Chapter 4
Val
I cheer as the Warriors take a victory lap around the arena.
My mind briefly drifts to the injured player.
The man who broke my sister’s heart when he cheated on her.
We don’t talk about him much—I mean, it has been ten years or so since they dated—but for a while it felt like a Harry Potter–type situation where we didn’t even say his name.
If my family finds out my sympathy lies with the hockey player, they’ll probably Gibbs-slap me upside the back of my head.
Except the hit he took has shaken me. Maybe because I still remember the kindness he showed me when he and Jackie dated.
Don’t focus on that. Remember how he broke her heart?
My empathy should obviously be with my sister. Jackie had been inconsolable when Crank ghosted her. I’ve never seen my sister so devastated. Dad immediately forbade anyone in the agency to do business with him. Granted, Crank already had an agent and hasn’t ever shopped for a replacement.
“They played amazingly,” Steff says.
I smile at the blond beauty. “They did. This was a great game.”
“Raimo will be so happy to see us after. You will come with me, yes?”
“Are you sure you two don’t want to be alone?”
“Later.” Steff grins.
I laugh despite the twist of envy in my gut.
“All right. You twisted my arm.” Besides, I want a chance to say hi to some of the other players.
Javier Sanchez is Jackie’s client, and he seems like a genuinely good guy.
I can only pray fame won’t change him. I’ve seen the good ones succumb all too often.
Steff leads the way out of the private suite and down the elevator to the cordoned-off area.
With a flash of a badge and a single “She’s with me,” we’re past security.
The other wives and girlfriends begin to trickle into the waiting room.
Some circle off into cliques, flipping their long hair over their shoulders.
Others stand with kids, trying to keep them from running around the room or throwing tantrums. God bless them.
My nephew runs circles around Jackie—well, truly, all of us.
He has us wrapped around his finger, and the little guy doesn’t even speak full sentences yet.
After what feels like forever, a door opens, and the players slowly traipse into the room. Some of the ladies squeal as their men meet them in a hug. Raimo comes over and sweeps Steff off her feet, much to her delight.
Don’t be jealous. But the tightness rising in my throat says otherwise. I want what they have. I want a love that makes me laugh, sigh with all the emotions, and never lets me go.
“Glad you came, Val.” Raimo gives me a side hug.
“Thanks for the invite. It was an awesome game.”
The joy on his face is so startling. Raimo has dark brown hair and a matching beard.
His brown eyes are so different from what I expected when we were first introduced.
When he smiles, it lights his face from the inside out.
You have no choice but to respond in kind.
His joy makes him popular with kids all the way to the elderly.
“I’m glad we won.” He frowns. “I just wish I knew how Crank is doing. Some of us are going to check on him at the hospital.”
I try to keep my face neutral despite my racing heart.
Raimo doesn’t know my history with his friend, and I plan on keeping it that way.
We’ve never been in the same orbit at the same time, so avoidance has worked well.
Only now I feel a little guilty knowing his injury has prevented us from running into each other tonight.
Be relieved. Now there’s no awkward reunion meeting.
I let out a discreet sigh. Avoiding He-Who-Won’t-Be-Named is a good thing.
If anyone asks, I can honestly say I didn’t speak to him.
Fran and I live together, and she’ll definitely want all the juicy details.
I’m not so sure what makes my younger sister so nosy, but she has a heart of gold despite her penchant for gossip.
“When are you going to date a hockey player, Val? You know we have the best men to choose from.”
I snort. “You think my dad wants to see me with an athlete?” He sings Jackie’s praises for marrying a sports agent and leaving behind “degenerate” athletes. Though they’re his bread and butter, Dad doesn’t have a lot of respect for them.
“Why not? What is wrong with us?” Raimo gapes.
“With you, nothing. But I can’t say that’s the same for everyone else. You know this.”
“Yes, there are always bad eggs.” He sighs. “But you cannot discount all of us.”
“I’ll try not to.” Raimo’s kind to think of me, but everyone in this room is paired up already.
As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, he snaps his fingers. “I know. I will set you up on a blind date.”
Steff claps her hands together. “Great idea, honey.”
“No.” I shake my head vigorously. “Such a bad idea. I don’t need to be set up.” I can find my own man.
Really? So you’re not shockingly single?
“When was the last time you went on a date?” Steff asks.
Ouch. She doesn’t have to be mean and call me out like that. My mind is doing enough without her help. “It’s been a while,” I admit grudgingly.
“I’m sure.” Steff gives a toothy grin. “Do not worry. I will make sure Raimo picks the best one.” She squeezes his bicep and looks up at him with so much affection a fist grips my heart.
They’re like a Hallmark greeting card, and I can’t take one more minute in their presence.
“You know what? I’m gonna head home.” I point behind me. “I have a busy day tomorrow.”
Raimo studies me. “You sure? We’ll probably meet up at a restaurant after a quick trip to the hospital.”
“I’m sure. Enjoy your celebration.”
“Bye, Val.” Steff hugs me, then Raimo follows suit.
I wave good-bye and walk toward the exit. I rode the Metro in, knowing the transit would be easier to maneuver versus sitting in traffic with everyone else who chooses to drive in downtown DC.
The winter chill greets me as soon as I step outside, so I tug my scarf over my chin and don my blue Warriors beanie.
The Metro stop is a couple of blocks away, and I’m there in no time.
With a tap of my Metro card, the turnstile gate blinks green, allowing me to push through.
A glance at the meter sign shows two minutes until the train will arrive.
Thank goodness it’s much warmer underground than in the mid-January elements.
Meteorologists are predicting snow next week, and I don’t know whether I’m looking forward to the white glitter or dreading the havoc snow in DC will wreak.
The ride home is short, and soon I’m walking up the subway steps that lead to the sidewalk.
Another block and I’ll be in my home, ready to cozy up with a book.
The redbrick exterior of my condo building comes into view thanks to the streetlights shining brightly in the night sky.
As soon as I near the lobby door, the doorman pushes it open.
“Evening, Ms. Elliott.”
“Good evening, Simon. Quiet night?”
He nods. “What about you? Date?”
What is it with everyone and their obsession with my dating life? Lack of dating life. I swat at my mental self to hush.
“Actually, I went to a Warriors game.”
“Hoo-wee. Did you see that last goal?” He shakes his head in wonder. “I hope we win the Cup this year.”
“That would be fantastic.”
Simon hums. “It’s been a minute since we’ve had that beauty in our hands.”
A minute’s putting it mildly. We’ve only won the Stanley Cup once in the seventy years of team history. Winning it again would surely bolster fans’ morale, not to mention the team’s.
“Let’s hope this is our year,” I say.
“Amen, Ms. Elliott.” Simon tips his hat. “Have a good rest of your evening.”
“You too.”
I push the button for the elevator, and when the doors close, I sigh with relief when no one else enters.
Finally, I can power down before having to power back up again for church tomorrow.
As much fun as hanging out with Steff was, having to carry on a constant conversation while simultaneously watching the game sapped me of energy.
I can only hope my little sister is out or already asleep.
As soon as I close the condo door behind me, Fran calls out. “Val?”
I frown. “Yep. Just me.”
Padded footsteps reach my ears before my gorgeous little sister steps into the long hallway. Her long brown hair is wrapped in a silk scarf, her face bare of makeup. She wears her Georgetown University sweatshirt and gray joggers. Obviously, she’s been home a while.
“I thought you were going out?” I hang my jacket in the hall closet, placing my beanie and purse on the shelf.
“Change of plans. My bestie’s sick, so I turned my evening into a pampering sesh.” She holds out her fingers.
“Nice color.” The red nail polish looks gorgeous against her light brown complexion. My skin tone is a couple of shades darker, so I tend to stick to the light mauve color family.
“Thanks.” She blows against her nails. “How was the game? Did they win?”
“They did. It was fun. Steff is super sweet.”
“Hmm.” Fran purses her lips. “Was he playing?”
My neck heats, but it’s not like I did anything wrong. I clear my throat. “He got injured, so he didn’t play the whole time.”
“Injured?” A look I can’t decipher fills her face.
“Why?” I fold my arms. “Do you want to cheer that he’s hurt?” Surely she doesn’t care, and neither will Jackie. Right?
“I mean, it depends on how hurt he is.”
I huff out a breath and walk over to the couch. The curtains are drawn closed. I can’t wait until the morning when we flip them open, and the glorious sunlight pours into the living room, giving life to my plant babies. I tuck a leg under my rear and sit.
“I don’t know. He either got a concussion or hurt his neck. The hit was pretty brutal.” I shudder just thinking about it.
Fran grimaces. “Guess I won’t celebrate, but I bet Jackie will.”
“Really?” I stare at my sister. “Do you think that’s true?” I know there’s no love lost, but surely she’s not still carrying a grudge. She’s married after all.
“Do you not remember how broken up she was when she discovered he cheated?”
“Of course I do, but that was ten years ago. They were practically babies. Besides, she’s married to the love of her life now.”
Fran snorts. “Whatever. Twenty-three is not a child’s age. He was a grown man when he decided to step out on her.”
Maybe, but time makes us wiser. Feeling the need to defend my big sister’s level of maturity, I continue. “Jackie’s happy with Isaac. Surely that man is no longer a concern.” I can’t tell why the thought niggles the back of my mind, but it does.
“I’m sure she’d happily snack on popcorn and watch his demise if he ever lost favor in the hockey community.” Fran grins. “There are no good feelings in her heart toward that man. Dating seriously for six months will do that to a person.”
I lean back against the couch cushion, trying to think of a way to change this conversation.
“You tired?” Fran asks softly.
“Drained.”
“Then I’ll let you wind down. What are you reading?”
“Hearts in Circulation by Sarah Monzon.” I grab the paperback from the end table and show it to her.
“Another romance?”
“Is there any other thing to read?” My brows raise.
Fran smiles. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
As much as I love my sister, the silence that follows is equally wonderful. I remove my bookmark and turn back to Levi and Hayley. I love a good brooding hero in fiction. Not something I want in real life, but the hero type is my romance-reading catnip.
I settle back into the cushions and let Ms. Monzon take me to an alternate reality where librarians deserve to find love and I can ignore the lack of romance happening in my everyday life.