Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Logan
“Look at ya,” Sebastian teases. “Looking all snazzy and shit.”
I snort at his comment before eyeing him up and down in return.
“Look who’s talking,” I point at him.
We are all dressed in expensive suits while we wait for the bus to arrive and take us to the airport. We have a game in D.C., and, as per the team rules, we are required to be dressed to the nines.
“I know,” my buddy rolls his eyes at me. “I’m changing as soon as we’re on the plane,” he informs me in his most serious tone. “I don’t want to catch hell for being all wrinkled up when we land there.”
“Yes, I plan on doing the same.”
“Fuck yeah,” a few of our teammates call in approval.
“I don’t get what the point in wearing a suit even is,” one of them continues.
“The ladies love men in suites,” someone responds. “I’m not taking mine off until the game.”
“We have no ladies on the plane, fucker,” another player from the back grumbles, making us all laugh.
We all get serious when the door opens abruptly.
“Bus is here,” the team’s PR calls out. “Best smile on!”
Bags in hands, we start filing out the door, one by one.
The press is here, and as soon as we make an appearance, our names are being called, everyone wanting an exclusive picture or, better yet, a quick interview.
Some of us smile and wave, while the rest just keep on walking, looking straight ahead, their focus solely on the bus at the end of the sidewalk.
With sunglasses firmly in place, I step outside.
Safe in the knowledge that no one can see where I’m looking, I let my eyes roam over the small crowd of people.
No matter how much I try to pretend they don’t affect me, I can’t help the smile starting to form in the corner of my mouth.
I’ve always wished for recognition as a hockey player, and I worked so hard for this moment, I don’t see why I shouldn’t enjoy it.
I get closer to the bus when something catches my eye.
I turn my head to get a better look, unsure if maybe I’m seeing things.
But no, right there, with a nervous smile on her face, is Elizabeth.
She notices me looking, and waves at me without lifting her arm.
It’s just an awkward movement of her fingers from where she’s clutching her chest.
“Lizzie,” I yell out before I realize what I’m doing. On instinct, I move to walk toward her, ready to pull her into a hug.
The smile drops from her face, and I notice her glancing around nervously.
That’s when I remember that we’re not supposed to show that we are in a relationship.
Clearing my throat, I try to maintain the grin on my own face, but I’m not really feeling it anymore.
I finally make it to the bus, hand the bag over to one of the handlers who rushes to store it away, then walk up the steps in one smooth move.
Spotting an open seat by the window, I head for it.
No sooner does my ass hit the cushion when Sebastian drops in the seat next to me. He doesn’t even try to pretend like he never heard me calling for my girlfriend.
“Lizzie?” His eyebrows go up and down. “It’s official now?”
I stare out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of her again.
“You got a girlfriend, so now you’re ignoring me?” Sebastian tries to sound butthurt, his voice traveling all the way to the back of the bus.
“Dude,” I turn in my seat to look at him. “Why you gotta be so loud?” My eyes move to glance around while my body stays in the same position, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, like we’re in a spy movie.
“The fuck did I even do?” my friend and teammate wonders out loud.
I am about to reply to him when my cell phone digs with a message. I welcome the opportunity to buy myself some time before responding to him, so I pull out my phone and pretend like it could be something important.
The happy chuckle escaping the back of my throat at seeing who the message is from is in total contradiction with the secretive way I’ve been acting.
Lizzie: I just wanted to see you off. I’m so sorry!
Me: I’m so happy that you did, babe. I can’t wait to get back home. I wish I could’ve kissed you just now…
Lizzie: I wanted you to kiss me, too, Lo
My fingers freeze over the screen when her reply pops up. I can feel Sebastian breathing over my shoulder. When I turn my head to look at him, I notice him squinting his eyes as he tries to read the messages on my phone.
“Dude!” I turn my phone over so he can’t see anything anymore. “What are you doing?” I hiss at him.
His eyes widen in genuine surprise. “What do you mean?”
“You’re reading my texts,” I explain the obvious.
“So?” he shrugs. “Not like she was sending you nudes.” His face splits into a grin. “I mean, if she happens to send you some while my eyes are on your screen, it’s all fair game.”
Sweat breaks down my back in an instant. I have this sudden urge to tackle him to the ground, then punch him until he loses consciousness.
Sebastian reads the situation correctly. “I was joking,” he assures me. “I talk stupid sometimes. I’d never hit on your girl or anything. Especially not Elizabeth Brown, given your history and all…”
“Be quiet,” I hiss at him at again. “No one can know!”
He stares at me for a while longer. “I don’t get it,” he finally says. “I thought you made things official with her. Isn’t that why you left my place like your ass was on fire the other day?”
I sigh at the reminder, then look away. The crowd lining up the side of the bus catches my attention.
I find myself distracted as I try to look out and catch a glimpse of Elizabeth.
At some point, I think I see her, and I plaster my face against the glass, hoping that she can see me, too, even though I know that it’s tinted so the probability of her noticing me is very slim.
“The hell you doing, man?” Our forward, Stryker Bell, or Bell as he asked to be called, butts in. His long blond hair falls over his eyes when he glances my way.
“I’m just looking out the window,” I snap at him. “Is that not allowed?”
Bell rolls his eyes at me. “It’s allowed, and so is making out with the window,” he adds. “It looked like you two were having a moment.”
I flip him off but can’t stop myself from laughing at the side eye he gives me.
“Hey, dude, how’s it going with you and Harrison?” Sebastian grabs Bell’s attention.
And just like that, the amusement dies on Bell’s face. “Why you ask?”
“No reason,” Sebastian shrugs. “Just weird how Coach paired you two like that. He’s a little intense, am I right?”
There’s a brief moment when I think I see emotion crossing Bell’s features.
But it vanishes so quickly, I don’t have time to analyze it.
Besides, I don’t even care. We all know that Bell swings both ways.
He’s loud and proud about it, no secrets there.
His current reaction might indicate that he does have something going on with Ethan Harrison.
Although, as far as I know, Ethan is as straight as they come.
Either way, I got enough problems of my own, and I don’t have time to care about what Bell’s problem is.
Right now, I watch as he completely ignores Sebastian’s question. He turns around and walks away to find his seat.
“Everybody’s so fucking weird lately,” my buddy mumbles next to me. “Are you going to tell me what the deal with this chick is, or are you gonna pull a Bell on me?”
I smirk at him. “It’s probably because you don’t have a life, so you’re constantly worried about what everyone else is doing.”
“Not for lack of trying,” he huffs. “Aunt Kathy’s making it worse for me, I think. Gives girls the impression that I am some momma’s boy.”
I let him talk for a while, buying myself some time before he asks me again about Elizabeth.
While he goes on and on about his aunt and the life he left behind in New York, I go over my situation with Elizabeth.
I understand why she’s worried about losing her job.
At the same time, she doesn’t even like what she’s doing, so who cares if they let her go.
But she told me that she couldn’t afford not to have this job.
Her father is not paying for her life here, in Texas.
She should focus on her art, I think to myself.
She could sell her pieces. She’s very talented, and if she hits the ground running, she could be very successful selling her creations.
“Do you know of any art galleries?” I ask Sebastian.
He stops rambling on about his lack of a relationship and just stares at me.
“That’s got nothing to do with what I was just saying,” he informs me. “Is this about the girl?”
I have no idea how in the hell he connected the dots so easily. I guess I am a lot more obvious than I thought. I might as well tell him what I got in mind.
“She hates this job she’s doing,” I explain to Sebastian. “She loves painting, I know that for sure.”
I expect him to give me a hard time at first, but I am surprised when he nods pensively.
“What does she paint?” he asks.
“Uh, paintings.”
“Like what?” he insists. “Abstract painting? Portraits? Acrylic? Watercolor?”
He shoots all these questions at me, and I have no idea how to answer. I try to think back to when Elizabeth showed me a few of her pieces when we first started seeing each other. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much.
“I’m not sure,” I tell my friend. “I don’t know anything about art.”
“And you want to do what?” Sebastian teases. “Buy her a gallery?”
I snort in laughter at hearing his tone. “No, fucker. I was just thinking how I could help her. I hate that she’s not happy at her job.”
He stares at me for the longest time. “Are you actually in love with this girl?”
My mouth goes dry and sweat instantly breaks down my spine. After that night in New York City when I told Elizabeth that I loved her, I never said those words to her again. I see the disappointment in her eyes every time she thinks I’ll do it but for some unknown reason pull back.
Sebastian starts laughing. “Can I just tell you how fucked up this whole thing is?”
“In what way?” I manage to croak out the words.
“I don’t know,” he shrugs. “You have a fling in New York that almost finishes your career before it could even take off properly…”
I nod at that although, I don’t quite agree with the fling part. It was more than that.
“You end up in Texas, and she follows you here,” Sebastian continues. “She doesn’t even give you a heads up,” he laughs again. “Now you’re sitting here telling me you want to buy her a gallery so she can show her art that you’re not exactly sure what type it is.”
“I’m not buying her a damn gallery,” I snap at him. “I only asked if you knew of one. I didn’t ask how I can buy one.”
Sebastian waves me off. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re even saying anymore. Besides…” He turns more in his seat so he could stare me down. “Why did you just pretend like you didn’t know her? And right after you about ran right to her.”
“Because she asked me not to tell anyone,” I whisper yell at him as I look around to make sure no one is listening to us.
“What?” he laughs some more. “So you didn’t want to tell anyone before, and now it’s her who wants it to be a secret? After you changed your mind and want to make it official?”
I roll my eyes. “I know how it sounds…”
“Fucked up,” Sebastian cuts me off. “It sounds fucked up. And that’s not how normal people date.”
“Says the guy who can’t get a date to save his life,” I deadpan. He seems to take offense to that.
He scoffs at me. “I can get a date, so you know. But I want more than just a date. I want a relationship, preferably not one that I have to hide.”
I am saved from having to respond to his comment when the bus jerks forward, and we are finally moving. I glance out the window one more time, trying once again to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth.
My heart about stops in my chest when I see her. She is standing on the sidewalk, closer to the building. She looks lonely as she is there by herself, arms crossed over her chest, like she’s hugging herself. There’s also a little bit of sadness marring her features.
Without thinking, I pick up my phone and open the text app. I stare at her name, unsure of what I even want to tell her. Just then, a message from her pops on my screen.
Lizzie: Good luck in DC! I’ll watch the game on TV. I hope you get play time
Me: You’re always a step ahead of me, girl. I was just about to text you when you did. Be good while I’m away
Lizzie: I’m bad only for you, Lo
I grin at seeing those words, their implication obvious.
“You’re a lucky fucker, Mantei,” Sebastian grunts from next to me. My head whips around only to catch him reading my texts over my shoulder. Again.
“What the fuck!” I rest the phone face down on my thigh. “Stop with that shit.”
He snickers but doesn’t say anything again. I want to pick up the phone and text Elizabeth back, but I’m annoyed now. When he elbows me in the ribs, I about punch him in the face.
“Life’s short, dude,” he tells me. “If you like this girl as much as you say…”
“I love her,” I snap at him.
“Then stop pussy footing around it,” he advises. “What if you died tomorrow?”
My eyebrows go up in surprise. “Why do I have to be the dead one?”
He rolls his eyes in amusement. “Okay, what if she died tomorrow? Wouldn’t you regret all this unnecessary drama?”
I frown at that as I try to keep the panic at bay. “We had a rough start,” I explain. “We’re both gun shy. Taking it slowly.”
Sebastian shrugs but nods in understanding. “I get it. But just remember that this girl followed you all the way here without you asking. Some might look at it as a bad omen. In fact…” He snorts when he tries to suppress his laughter. “I think I might have implied she’s a crazy stalker.”
“You did.” The tone of my voice is dry.
He chuckles again, shaking his head. “I’ll quit talking about it. For now,” he makes sure to add.
I sigh and rest my head against the back of the seat. The drive to the private airport where the team jet is waiting won’t be a long one. That’s a good thing as it won’t allow for too much time for thinking.
Sebastian’s words are stuck on a loop in my head.
Life’s too short.