Chapter 9
NORA
You need to start dating me tonight. Right now. I’m at Perks and Rec…I guess the Rec part?... with the team.
My stomach does a very obvious swoopy-flippy thing when I read the message from Alex.
I’d waited around, stalling over my dinner with the girls, but they all eventually had to get going, and even though I was there until well after eight, Alex hadn’t shown up.
I knew eventually he would. His apartment was upstairs, after all, but I’d finally walked over to City Hall to get some work done.
Now he was texting me. To come date him at the bar.
Well, if he insists.
“Nora!”
“Hi, honey!”
“Hi, Nora!”
I smile and greet everyone calling out to me as I cross the coffee shop. I wave at my cousin Violet, who is behind the bar.
I find Alex immediately upon stepping from the coffee shop into the bar.
He’s sitting at a long table with the rest of the hockey players.
And he’s scowling. Darkly.
Great.
The players’ table is just inside the arched doorway that separates the two sides of Perks and Rec.
He’s sitting with Beckett, Josh, Lawson, Quinn, and Wes.
He has the binder full of rules and activity ideas open in front of him.
They’ve got mugs and glasses in varying states of emptiness.
I appreciate them all coming out with him and text Violet that I’m covering the tab.
It’s already covered, she responds.
By who?
Astrid.
Ah. That makes sense. I give her another wave across the room to let her know I got the message.
I should have expected that. Just like I should’ve expected Alex’s scowls once he opened the binder.
Alex Olsen is a professional hockey player. A very, very good professional hockey player.
Revelers hockey is going to be a huge change for him.
If I had to choose the people I wanted taking him through the rules and set up, Lawson Landry would not be at the table. Lawson thinks this is all ridiculous.
I would have fired him from the team if he weren’t so damned good.
And to be honest, his bad boy reputation might just pull some people in to watch him.
If nothing else to see if he’ll lose his shit on the ice.
Or maybe to see the big, tattooed grump performing “Shake It Off” after he gets a penalty.
Either way, he promises some entertainment.
And maybe not Quinn. I love Quinn Trahan.
She’s great. She’s been a tomboy as long as I’ve known her and is actually a hell of a hockey player.
But she’s not as good at the goofy stuff.
She’s shy and very awkward unless she’s got a ball or a stick in her hand.
That’s a long-running joke with her best friend, my cousin Jasper, in fact.
Quinn has never had a boyfriend, so he thinks it’s even funnier that she handles “balls and sticks” so well.
Jasper is basically a thirteen-year-old boy in a twenty-five-year-old man’s body.
But Josh is a very good sport, and since he’s gotten together with Thea, he feels even more invested in the things that make Harley and this town happy.
Wes, the Revelers goalie, is also a nice guy and has embraced what we’re trying to do with the new league.
And then there’s Beckett Moore. My favorite person on the team, most days, truly.
Beckett might be hamming it up and enthusiastically learning every step, donning every costume, and even bringing us additional big, fun ideas in order to personally gain followers on social media and grab the attention of a professional team, but he is the loudest advocate for this new kind of hockey.
It’s perfect for him. Beckett is like a ray of sunshine, always smiling, laughing, and having a good time.
And thank God, he and Sutton moved home a few years ago.
Not only is Beckett's attitude huge for this project, but his sister has turned into a great friend. She’s a dancer and figure skater, too, so not only does she teach dance lessons—everything from ballet and tap to little kids to ballroom dancing for our senior citizens—for my Parks and Rec department, but she’s also taken on the role of choreographer for the hockey team.
I approach the table, avoiding Alex's attention for a moment since he’s scowling at Beckett.
I need to “start dating him”. But what should I do?
Go up to him and rub my hand up his arm?
Kiss his cheek? Just pull a stool close and sit pressed up against his side?
All of those are appealing. But suddenly, the prospect of launching our relationship here in public right now makes it feel really real.
And I’m not sure how to do this. Or if I’m ready.
Not for the town’s interest and questions, but for Alex.
He specifically said this would involve spending a lot of time together, hand-holding, kissing, and sitting close.
That means I’m going to be perpetually horny for the next seven months. I’ll admit it.
Am I ready for that?
“Say that again,” he demands.
“There are still three periods, like in regular hockey, but in the first period, every goal counts for one point. In period two, goals count for two points, and in period three, goals count for three points,” Beckett says.
“No.” Alex shakes his head. “That’s ridiculous. Scores could be like fifty to twenty.”
“Exactly,” Beckett says with a grin. “Fun, right?”
Alex just growls.
And my stomach and girl parts have evidently not gotten the memo about this all being just for show and to be careful because they definitely respond to that gruff, masculine sound.
My gaze is immediately drawn to his big hands and thick fingers splayed over the binder pages.
A shiver goes through my body.
It’s just to make him more popular in town. You’re not going to get to feel those hands anywhere important.
Disappointment jabs me. Which is really stupid.
“This also says that the last minute of period one and period three everything that even touches the net counts as a point.” He looks up at Beckett accusingly. “The puck doesn’t even have to go in the net?”
“Nope. Super exciting. Fans love big scores.”
I can see Alex’s jaw clench.
“What else?” he asks, looking at everyone around the table. “I’ll read this later. Give me the highlights. What are the absolute craziest rules in here?”
“Fans get to vote on what happens when you get a penalty,” Quinn says.
Yeah, I agree that one’s a little wild.
“What does that mean?” Alex asks.
“There are two options each time there’s a penalty,” Quinn explains. “The fans get to vote on what happens. For instance, there might be a song the players have to sing, or maybe the player has to play for a minute with a tiny stick.”
“What the hell is a tiny stick?” Alex interrupts.
“A smaller than average stick. It’s shorter and thinner,” Wes helps.
“What else?” Alex asks, clearly not really wanting to know.
“There are actually a few other things,” Quinn says, her voice hesitant now.
“It’s not Quinn’s decision,” Lawson says, frowning at Alex. “If you don’t like it, talk to your sister or Nora.”
I appreciate Lawson defending Quinn, but not so much blaming me.
Even though it’s my fault.
And I think Alex is very aware of that.
I can’t see Alex’s full expression, but I can imagine it’s dark and scary.
“There’s a lot of shit you’re not going to like,” Lawson says.
“Tell me some of it,” Alex says.
“Fans get input on who does the face-off. They can decide if they think the refs got a call wrong. They can change the rules in the last third of—”
“The rules are going to change during the game?” Alex asks.
Based on the way Quinn’s eyes widen, Alex must be shooting daggers. I need to step in. Not as his fake girlfriend, but as the ambassador for the new hockey style. This is not Quinn’s fault. I know, for a fact, my friend would rather play straightforward hockey as well.
“Hi, everybody.”
They all turn toward me, and there are multiple looks of relief. Quinn immediately spins on her stool and slides to the floor. “Oh, hi. Now that you’re here to handle this, I’ve gotta go.”
I grin at her and lean over to give her a quick hug.
Quinn doesn’t initiate hugging, but she always accepts it from her girlfriends. “Thanks for helping welcome Alex.”
She glances at him. “We’re glad he’s here.”
I meet Alex’s gaze over her shoulder. He’s watching me intently. “I am too.”
Lawson also climbs off his stool. “I’m out of here, too, boss. You’ve got this.” It’s not a question. He’s turning Alex over to me.
I’m okay with that.
We have some fake dating to kick off, after all.
I nod. “Sure. I can finish filling Alex in.” I look at Wes. “Unless you want to stay?”
He shakes his head quickly, as does Josh.
Josh gives me a wink. “I can’t wait to get home and hear how excited Ruth is that Alex is in town.”
Alex looks at him. “Wait, you’re Ruth’s dad?”
“Her mom is my girlfriend. Hoping to be stepdad eventually,” Josh says.
My chest warms as I take in Josh’s smile. His whole face changes when he talks about Thea and Ruth.
I glance at Alex and note that he looks sheepish now. “So you’re probably not my biggest fan. Thanks for being so good at practice and with this whole thing,” he says, circling his finger to indicate the binder and the conversation that happened at the table.
Josh nods. “I wasn’t. Ruth was definitely disappointed. But I don’t think it’s all bad for her to see someone she admires go through a tough time and then come out on the other side a little humbled and be willing and able to make an apology.”
Alex looks surprised. “I did. I met Ruth earlier. She seems great.”
Josh smiles proudly. “She is. Her mom’s done a fantastic job.”
“I am really sorry I was a dick to her,” Alex says.
Josh extends his hand. “Just don’t let it happen again.”
Alex takes his hand and pumps it once. “Promise.”
I know Alex won’t directly be an asshole to Ruth. This town would literally run him out of the city if he did that. But if Ruth thinks that we’re dating, when we break up, Ruth is going to be disappointed.