9
Kennedy
By the time Friday night rolled around, I’d gone over my and Nash’s text messages a million times.
I’d analyzed every word, every innuendo, looking for hidden meanings while my stomach fluttered and I second-guessed the lines that made my cheeks burn.
It had been days, and I still wasn’t sure whether we’d crossed a line or were just dancing on the edge of one.
But I hadn’t stopped thinking about him.
And now I was about to see him in person for the first time since.
It was game night—one of the biggest home games of the season, with the Empires facing off against the Vancouver Jays.
Of course Sammy and I were going. I was proud to say I had successfully turned her into a die-hard hockey fan.
This time, we decided to meet directly at the arena, having learned our lesson after being late the last time when I’d gone home to change first.
I’d had an important meeting earlier in the day, so I was still dressed professionally—a dark-gray pencil skirt, black heels, and a soft blue cashmere turtleneck. I had my black coat draped over one arm and Nash’s jersey tucked neatly into my bag, ready for the game.
As I was packing up my things and shutting down my computer, Sammy texted to say she was just getting off the subway and would be at the arena in about five minutes.
I quickly finished up, grabbed my bag, and left the office.
When I reached the arena, I headed straight for the lobby just outside our seating section.
Sammy was already there waiting for me when I rounded the corner, her face lighting up when she spotted me.
“Wow, you look nice,” she said with a grin.
“Thanks,” I replied, rolling my eyes. I definitely felt overdressed for a hockey game. “I had a meeting.”
“I figured, but you look good. I’m sure Nash—and Josh—will appreciate the tight skirt,” she teased, giving me a playful wink.
“Sammy!” I groaned, shaking my head.
She just giggled, glancing down at her own outfit—jeans and ankle boots.
“You look fine,” I reassured her, knowing she was probably wondering if she was underdressed. “You look like you belong here more than I do.”
Sammy laughed and tossed her blond hair over her shoulder, clearly pleased with the comment. “Come on, businesswoman”—she gestured toward the door—“let’s go sit in our fancy seats.”
“Lead the way, Miss Hockey Fan,” I joked back, following her.
Inside, the energy was already building. The music blared, people were slowly filling the stands, and the Zamboni was making its rounds, smoothing the ice. This time, we were early enough to catch the entire game.
“There are people sitting next to us this time,” Sammy commented as we made our way up the steps toward our seats.
“Oh, really?” I mumbled without looking up.
I was too busy paying attention to where I was stepping in my spiky heels to prevent myself from falling over.
Once we were on the flat landing, I looked up—and froze.
Sitting next to our seats were none other than Nash’s parents. I hadn’t seen them in years.
“Oh my God!” I squealed, quickly moving past Sammy. “Liz! Howard!” I called out, grinning from ear to ear. “How are you?”
“Kennedy?” Howard’s head whipped around in surprise before he stood up with a wide smile.
“Hi!” I beamed as he pulled me into a big hug. He was almost as tall as Nash, though slimmer, with the same wavy dark hair, which was now gray at the temples. His light-hazel eyes were different from Nash’s green ones, but the twinkle in them was the same.
“How are you, dear?” he asked with a familiar smile on his lips.
“I’m great! How about you?”
Howard pulled back and gave me a warm look. “We’re good, Kennedy. It’s really great to see you.”
“You too, Howard.”
Liz, Nash’s mom, stepped around her husband to get to me. She’d always been a beautiful woman, and the only change since I’d last seen her was her hair, now a softer blond, cut into a chic bob. Her bright-green eyes, the same shade as Nash’s, sparkled as she smiled.
“It’s been so long, Kennedy.” She sighed, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. Liz and I had always had a close relationship, and since she didn’t have daughters, I’d been her honorary one. She was taller than me, about the same height as Sammy but a few sizes larger.
“It’s so good to see you.” She beamed, squeezing me tightly.
“It’s really good to see you guys too. It’s been way too long.”
“That it has,” she agreed, letting go of me and gently running her hand down my face, studying me closely. “Oh, I’ve really missed you, Kennedy.”
I heard Howard clear his throat behind me, a playful tone in his voice. “I guess you ladies have the seats next to us?” he asked, glancing from me to Sammy with a grin.
“Yes, we do,” I confirmed with a smile.
I took the opportunity to introduce Sammy to Nash’s parents, and we all settled into our seats.
“So, why are you in New York City?” Liz asked after she made Howard switch seats with her so she could sit next to me. “Are you just visiting, or is something else going on?”
I gave her the summarized version of my new job, the move to the city, and how I’d run into Nash at a bar.
“Ah,” she said, her smile widening. “It’s all starting to make sense. Now I understand why he was so insistent on getting these seats next to us.”
“It doesn’t bother you, does it?” I asked, suddenly feeling nervous that Nash had gone through so much trouble and spent a small fortune just to give the tickets to me. “That he gave the tickets to me?” I clarified when Liz’s expression turned slightly puzzled.
She whipped her head back toward me, away from the ice, her eyes wide in surprise.
“Of course not, honey! I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have these seats than you.
You’ve always supported Nash, and now you can keep an eye on him for us when we’re not here.
” She patted my hand gently. “And when we are here, we get to spend time with you. It’s a win-win situation. ”
Her genuine smile warmed my heart in more ways than I could express. I felt my anxiety slip away.
“Thanks, Liz,” I said, leaning in for an awkward hug, which she returned with a soft giggle.
I pulled the jersey from my bag and slipped it over my sweater.
The game started, and I caught Nash’s gaze as he headed off the ice and onto the team bench. I gave him a thumbs-up, and he shot me a wide grin in return. Sammy noticed, nudging me playfully with her elbow.
“Come on, Nash! Get it done!” Howard shouted, his booming voice drawing a chuckle from his son.
And holy shit did he deliver. Nash had another incredible game, skating around the ice like there was fire on his heels, scoring two goals and assisting on another.
The Empires secured the win, and as expected, Nash was mobbed by reporters as he headed off the ice.
You could feel the pride radiating from his parents, especially his dad.
As we moved into the lobby, Sammy turned to Nash’s parents. “I’ve got to run, but it was so nice meeting you.”
“It was lovely meeting you too, Sammy,” Liz said with a warm smile. “We’ll see you at the next home game, right?”
“Absolutely,” Sammy replied, grinning.
Sammy turned to me, her expression a bit more serious than it had been throughout the game. “I’ll see you at home later. If anything changes, I’ll text you, okay?”
“Yes,” I reassured her with a smile. She was off on another date with Keith, and I didn’t want her to worry about me. “Have fun. Say hi to Keith.”
“I will. You do the same, okay?”
“Yeah. Have a good night, Sammy.”
We shared a quick hug, and I watched her disappear into the crowd.
“So.” Liz turned her bright-green eyes on me. “Are you coming with us to dinner?”
“I think so. Is that okay?”
“Of course, honey,” she said, her hand touching my shoulder in a familiar way that brought back memories of her teaching me to bake when I was younger, while the boys were off at practice.
I could almost smell the cinnamon rolls baking and hear Liz’s laughter echoing through the kitchen on those lazy Saturday mornings.
“Do you want to come with us, or do you want to wait for Nash?” Howard asked, stepping to the side to avoid being run over by a bunch of loud and intoxicated fans on their way toward the exit.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Yes, I would rather have a glass of wine while we wait than deal with this madhouse.” Liz sighed. “Plus Nash is slow.”
I laughed. She wasn’t wrong. Nash was almost always one of the last ones out, but only because he was stopped for interviews. Liz knew that too—she was just teasing.
As much as I would’ve liked a few quiet minutes alone with Nash before dinner with his parents (to figure out exactly what he’d told them about seeing me again), I didn’t feel like braving the paparazzi that would be waiting outside for him.
“I’ll go with you if that’s okay?”
“That’s fine, dear. I’ll text him and let him know you’re with us.”
Liz’s slender hand pulled a phone out of her Prada bag, and she began typing.
While she did, I watched Nash being interviewed live on the big screen above the concourse.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he looked happy.
His dark hair was damp with sweat, and he used his hand to brush it away from his face.
It was such a familiar gesture it had me smiling.
The reporter asked him something that made him grin, and I wondered what the question had been.
“Ready?” Howard asked, pulling me back.
“Absolutely.”