6. Anticipation
Anticipation
A lex sat on the couch, slouching, the Saturday morning sun filtering through the window and casting a warm glow across the room.
Their fingers scrolled through apartment listings on their laptop, but the words blurred together in a fog of distraction.
A half-empty mug of coffee, now cold and uninviting, lingered on the coffee table like an afterthought.
“Two bedrooms... one bathroom... no parking? What is this, a prank?” They muttered to themselves, eyes drifting back to the screen only to lose focus again.
Instead, their mind wandered to the ice rink—specifically, to a beautiful redhead.
Alex envisioned her smile, the way her hair glinted under the rink lights.
What would they say when they saw her today?
Something smooth, something clever. Yeah, right .
“Hey, Earth to Alex!” Tricia’s voice cut through the daydreaming haze as she walked in, arms laden with grocery bags, her ponytail bobbing with each step. The scent of fresh produce and baked bread wafted through the air, grounding Alex momentarily.
“Huh, yeah. Totally on Earth,” Alex replied, though they barely looked up, still captivated by thoughts of their crush. “Just finding my future home. You know, nothing too fancy.”
“Right,” Tricia said, amusement lacing her tone. “Because you totally need a second bedroom for your imaginary roommate.” She dropped a heavy bag onto the counter with a thud that pulled Alex from their reverie.
“Okay, okay! I’ll help.” They reluctantly set the tablet down, pushing off the couch with exaggerated effort, as if getting up was akin to scaling a mountain.
“Good. I thought I’d have to pull out the big guns.” Tricia winked, turning on her heel and heading back outside.
“I think my guns are bigger,” Alex joked, following her out to the car.
But as they stepped into the sunlight, the warmth kissed their skin, and their thoughts slipped back to her daydream.
Would she be watching them today? How would it feel to score a goal with her cheering in the stands? Right. Like she even remembers you.
“Alex!” Tricia called from the driveway, balancing two bags on her hips. “Help me with these before I drop everything!”
“Right! Sorry!” Alex shook their head, blinking away the dreamy haze, and focused on the groceries instead. They hurried to grab the remaining bags, the weight of them a welcome distraction from the fluttering nerves in their stomach.
Alex wrestled the last of the grocery bags through the door, the sounds of their grunts and groans contrasting sharply with the warm sunlight spilling into the kitchen.
They dropped the bags on the counter and wiped their brow with the back of their hand, glancing at Tricia, who had started unloading the first wave of groceries .
“Need a hand?” Alex offered, trying to sound casual, but their mind kept flickering back to the entrancing woman with the auburn hair.
“Thanks. I swear, next time I’ll hire someone to do this,” Tricia said, playfully rolling her eyes as they both settled into the kitchen.
The rhythmic sound of Tricia emptying the bags filled the space, punctuated by the occasional comedic grunt from Alex as they wrestled with the menagerie of boxes that refused to fit into the pantry.
“Maybe I should charge for my services? I could be the ‘Grocery Wrangler’ or something.”
“Please, not with those jokes,” Tricia laughed, shaking her head. “Can you hand me the bread and lettuce?” Tricia replied, her voice light and teasing. “And then maybe you’ll want to tell me how your ‘hot redhead’ is doing.”
“Very funny,” Alex muttered, but the corners of their mouth twitched upward despite themselves. They reached for the lettuce, feeling the coolness seep through the wrapper into their palm. “I don’t have a crush on her.”
Tricia shot them an exaggeratedly skeptical look. “Oh please, do you really believe I can’t tell when you are thinking about her? I think it’s cute.”
“Can we not? This is just... friendly banter,” Alex insisted, handing Tricia the lettuce as they felt their cheeks heat up. They quickly turned away to hide the flush.
“Friendly, huh? So when you stare off into space thinking about her, that’s just ‘friendly’?” Tricia laughed, her playful tone filling the kitchen as she set a banana on the counter.
“Okay, fine! Maybe I’m a little curious about her,” Alex admitted, trying for nonchalance as they grabbed the bread. “But it’s not like anything’s going to happen. ”
“Why not? You’re both in the same league, you share a passion for hockey—”
“She probably has enough people crushing on her without adding me to the list,” Alex interrupted, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. The thought of competing against others for a chance with the stunning woman offered little comfort.
“Trust me, she’s seen you play. She’d be lucky to have you,” Tricia said, her voice softening, the teasing fading into genuine support.
“Stop it!” Alex groaned, shaking their head as they carefully placed the carton of eggs in the fridge. The warmth in Tricia’s words tugged at something inside them, a blend of hope and anxiety that made their stomach churn.
“Alright, alright,” Tricia relented, a grin still plastered across her face.
In an attempt to go on the offensive, Alex changed the subject, “What about Jack? Are things getting serious?”
“Serious? I mean, maybe…” Tricia leaned forward, frowning slightly as she cut a cucumber for their lunch. “We have been dating for almost three years.”
“And Mom and Dad like him?”
“Surprisingly, yeah.” Tricia rolled her eyes dramatically. “Actually, I think they may like him more than me at this point. You should have seen him and Dad last week at dinner—the dad jokes were never ending.”
“Wow. Wait… Dad doesn’t joke.”
“I know!” Tricia replied, shaking her head as she prepared sandwiches. “He made Mom and Dad laugh, which is no small feat.”
“Good for him! And good for you,” Alex said, a genuine smile breaking through. “So what’s next? Is there a giant diamond in your near future? ”
“No!” Tricia squeaked. “Not anytime soon,” Tricia added, clearing her throat. Her gaze drifted for a moment before it locked on Alex again and sharpened. “Speaking near future, how’s the apartment hunt coming along?”
“Nice deflection, sis. I just... need to find something decent before I end up living in a cardboard box,” Alex said, forcing a smile as they unpacked another bag. Yet even as they spoke, their mind drifted once more to the ice rink, and the alluring redhead.
“Don’t worry, you won’t end up in a box,” Tricia reassured, squeezing Alex’s shoulder. “You’ll figure it out. And remember, there’s always a place for you here.”
“Ugh, I really didn’t think it would be so hard,” Alex sighed, running a hand through their hair. “I can’t seem to find anything decent that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I swear, every listing has ‘great views’ but it’s really just a parking lot.”
“Have you considered moving further out?” Tricia asked, sitting down at the kitchen table, the aroma of freshly made sandwiches drifting between them.
“Honestly, I’ve already extended out pretty far. I just want a place where I can breathe and maybe have a view of something other than concrete,” Alex admitted, frustration creeping into their voice. “It feels like I’m just spinning my wheels and getting nowhere.”
“I’m sure Daddy would—”
“You know how I feel about that, Trish.” Alex’s face instantly hardened, their tone following suit.
“I know but—”
“No! No buts.” Alex closed their eyes, their head dropping down. They took a deep breath. And then another. And another. Slowly, Alex’s head lifted, eyes locking with Tricia’s. “I can’t. I won’t take Dad’s money. Or Mom’s. Okay?”
“Yeah, okay.” Tricia’s response, just above a whisper, but it echoed in the sudden stillness of the room.
For the next several minutes, the only noise was the muted sounds of the sandwiches being eaten.
Reaching across the table, Tricia took Alex’s hand in her own. “Hey, you’ll find something. Just give it time,” Tricia said, squeezing Alex’s hand gently. “And if all else fails, I’m always here to help you navigate the world of cardboard boxes.”
“Maybe I’ll find an apartment with a view of the rink,” Alex mused, trying to lighten the mood.
“How about… I don’t know… maybe getting the hot redhead’s name and asking her out,” Tricia smirked. “Then you won’t have to stalk her at the rink.”
A cucumber thrown at Tricia’s face was Alex’s only response.
***
A couple of hours later, the sun hung low in the sky as Alex pulled into the ice rink parking lot, their heart racing with anticipation.
The familiar scent of cold air and polished ice welcomed them through the entrance as they stepped inside, instantly reminding them of why they loved this place. It felt like home.
Inside the locker room, the energy buzzed with excitement. Teammates chatted and joked, tossing gear around like it was all part of a ritual. Alex slid onto the bench, feeling the familiar weight of their equipment as they began to don their pads.
“Ready to show off those fancy moves?” Jess teased, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, a smirk plastered on her face .
“Only if you bring your A-game, Cap,” Alex shot back, their voice playful but confident. They pulled on their jersey, feeling the fabric hug snugly against their chest.
“Queens are gonna crush the Dolphins today,” Jess chimed in, her enthusiasm infectious. “Let’s make sure we get that first win!”
Hell yes’s and hoots filled the room as Alex glanced around at their teammates. Their spirits lifted as the banter flowed effortlessly between them, a reminder of the camaraderie they’d already found.