partners? That’s even better.
I text Taylor to explain where I’m at with my plans, and then send a quick text to my parents letting them know that I’m heading to the airport when I get a notification that my rideshare is in the lobby.
I’ve got another week before I can move into my apartment, and thankfully, the organization has been willing to pay for the expenses at the hotel.
I lug my small suitcase to the counter to check in, and scan for Taylor. She should be here with me. She said that she was on her way as well and was going to meet me at check in. She’s not here, though.
It’s not like she would lie about being here.
She was a little odd when Fallon told us that we were going to be flying out tonight, and maybe it was because she had to change her plans or she doesn’t like flying, which is crazy considering how much flying we have to do when we do away games on the east coast, but I digress.
She’s not here now.
And we’re going to be late, and I hate when I’m late. Especially when we have to go through security.
“El!” someone calls out and my head whips around.
Taylor is there with a bright smile wearing Vortex branded gear.
She’s a walking billboard for them at this point, but it looks ridiculously comfy.
I’m going to have to talk to our social media team to see if I can get some of the leggings and sweats.
They’re magenta pink, and cinch at the waist and ankles.
They’re loose enough that you can’t see the entirety of her physique, but they allude to it.
Her sweater is cropped, and I can see a hint of her obliques when she raises her arm.
She’s far away, so I can’t tell if there're freckles that dust her stomach the way they’re splattered across her face, but what I wouldn’t give to…
No, bad Eloise. You don’t think about a coworker like that.
Even if she’s your long-time crush and is actively being nice to you now.
I finish checking in and race to her. “Come on. We’re going to be late,” I say, taking her hand in mine while I pull my carry on in the other.
“We’re going to be fine,” she says in a blasé tone, and I raise an eyebrow looking back at her.
“You’re just as stressed as I am,” I declare. She shakes her head, trying to protest. “Come on, Taylor. You were stressed at the rink, and you’re stressed now.”
She releases my hand, and I forget we were holding hands for a moment.
It felt so right, as if she’d become an extension of my body or I’d become part of hers.
She’s gnawing her bottom lip when I watch her.
She nudges me away, a soft smile breaking out on her face.
“Leave me alone. I had plans this weekend I had to rearrange.”
“Date?” I ask and immediately duck my head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
She laughs softly. “No. I just… I have a routine for the weekend, and I don’t like when there’s a change.”
“I mean, that’s fair.”
“But it’s alright.” She looks at the security line. “This doesn’t look too bad. Let’s get through this and then we can grab a coffee.”
“As if I need coffee tonight. I won’t be able to sleep on the flight.”
Her brows furrow for a moment, and I wonder if there’s something I’m missing. Did she mean to say that it was going to be decaf? Did she mean a beer instead?
We’re through security quickly and we’re at the gate before I knew it.
“Did you want to get a coffee?” I ask, and she looks at the ground shyly. “There was a cafe a little ways back if you wanted to get some.”
“Oh, I’ll be fine.”
I bite my tongue in response. “I could probably get a decaf cup if you wanted company to get your own.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s alright. Sometimes I find coffee helps me mellow out, but I think I’m a little too keyed up tonight for it to be useful.”
“Oh.”
She’s sheepish. “Anyway, it’s alright. I’ll take some of my melatonin when we get to the hotel.”
“If you say so.”
“Yeah, did you let Kenzie know that we were going to be in town?”
I nod. “Of course. She’s hoping the three of us can get drinks tomorrow night. I think Blake might also be in town, so he could potentially join us if he doesn’t have a game.”
I watch the way her face remains neutral at the thought of Blake joining, and I thought that a single woman would potentially be excited at the idea of meeting another eligible bachelor, but maybe I’m wrong. “Do they know I broke up with Frank?” she asks.
“Kenz does… She asked, but I didn’t share anything.”
“You didn’t?”
I tilt my head at the question. “Well yeah, it’s not my story to tell. Why would I share it?”
Her small nod makes me wonder if something else had happened that I’m not aware of. She’ll tell me in her own time, I’m sure. I’ll wear her down until she thinks of me as one of her best friends.
“Thanks.”
“No worries, but just as a heads up, you’ll probably want to create a statement soon, otherwise there will be rumours floating around.” She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Not to be a nag, but we are in the public eye, and people are like that.”
“Did you write a post when you broke up with your partner?” she asks suddenly.
I press my lips together. “No. But—”
The look she sends my way silences me. “So why should I?”
“I don’t trust Frank, and Melody and I weren’t public.”
Her face shutters. I think she’s going to shut down on me soon. I shouldn’t be pressing her. “You never met Frank.”
I take her hand in mine, enjoying the heat of her for a moment. “Anyone who thinks that cheating is the way to last in a relationship is stupid. You deserve better, and he doesn’t seem like he was the nicest guy.”
She huffs a breath. “I’m going to go get a coffee.”
I’ve got a stupid soft smile on my lips that I have to push down. Her eyes narrow when she sees it, but she stands up instead of responding to it. “Sounds good,” I say.
Sitting back in my seat, I think about Melody, something I’ve rarely done since coming to Vancouver. She’s probably already moved on.
A post about my new place wouldn’t hurt.
It’s not like I already removed her from my bio and content.
I look at my socials. She isn’t heavily present in them, but she’s featured in a few photo dumps.
A social wipe could be beneficial. A coffee cup is pushed in my face, and the scent of sweet nectar floats up to my nose.
I catch Taylor’s green eyes and the way she’s trying not to be soft around me.
“It’s decaf.” She sips her own cup, allowing me to watch the way her eyes flutter at the taste.
“Thanks.”
She sits beside me. “Don’t mention it.”
Maybe I pushed just enough.