Chapter 7
FRIEND-ZONED
FLETCHER
Something was up with Lydia today, but of course, she left for work before I could get more information out of her.
She was acting weird last night, too. Maybe she is getting sick or something.
I wish we weren’t about to leave for the next week, or I’d press the subject more.
She’s never been one to keep a secret from me.
Usually, we tell each other everything; her hiding something sets off alarm bells in my head.
“May I sit?” Trigg asks as I sit in the plane’s window seat.
“Sure thing.” I pat the seat beside me. On a flight like this, Calvin would normally sit next to me, but I’m all about team bonding. I am the captain for a reason.
“Takk,” Trigg says in Norwegian, then shakes his head. “I mean, thanks, Graff.”
He sits, settling in as Calvin reaches us. He gives me a look, but I shrug and smile. Calvin does the same, sitting down in the aisle across from us.
The flight attendants make their rounds. We’ll be taking off soon, so I pull my phone out of my pocket to text Lydia.
Me
About to take off. Are you feeling okay?
She replies instantly.
Lydia
I was fine earlier. Just a dizzy bout, that’s all.
Me
Right.
Lydia
Are you ready for the game tomorrow?
Me
Yep. Feeling good about it.
What I’m not feeling good about is my best friend lying to me.
Lydia
I’m fine, Fletcher.
Me
My parents are in town until tomorrow if you need anything.
Lydia
Yeah, I’m getting dinner with them tonight.
Me
Clutching pearls gif.
Without me? The audacity.
Lydia
Pretty sure they like me more than you
Me
Can’t say I blame them
Lydia
I’m their favorite bonus child
Me
Not wrong.
I turn off my phone, resting my head back on the headrest. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. Maybe she's been working too hard lately? Or maybe her parents are coming to town. She always gets weird when that happens.
I’ll figure it out sooner or later. For now, I’ll get to know my new teammate better.
“So, Aadland, how are you settling in?” I ask.
“Fine.” His Norwegian accent is thick as he navigates the English words. “America is different.”
“I can’t even imagine. Did they set you up in the apartments near the arena?”
“Yes, but I would like to buy a house here if I am offered a longer contract. I like it here.”
“I’m glad.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Do you have a wife? Kids?”
“No. Only me.” He shakes his head, his light blonde hair falling into his eyes.
“Well, you’ve got a team at your back, so if you ever need anything, we are just a text or call away.”
Trigg offers me a fond smile. “Thanks.”
I spend the rest of the flight getting to know Trigg, with Calvin chiming in from across the aisle. Bonding with new teammates can be hard, especially when trades happen mid-season, but in the long run, it’s worth the extra effort. It makes a stronger team.
“Are you going out tonight?” Calvin asks as we board the bus. His red curls are sticking out under the stocking cap on his head.
Trigg sits beside me again, his eyebrows lifted.
I shake my head. “Nope. I’m going to call Lydia, then get to bed early.”
“Come on, man. You’re not even going to go to one casino with me?”
“You know I hate gambling, Miller. I never win.”
“But you’re such a good cheerleader.” Calvin’s blue eyes lock on mine. “Please?”
I groan. “One hour. Then I need to call Lydia. She’s been weird lately.”
He tilts his head. “How so?”
I don’t want to tell him how much it’s worrying me, but he won’t let me get away with keeping secrets. “This morning, I spun her in a circle, and she got so dizzy she almost puked. And she’s avoiding me, I think.”
“You live together. How can she possibly avoid you?”
Trigg interrupts. “Is Lydia your partner?”
I shake my head. “No, she’s my best friend.”
His blonde brows raise. “And she lives with you?”
“Yeah. But we’ve only ever been friends. Nothing more.”
“Not for lack of trying on your part.” Calvin chuckles.
“You want to be more?” Trigg questions.
I groan, resting my head in my hands. I don’t want to get into this right now—or ever, for that matter.
“When we were in college, we were assigned lab partners in our anatomy class. When the class was done, I invited her out on what I intended to be a date. The whole time she was talking about how great a friend I was, and how lucky we were to get paired together. Needless to say, she friend-zoned me. Hard.”
“Ouch.” Trigg grimaces.
“Yeah. But I take what I can get with her. She’s my best friend, and I love her. If she never wants more, then I guess it is what it is. Maybe someday it will happen for us, but if not, I have to accept that. She’s the only person I could ever see myself wanting more with.”
Calvin scoffs. “Who says you can’t pursue her now?”
I shrug. “Maybe someday. Either way, I’m going to call her tonight. Something is up with her.”
“You’re a good friend,” Trigg says, resting a hand on my shoulder.
“Thanks, man.”
When the bus arrives at our hotel, we unload and head up to our rooms. Not even thirty minutes later, Calvin is knocking at my door.
“Do we have to?” I groan as I walk toward the knocking. Travel days are exhausting.
When I open the door, instead of Calvin dressed in his typical going-out attire, he’s in sweats and a practice tee, with Trigg standing beside him in similar clothes. “Figured maybe we could watch the Lynx hockey game instead?”
I nod gratefully, opening the door wider to let them in.
They make themselves at home in my hotel room, with Calvin taking the free bed and Trigg taking the chair. Calvin turns on the game, which is already in the second period.
I flop onto my bed, grabbing my phone from the charger. I’ll text Lydia, then my mom, to see if she noticed anything weird about her tonight.
Me
How was dinner with my parents?
Lydia
It was good, we went to The Black Rooster
Me
You’re kidding me, right?
Lydia
Nope, your dad said he wanted to try it
Me
You went to my favorite place without me?????
I’m hurt
Lydia
It’s not my fault! Your dad wanted to go, and he said every time he comes here, you end up going somewhere else!
Me
We’re going as soon as I get back. I’ve been craving it for weeks, but when I suggest it, you always say, “No, Fletch, I’m not really in the mood for The Black Rooster”
How. Dare. You.
Lydia
Calm down. You’re fine.
Me
There’s a crack in my heart now, and it’s all your fault, Lydi-bug.
Lydia
Jeez, you’re dramatic.
Me
How would you feel if I went to your favorite place without you? And with your parents?
Lydia
Well, first off, you’d never be caught dead alone with my parents. Second, you hate Thai.
Me
Again, I’m hurt.
But you’re also not wrong.
Lydia
My point stands.
I’ll make it up to you
Me
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Are you feeling better?
Lydia
I told you I was fine, Fletch
Me
And I don’t believe you, Lydia
Lydia
I’m fine. I’m going to bed, though
Me
It’s not even ten!
Lydia
So? We were up late last night!
Me
Something is up with you
Lydia
I’m fine.
Goodnight, I’ll talk to you tomorrow
Me
Goodnight, Lydi-bug
I toss my phone to the side, ignoring the incessant tug in my brain.
“Lydia?” Calvin questions, pulling my attention back to the world around me.
I nod. “I can’t shake this feeling that something's wrong. She’s a night owl. It’s not even ten at home, and she’s going to bed.”
“Maybe she is ill,” Trigg says.
“Maybe.” But something about it doesn’t seem quite right.
I’m going to text my mom to be sure.
Me
How did Lydia seem tonight?
Mom
Fine, why? We had a very nice dinner at The Black Rooster.
Me
Yeah, about that, I’m mad at you all. I leave town and you go to my fave restaurant without me? What the heck is that?
Mom
Lydia was craving it.
Me
Lydia never craves it, I have to practically beg her to go.
Mom
I’m not sure, but she suggested it, so we went
Me
She got dizzy this morning and almost puked when I spun her around. I think she’s getting sick or something else is up, but she won’t tell me.
Mom
Whatever it is, I’m sure she will tell you in time.
Well, that’s encouraging. It makes me think my mom knows something but is hiding it.
Me
So there is something?
Mom
I never said that
Me
Liar
Mom
She’s stressed at work, that’s all I know.
Me
What’s going on?
Mom
She didn’t elaborate, only said work has been stressful.
Stressful enough to make her physically ill?
I don’t buy it.