Chapter 27
Dane
The team is on a three-game winning streak, and it feels fucking great.
Tonight, we played against Pittsburgh on their home turf and whomped them five to two. The first goal was made by me with an assist by the rookie center Lyons, who we’ve nicknamed Simba, our team’s lion cub.
Lyons fought for the puck against a Pittsburgh defender and kicked it out to where I was at the top of the crease.
I put my stick down and drove toward the post, flipping the puck right over the shoulder of the goalie.
There was nothing he could do as the puck deflected up into the upper right part of the net.
My season is off to a fan-fucking-tastic start, and my stats are fire. There’s a part of me that revels in the knowledge that Halle is seeing these stats in her reports, and I wonder if she thinks of me when my name pops up in her data.
Now that we’re on the long team flight back to Vancouver, I pull out my phone and start a text. It’s a three-hour time difference, so by my estimation, Lenni should have gone to bed by now, hopefully leaving some time for Halle to relax.
Me: Hey Cherry. Did you watch the game tonight?
I see the dots and get a secret thrill. Our exchanges haven’t been much since she’s recovered and hasn’t required my help, and I’ve tried to give her space.
But each time we chat, it reminds me of our eighteen-year-old selves.
When we were apart, we texted constantly.
It was always fun and flirty and left me hard as a rock for her.
Not much has changed there.
Cherry: What game? Don’t know what you’re talking about.
I laugh and Costa, who is next to me and reading a book, cuts me a look. I mouth sorry and return to my phone.
Me: Oh, we’re playing it that way, are we?
Me: You know. The greatest game in the world. The greatest team. And the greatest player.
Cherry: OMG! I didn’t realize Gretzky played tonight. Wow. That’s so cool. He’s such a legend.
Me: Very funny, Cherry. Don’t hurt yourself by cracking yourself up.
Cherry: Nothing funny about the GOAT.
Me: Yeah, yeah, yeah. He’s the GOAT. I get it. But come on, Cherry. Admit it. You know good, eh?
I recline back in my seat and stretch out my legs, crossing my feet at the ankles. It’s never comfortable wearing dress shoes on the plane, so I’ve slipped them off and am only in my socks, wiggling my unrestricted toes.
Cherry: You don’t need me to stroke your ego, hockey boy.
Actually, I do. I care deeply about what Halle thinks about me. Whether she is excited when I score a goal or make an assist, I want to know she’s watching me in action. Her approval of me matters.
Me: You have no idea how hard I’m trying to restrain myself from making an inappropriate and dirty response. You teed it up for a good one.
There’s a pause. I see the dots flash and then disappear. Then again. And again. I may have made a mistake directing the conversation into something sexual.
Fuck. I crossed a line I shouldn’t have. My body deflates and I slam my eyes shut, pressing my head against the airline seat. Then I feel my phone vibrate in my hand, and my entire body vibrates with urgency to read her reply.
Cherry: Oh, you mean, stroke your dick?
Cherry: In your dreams, hockey boy.
Oh shit, she went there. I smile so broadly that when Canners walks by from his trip to the bathroom, he levels me a strange look.
I read the texts again. That’s my girl. Sweet, sexy and sassy.
And yeah, I know she’s not mine. But the more I deny it, the more it feels like a lie trapped on my tongue. I’ve tried to be mature about this and do the right thing by keeping my distance, but the more I do, the less satisfied I feel.
There’s something missing in my life when Halle isn’t in it.
Me: You said it, not me. I think it’s your dream, Cherry.
Cherry: Ha! Only those crazy fever dreams I had when I was sick.
Me: So, you admit you’ve been dreaming about me. I knew it.
Cherry: I think those are called nightmares.
Me: Hmm… as long you’re dreaming about me… you can call it what you want.
Her keystrokes stop, and I know I should redirect this conversation before things get too far off the friendship course. Plus, I want to ask her out on a date, so I need to step back and take it slow.
Me: How’s it going now that you’re back at work?
Cherry: Much better. Thanks. I like my boss a lot. I’ve made a friend in Anna, but I feel like I don’t fit in with the rest of my department. They see me as an outsider still.
Me: What do you mean?
Cherry: IDK. I’m just not at the same point in life as they are. You know… I have Lenni.
Cherry: I just get a judgey vibe from a few of them.
Me: Shit. What’s up with the haters? You’re one of the nicest people I know.
Cherry: That’s sweet. Thank you. Maybe I’m just overly sensitive.
Me: Want me to slash them with my stick?
Cherry: No fighting, Dane. I don’t want to see you in the penalty box again.
Cherry: Like tonight.
Me: I knew it! You did watch the game.
Cherry: Fiiiiine. Lenni and I watched until she fell asleep. It only proves that your hockey skills bored her to sleep.
Me: It proves to me that you like watching me play.
Cherry: Good night, Dane.
Me: Wait, wait, wait! I have something to ask you.
Cherry: What?
Me: Cale Costa’s wife, Sommer, will be in town this weekend. He invited me over to hang with them, and he asked me to bring someone.
Me: Would you come with me? It’ll be after the afternoon game on Saturday but not too late.
Cherry: Um, no. In case you’ve forgotten, I have Lenni. Duh.
Me: Let me take care of that. I really want to spend time with you.
Cherry: Maybe. I’ll have to think about it.
Me: Okay. I’ll check back on Friday.
Cherry: Sure. Okay. Good night, Dane. For real this time.
Me: Night, Cherry Bomb. And you can feel free to dream about me.
That’s the last thing I get from her, and my screen goes dark. I slip my phone back in the pocket of my pants and lean back again, settling in and allowing my heavy head to rest against the neck pillow.
There’s so many feelings tied up when it comes to Halle that it’s hard to separate the girl I once knew from the woman I know now.
She’s still funny and quick-witted, but her edges aren’t as sharp as they once were.
Halle is still the confident woman she always was, but she’s softened with motherhood. And that is sexy as fuck.
It only makes me admire her more, makes me want to be someone she can rely on to help her and Lenni, but it’s more than that. I care for Halle in a way I’ve never cared for another woman.
And then there’s this pull of attraction I can’t deny. All it took was seeing her again and a fire that had long been dormant roared back to life and became a wildfire threatening to burn out of control.
I want this woman.
I want her as more than a friend.
I want her badly.
The corners of my mouth turn up into a confident grin. And I know just how I’m going to change her mind.