CHAPTER 7 DARLING
AIFE
Something was different compared to my previous visit to the Chaos Coliseum; the arena nearly felt alive with the way the crowd was acting.
It was indescribable. So much of me wanted to watch the crowd instead of the game.
People watching was so fun for me, but the game was truly mesmerizing.
TJ, in particular, seemed to be on fire.
I didn’t really know much about hockey still, and yet, my eyes couldn’t leave the rink.
Davis’s eyes never left the ice as we watched the game.
He would occasionally slam his hands into the boards, usually to yell at TJ.
It was a little embarrassing when he did that, but so many others seemed to as well.
To be fair to Davis, I couldn’t take my eyes off the game either.
TJ was incredible. He was already an insanely attractive man and seeing him on the ice made my entire body warm.
His jaw seemed sharper and the way his hands gripped the sticks created fantasies in my head of those hands gripping me.
I shook my head, trying to focus on friendship, not sexual fantasies.
“Come on!” Davis yelled, pulling me out of my dirty thoughts. “Bullshit! Come on, ref. Call the fucking hooks!”
TJ, who was now sitting on the bench, turned to look at us. He motioned for Davis to knock it off before turning back to face the game. I guess I wasn’t the only one embarrassed by my friend. Davis could get wound up way too quickly.
“Davis, relax.” I laid a hand on his arm. “It’s just a game.”
“An important one.”
Sighing, I decided to drop the conversation.
As much as Davis loved his career, it was clear he hadn’t processed his hockey-ending injury.
I could tell he really wanted to be on the ice too.
From what I knew, Davis was talented. Not like I could judge because I definitely hadn’t processed what had led to my pursuing a PhD.
I wouldn’t push him either. We all had to face our traumas in our own time.
Things on the ice started to heat up as TJ hopped back on it.
He played aggressively, skating up the rink with the puck.
He managed to pull off some crazy juke move before slap-shotting in a goal.
The Chaos Coliseum went absolutely wild.
People started screaming his name and chanting his number.
I’m sure even the nosebleeds could see the smile on his beautiful face.
That smile was radiating; it could light up the entire world.
I bit my lip to stop my own grin; TJ had an infectious smile.
“That’s my boy!” Davis jumped out of his seat.
“Let’s go, TJ!”
Laughing, I cheered for my friend as well.
It was weird that we were friends now, but I couldn’t lie; I loved it too.
TJ was this strange combination of totally open and also completely closed off.
Today had been magical, really. I’d really never been able to open up that quickly to a person before.
TJ was so easy to talk to, and it felt like we had known each other for years.
I wanted to know more, and I hoped he did too.
My eyes focused back on the ice as Davis waved a hand in front of my face.
“Where are you at, Aife?” Davis tapped my head.
“You disappeared on me.”
“Sorry.” I blushed.
“Focus on the game, hon. You can ogle my friend later.”
Davis dragged me to the entrance of the locker area.
Several fans had gathered to get autographs and pictures.
There were so many little kids waiting to meet their idols; it was cute.
All the players exited dressed in their suits and quickly worked the crowd.
It was nice to see that despite how tired they were that they were still willing to meet their fans.
I loved seeing players not forgetting the people that made them famous.
TJ was the last to exit the lockers, and I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped my throat.
He was wearing this dark red, almost russet colored suit.
It popped against his black shirt and hair.
He had the shirt unbuttoned by two buttons, just enough to show off his chest hair.
No tie. The material molded to his legs, the muscles in his thighs visible as he walked.
TJ was mouth-watering, almost literally.
I could practically feel the drool forming.
Shaking my head, I reminded myself we were just friends.
“I feel like you two are ignoring my advice on staying away from each other.” Davis nudged my shoulder. “I know you guys hung out today.”
“Even you can’t deny he’s attractive, Davis.” I smiled at him. “We are just friends.”
“I know you two are adults and can make your own decisions…” He trailed off. ‘I don’t want to see either of you get hurt. That’s all I’m saying. Remember I know you both better than you know each other.”
I turned to study him. Davis was a calculating man,
and he always thought about the pros and cons of any situation. “Well, same goes for you and Nat.”
“Shit.” He turned red and rubbed the back of his neck. I knew he was crushing on her. “Fair enough, Aife. Can everyone tell I like her?”
I was glad the topic was off me and my developing crush. “Everyone but her. Nat’s extremely oblivious. If you like her, you should go for it. Ask her out, Davis.” I tapped his back in reassurance, making sure to keep my face soft and open.
He coughed. “Back to you and TJ.”
“Oh no, you aren’t weaseling your way out of this conversation.” Laughter bubbled out of me. “You can’t avoid this topic!”
“Shut up,” he said with a laugh. “Seriously, we can talk about it another time. Here comes our boy anyway.”
He pointed at the handsome giant headed toward us.
Again, I felt drool forming in my mouth.
TJ truly was something amazing to look at.
He was the very definition of dreamy. That combined with his intelligence, and I was basically a goner.
I understood the undeniable attraction, but I didn’t necessarily like it. I didn’t have time for a relationship.
TJ worked the crowd, smiling and laughing and signing autographs.
He bent down to talk to the kids, his back muscles stretching as he did.
My heart rate picked up watching him. I couldn’t fully understand why the attraction was hitting me now.
I’d spent all day with him, but he was just amazing to watch.
TJ cared. The passion he had for hockey was so evident because he cared so deeply for his fans.
Seeing him in his element was probably the most attractive thing.
He was at ease, his smiles free and happy.
High-fiving one of the kids, he stood back up. He shook a few more hands before turning to Davis and me. His thighs strained against the material of his pants. When did thighs become so attractive to me? No matter how often I told myself to not stare, I did. They were just so massive.
A smile broke out on his face, and my heart fluttered again.
That smile made him a thousand times more handsome; his smile lit up his entire face.
His eyes crinkled at the corners, and I just was amazed at how someone could be so beautiful.
TJ was just a delight to look at. I really could look at him all day; he was like a Greek god.
I rolled my eyes at my thoughts. It was like I’d never seen a hot person before.
“Hey,” TJ said as he approached us, bag slung over his shoulder. “Zeke and a few other guys are headed to a bar to celebrate. Y’all want to join us?”
Davis looked over at me. The look he shot me was almost a challenge to say no. “I’m down.”
“Sure, I can go for a little bit.” I smiled up at TJ.
“Awesome. Aife, you wanna ride with me?”
A blush came across my cheeks. Why was this man affecting me so much?
I’d spent all day with him sans the butterfly feeling.
Why was I feeling it now? I wasn’t even willing to be in a relationship right now.
Was I? Davis had said TJ wasn’t ready for it.
Relationships were tough and required commitment.
They required time and energy, and I wasn’t sure I had that to give…
not right now. Not deep into my program.
“Aife?” TJ’s deep voice called to me.
“Oh… umm… sure. I’d like that,” I said as I followed after him. He smiled down at me as he led me to his dark blue truck. Much like him, it was large. Probably to help with his massive size.
“Did you enjoy the game?” He unlocked the vehicle and threw his bag in the backseat before opening my door. So, he was a gentleman too. My heart needed to stop beating so hard. He was just being nice.
“It was intense!” Climbing into the truck, I pulled my seatbelt on and waited for him to get in the driver’s side. “The Chaos Coliseum felt totally different tonight. I couldn’t believe the energy.”
He nodded and smiled crookedly. “Yeah, those are special nights. You should see it during the playoffs.” He tossed his suit jacket in the back before driving to the bar.
“How’s the win feel?”
“Every win feels like my first one, and it always pumps me up. I’ve got all this pent-up energy and adrenaline I don’t know what to do with,” TJ said and briefly looked over at me, wearing his crooked smile.
I couldn’t help but smile too. “You do seem a little hyper.”
“Good thing we’re going to a bar.” He paused for a second. “Is it okay if we head to my place for a second so I can take my suit off?”
“Sure,” I said, nodding. “The suit looks nice though.”
Did I say that out loud? Squeezing my eyes shut, I turned to face the window.
My cheeks were on fire, so clearly I was embarrassed by myself.
I had been cool and collected around him all day, and now I was behaving like a little schoolgirl.
What? All he had to do was play some sports and wear a suit, and I was smitten? I was not that type of woman. At all.
“Does it?”
I chanced a look at him only to see a raised eyebrow and a smirk on his face. My face burned hotter as I sank into the seat. Why couldn’t my thoughts stay inside my head?
“Well, maybe we can just head to the bar then,” he said casually.
“Whatever you want.” I ran a hand through my hair.
My fingers tangled in the knots of my hair, and my face grew a thousand times hotter.
“Relax, Aife.” He gently patted my knee before turning into a parking lot.
“If I head home now, I will pass out. Zeke would kick my ass for that.”
Parking the car, TJ turned to me and smiled.
Grabbing his suit jacket, he walked to my side and opened the door for me.
The Texan in him was strong, but I loved it.
We entered the crowded bar, and I immediately felt overwhelmed, reeling backward slightly at all the cacophony.