Chapter 2 #2
“Thank you, Chelsea.” I slid my chair out, a rounded-backed thing with white tufted cushions. As I dropped into my chair, my gaze slid to Ian, now sitting across from me, his elbows planted on the table and hands tented over his plate. “What?”
“You look tired. Are you hungover? What did you do last night?” The corner of his lips rose.
He knew me too well. “I went to the Velvet Spur with Chad. I think there was some tequila involved,” I said, picking up my menu.
“Did you bring a guy home or end up at his house?” As he scanned the menu, he peeked at me and hooked a brow.
“Maybe I went home alone.” A glass of wine might clear my headache. Hair of the Dog…I set the menu down. I’d get veal and spinach ravioli. It was my favorite.
“Come on, who do you think you’re talking to?” Huffing a chuckle, he leaned back as a server stopped at our table. “Are we getting wine?”
“Yes.” I ordered a glass of Pinot Noir, and he ordered the same. After the server left, my attention drew to Ian. “I took a guy home. I can’t remember his name. He was okay, nice body.”
“You can’t remember his name, and you met him last night?” Shaking his head, Ian unrolled his silverware from his linen napkin. “You need to stop doing that.”
“Why? I’m cautious. I’m on PrEP and I used a condom.” I gave him a wry grin. “Besides, who knows when I’ll get another chance to have fun with this fucking job starting?”
“You don’t expect to find any gay men to fuck while you’re traveling with the team? That doesn’t sound like you.” He snickered.
The waiter set our wine on the table, and we ordered food.
I sipped my wine, the spicy flavors gliding across my tongue. Yes, this was what I needed. “I could, but I have to remain professional. I have to step up my game and show my father I can do this.”
“You mean you want to make him proud.” He swirled the red wine in his glass and then sipped it.
“Yeah, guess so. Anyway, how’s your job at the United Way?
” He’d always wanted to take his law degree and apply it toward work at a charity, and he’d succeeded, even with his father’s blessing.
My gaze roamed his lean but muscular body, the contours I used to know so well.
When we’d made love, it was like nothing else. No one ever compared.
“It’s fulfilling.” He sucked in a breath. “Hey, maybe we could pull an event together with the team. I’m sure the kids would love to meet your star players.”
“I’m sure.” Hell, I’d reviewed the roster and could only remember a handful of names. The team captain was Russian, born in St. Petersburg, but grew up in Brooklyn with a father who’d played for the Rangers and a sister in the PWHL. He’d be perfect. “Maybe the captain? Alexey Volkov?”
“You mean Alex Volkov.” He chuckled and drank his wine. “He goes by Alex, but I’m sure your documentation had his full name listed.” His brows lowered. “How much have you studied about hockey since you’ve been home?”
“Not much.” Fingering the stem of my wineglass, I said, “I haven’t had time. I’ve been—”
“Too busy with hookups and bars?” With a shake of his head, he scoffed an exhale. “Those guys will eat you alive when they find out you know nothing about the sport and your father is the owner.”
“So? I’ll learn. I’m assisting the head coach, and I’m sure the things he’ll tell me will be more valuable than the damn documentation the team manager sent me.” With my gut tightening, I drank more wine.
“Okay, you’re a big boy and can handle yourself.” With a smug grin, he sank into his chair. “How’s your sister liking Stanford?”
“Camille? She’s great. I haven’t spoken to her since she’s been back at school, but we caught up a few times over the summer.” A grin tugged at my lips. “When she was home. She did some traveling in Europe and spent time in Spain.”
“Sounds nice. Why didn’t you join her?” He drank his wine.
With a shrug, I said, “I’ve seen it.” I’d had enough summer vacations in Europe to last a lifetime. “I spent a few weeks in Sedona and Flagstaff instead with Chad.” The corner of my lips tugged. We’d found some nightlife in downtown Flagstaff, but Sedona had been boring. Except for the scenery.
“Wow, interesting.” With his brows raised, he sipped his wine.
The waiter set our food down and left.
“Oh, damn, this looks good.” I picked up my fork. “How’s your family?” So far, we’d focused on me.
“Same. Dad’s busy grooming my brother for real estate ventures, since I’m officially out of it.” He swirled his fork in pasta with pesto and chicken.
“Any, uh, prospects in your dating life?” I winced as my heart pinched. I had to ask. My mouth had no filter sometimes.
“Yeah, I met a guy at work. He runs operations, and we have a dinner date planned for Friday.” He stuffed pasta into his mouth.
As my shoulders slumped, I fought a growing ache in my heart.
Damn it, I shouldn’t still feel this way.
I had to get over him. But no number of hookups ever succeeded.
“That’s nice. I hope it works out for you.
” Like hell I did. I peeked at him. He’d said he fell out of love with me, but I never understood why exactly.
Hell, I was probably just unlovable. As my eyes stung, I swiped them.
Don’t get emotional and look like a dumbass.
“So, hockey. Tell me what you know about it.”
“Have you ever watched a game?” With a smirk, he gazed at me from under lowered brows.
“Not really. I mean, they’d been on when I’ve gone to sports bars, but I didn’t pay attention.” I snickered. “Guys skate around, hitting a puck and trying to make a goal.” What more was there? It seemed simple to me.