Chapter 5
Mac
Ifinish my drink as I watch Eliza leave the bar as quickly as she can. She holds her head high, powering her way through the tables, and I can’t take my eyes off her. Just her presence demands my attention, and she doesn’t even know it.
I pay my bill and leave, finding my way back to my apartment, which is only a short walk from the bar.
The air is crisp and cool as it blows lightly through the streets of downtown Vancouver.
A cold front is supposed to hit the city in the next few days, and I shiver just at the thought of it.
Winters here can be harsher than they were growing up in London, and despite the fact that I’ve lived here for over a decade, I still haven’t quite adjusted.
I secure my scarf around my neck and shove my hands in the pockets of my jacket. Downtown Vancouver is different from London. Walking down the street here, you’re surrounded by tall buildings; nothing about this area feels open. In London, there are areas of tall buildings, but nothing like this.
I nod at the concierge for my building as I step inside and then ride the elevator to the top floor.
This is one of the buildings my father’s company developed a number of years ago here in Vancouver.
When my father had said he wanted me to run the Vancouver office, he had told me that I would live here.
I didn’t fight it because it’s close to the office and has a great view of the water, but it’s also one more tie to my father and his control of me.
As much as I do want to run this company when he retires, I’m sure that he’ll try to micromanage it.
There’s been times when I’ve wondered if I’m actually passionate about taking over the company or if it’s some subconscious part of me trying to prove to my father that I’m good enough.
Inside my apartment, I pour myself a whiskey and walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stare out at the city.
It’s dark outside, but the lights from all the buildings make it easy to see.
The people below appear as little specs as they all hustle along the sidewalks.
That’s one thing about the city, everyone is in such a rush to get somewhere, and I find that I’m the same way.
My day is always planned out, utilizing every minute I have to get the most done.
With that thought, I head to my home office and get more work done. We have development projects scheduled to break ground in the next few weeks, meaning I have a ton of things to get done before then.
After several hours, I finally make my way to bed and let my mind wander to Eliza for the first time since I left the bar.
I have no idea if she’s going to accept my proposal; she gave no inclination before she left, and I found her hard to read in that moment.
I find myself more keen for her to say yes than I originally anticipated.
Eliza isn’t at our Saturday game, which is unusual.
She’s usually at all the weekend ones, sitting with her friends and hitting the bar upstairs afterwards.
I’ve found myself up there once or twice just to be able to see her.
I’ve never joined them, only grabbing a pint at the bar where I can see her and watch a game on the TV at the same time.
When Josh skates by me in warm ups, I lift my chin towards his wife and her friends and ask, “No Liz today?”
He looks over and shakes his head. “No, something about her needing to finish something at work this weekend.”
I don’t respond, not wanting to show much more interest, and lower myself to the ice to stretch.
I wonder if she actually didn’t come because of work or if my proposition and admission that I saw her manifestation had her staying away today.
I put myself into my game headspace, pushing away every outside thought, but I can feel the question of if I’m the reason she’s not here knocking at the back of my mind.
When the game’s over and we all make our way to the bench, I notice Eliza is now with her friends.
She spots me, and a slight blush hits her cheeks before she does her best to hide it.
I follow the rest of the guys into the locker room and straight to my spot in the corner.
I undress as I listen to Josh, Matt, Caleb, and Grayson talk about heading upstairs to grab a bite with their girls and kids.
Josh looks at me and asks, “You going to join us today?”
I nod after a few seconds, knowing this could be a great chance to speak to Eliza again and at least get a feel for where her head is at about my proposition.
“Great,” he says, smacking me on the shoulder as he walks past me and into the showers.
I follow the guys upstairs, Matt, Josh, and Grayson all talking while Caleb and I follow behind listening to them.
They head straight for a long table where their girls are all waiting for them.
Cate is sitting in her mum’s lap and reaches for Josh as soon as he approaches, and he immediately scoops her up as he kisses Liv.
I can’t help but notice the soft smile on Eliza’s face as she watches them, but her eyes widen slightly when I pull out the only remaining empty chair next to her and take a seat.
She swallows and turns her attention back to her friends as I sit.
Hannah looks at me curiously and asks, “What made you decide to join us tonight, Mac?”
“Just thought I’d grab a bite before heading home,” I say, grabbing a menu off the table.
Hannah’s eyes twinkle as she watches me, but she chooses not to ask anymore questions and turns to her husband, Grayson.
I watch Eliza out of the corner of my eye as I scan the menu. Despite how cool she may be trying to play it and the fact that she’s keeping her face neutral, the way she bounces her leg tells me she’s more affected by my presence than she’d like to admit.
Her friends cast curious glances in our direction while sharing looks that seem like they're communicating without saying a word. When the server comes by, we all place our orders, and I lean back in my seat, observing everything. I don’t join the guys often, so seeing them all interact with each other and how close they are is interesting.
They were close when I met them, but I haven’t seen them outside of the locker room or on the ice much.
They all share an easy banter that shows how close they are.
They’ve all seemed to slip so easily into each other’s lives as they’ve added their girlfriends and wives.
Someone asks me the occasional question, and I answer politely.
I notice how Eliza will turn to picking at her food instead of eating while I answer, and a small bead or hope grows that maybe she’s listening closely because she wants to say yes.
When she’s finished, she announces that she’s going to head home, and I stand with her and say, “I’ll walk you to your car.”
She says goodbye to her friends, and I wait for her, tipping my head to the table before I follow her outside.
She’s quiet as she walks, her arms wrapping around her coat as she holds it snuggly against her.
She’s not in a pencil skirt and heels today, but rather dark skinny jeans and black and white canvas shoes, a more comfortable and relaxed look.
She looks amazing in her office looks, but seeing her comfortable is whole different level of sexy.
As we get closer to the back of the parking lot, she looks at me over her shoulder and says, “Well, this is me.”
The words are dismissive, telling me I can leave her, but I walk to her car. As she reaches for the handle, I ask, “Have you made a decision?”
She gnaws on her lip as she turns to face me, conflict in her eyes. “Not yet,” she says softly.
I nod and shove my hands in my pockets. I don’t want to force her into this, that's the last thing I want.
If we enter into this arrangement, it needs to be of her own free will.
I move to take a step back as she seems to steel herself, taking a deep breath and pulling her shoulders back and meeting my eyes.
“I have questions.”
“Understandable. We could discuss them over dinner if that works for you?” I offer.
She nods slightly before nodding more surely. “Yes.”
I fight back my grin as I hold my hand out.
She stares at it, brows furrowed, before looking back up at me.
“I’m sure you have a mobile,” I say.
Her mouth pops open into an O shape, and she reaches into the back pocket of her jeans, producing her mobile. She unlocks it and hands it to me open to the contact app. I quickly put in my details and call myself so I have her number too.
“I’ll text you,” I say, and she nods, gnawing her lip again. I take a step back so she can slide into her car and watch as she makes her way out of the parking lot before heading to my own car, ready to come with a plan to convince her to say yes at dinner.