13. JESS
Chapter thirteen
JESS
The Echo Ridge Recreation Center has a fantastic balcony on the second floor, offering a perfect view of the ice below. Along with the conference room, there are a few additional offices up here. It’s great to be able to work in peace in this secluded section. They were empty until we got here, but now they’re used by Coach Bradley, a few assistant coaches, Jack, the team manager, and me.
I’m standing at the railing watching the team practice. It’s a whole lot safer up here and less of a distraction for Jagger, or so he says. Not that he’s ever actually going to hit a shot that errant again.
It’s been a little over a week since “JJI,” (for JJ Incognito) became our secret identity—Jagger’s clever moniker for our under-cover relationship. I hate to admit it, but he’s kind of right, it’s been fun. But I know the sneaking around rush is going to wear off or we’re going to make a mistake, and that worries me.
It’s not like coming home at 11:01 p.m. when you’re a teenager on an 11:00 curfew. It has bigger consequences; Coach Bradley didn’t leave wiggle room in the contract. It specifically says, “No romantic relationship with Jess Lockwood, the Social Media Manager for the Missoula Hawks.” It was kind of embarrassing when Jagger showed it to me on his phone.
He doesn’t care and said it’s worth the risk. I’m not sure I agree because he has so much more to lose than I do.
I told Nat about everything that’s happened. It was impossible not to when she started asking me how everything was going out here. I did my best to talk about the town, the people, but she knows me too well.
Echo Ridge really is the best change of scenery for me, helping wipe away the memories of Miami and Chicago and what happened in both places.
It’s so different out here. The first thing I notice every time I go anywhere are the bikes. They’re everywhere, especially two-seaters. In a town that takes less than ten minutes to drive through, I have seen at least five bike shops.
I guess it’s a thing in this area. Tourists just love traveling around that way, checking out the restaurants and shops. It’s a little like going back in time to when life was simpler. There’s a special lane next to the sidewalk for bike parking all the way through downtown. It’s kind of awesome.
I’ve never done much biking in my lifetime, living in the city. But I might try it. I’ve been told there’s a great trail that leads all the way to the next town of Golden Gulch, like fifteen miles away. You’re apparently rewarded with the best milkshakes ever created. I think it would be fun to try, do something different. And I’m a huge fan of milkshakes.
The sounds of grunting men and bodies slamming into the plexiglass ring out below me. Coach Bradley works these guys hard. He’s focused on turning the Hawks around on the ice, honing their skills day and night, and I’m motivated to increase their presence in the community.
I relayed to Nat a few of my ideas for TikTok yesterday. After she stopped screaming with joy about Jagger and me reconnecting (she never holds back her feelings), we discussed my “Day in the Life” idea. She thinks it’s good.
Since the guys have been here over two weeks, they’re starting to have their own routines in the area. So, I’m going to start making some videos over the next few days in preparation for their first preseason game.
Coach blows his whistle, and the guys skate off to the bench area to grab a drink. I’m sure Jagger sees me up here. It’s a good spot when they’re playing because it’s too high to look at during the action, causing him to lose focus.
But when there’s a break, I definitely stick out. Especially because Dax loves to call out my name anytime he notices my presence. “Hi! Miss Lockwood!” he cries out in a sing-songy voice while waving his arms wildly at me.
I shake my head. Dax. He’s impossible not to love. I wave back at him with a smile. Everyone is looking up here now, but it’s just that one set of eyes that entices me.
It's a tricky balance to strike—avoiding eye contact with Jagger enough to not draw attention, but not so little that it seems suspicious, like we're trying to hide something.
Not that anyone is paying that much attention, but maybe they are. That's the uncertainty we deal with every day.
Jagger pushes the envelope more than I’d like. His eyes drill into me with a focused intensity, as if he has superhero laser vision.
I can always feel when he’s looking my way, like I'm caught in an invisible tractor beam. And I want—no I need—to respond, drawing into him if only for a moment.
Our kiss in his apartment broke the last piece of my resolve to stay strong. And I really was trying. I have been for so long, but I just couldn’t do it anymore, deny what I know is still there. I compare it to a crack in a pond's ice—tiny at first but growing gradually until it’s wide enough to swallow you whole.
But that’s still underselling it. It’s more like dynamite, an explosion of feelings when our lips met. Which I realize, I initiated. But the situation wasn’t easy to resist.
Jagger is shirtless. Problem number one for my brain.
Jagger is showing emotion, lots of it, even if he isn’t trying. It’s written all over his face. That’s problem number two.
Problem number three. Jagger is shirtless. Sorry, it really is a problem that needs to be noted twice. Moving on to problem number four.
I’m angry, which just ramps up the intensity. I’ve seen enough movies to know that pent up frustration always turns into passion, no one can hold back for the entire film. You know it’s coming, and when it does, it’s good, very good.
So, when I end up on Jagger’s lap, with all those muscles staring back at me, what is a girl to do except make a beeline for his lips, after I took stock of that exposed skin, of course. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve missed his athletic body for sure.
Those broad shoulders, sculpted arms, it’s like they sent out an SOS saying, “Help me, Jess! We need your touch.” So, as any good citizen would do, I gave my assistance. But that’s what cracked the ice, which led to the dynamite, which led to me agreeing to a secret relationship because the blast of tingles our kiss sent through my body cannot be a one-time thing.
I want to be a full-time lifeguard for Jagger, coming to his aid when his muscles get lonely.
Because it saves me too, makes me realize how hard it’s been holding back the emotions I’ve had locked up for so long. I felt my whole body go up in smoke like the cloud you see in the sky after something blows up. But it was a good detonation, I feel a little lighter.
Except when Jagger looks at me from down on the ice, even though everyone is doing the same because of Dax being Dax. Jagger shouldn’t stand out. But he does to me. It feels like he’s the only one in the room right now. I give one more wave and a smile down at everyone, making sure to scan the team, then turn to go.
I’m at my desk when Tina, the team trainer, pops her head in the door. “Busy?”
“I’m a big believer in breaks, especially for sweets. Have anything on ya?”
Tina laughs. “No. But now that I know about your need for sugar, I’ll bring something next time.” I point to the chair in front of my desk, and she takes a seat.
“I haven’t gotten a chance to talk with you much since that first day, it’s been kind of crazy. It just seems like one injury after another.” She exhales deeply.
“Really? We can’t afford to have guys hurt when Coach is trying to get them on the right track.”
“I know. It’s nothing bad, just what I call the ‘common three’ when it comes to hockey: sprains, strains, and contusions. None of it will keep the guys off the ice, that stuff is the equivalent to a hangnail when it comes to how tough they are.”
I nod in agreement. “For sure, just the sound of them slamming against the glass makes me want to run out there to check on them. I’m not used to being in the building during every practice.”
“That’s right. I did hear you were a reporter in the city before here. Why the change? This isn’t exactly an area full of action. I mean, I love it here. I grew up in Montana, but it’s not for everyone,” she says.
“I wanted to go in a new direction, take on a new challenge. Being a reporter is great, but I just tell people what’s already happened. With this job, I can impact what’s going to happen, be part of building this team up.”
“I like that. Very cool.” She smiles at me.
“What about you? How did you get into being a trainer? I have to admit I thought you were too young when I first saw you.”
Tina giggles. “I get that a lot. I’m actually twenty-nine.”
“No way!”
“Yep. I guess being out in nature helps keep me young looking. You should try it. Get out of this office more. Not that you look older or anything, no offense.”
“None taken,” I laugh.
It really is pretty here. I should start taking advantage of it, getting more fresh air instead of being inside so much.
Tina continues, “I’ve always wanted to work with this team. I went to school at the University of Montana, there’s no place I’d rather be.”
“So, you’ve been here to Echo Ridge before?”
“Lots of times. I make sure to get to Glacier National Park at least once a year. You can’t get there unless you go through here. You should definitely take a trip sometime: Bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, moose, mountain goats. There’s so much to see, or hopefully see. Maybe we could go together.”
I make a “T” with my hands. “Time out. You lost me at grizzly bears. And what do you mean ‘hopefully see?’ You want to see a grizzly bear?”
She chuckles. “Uh, yes. And mountain lions and wolves…”
I tsk. “I’m sorry to have to say this Tina, but I’m not sure we can be friends. I can’t have you dragging me off to hunt for dangerous wildlife. I’m a city zoo type of gal. I’m all for saying hello to Yogi Bear when he’s behind some bars, but in person, no thank you.”
“Yogi Bear?”
Now I chortle. “Yogi Bear, from the cartoon? He has a friend named Boo Boo. Tell me you know who they are. They are a crucial part of a person’s childhood.”
She still looks puzzled. “Ok, I guess we have to be friends. I have so much to teach you.”
Tina stands. “Only if you let me get you out in nature, city girl. I’ll show you what Montana really has to offer, and you can show me… Boo Boo.”
Before she turns to go, she says, “Oh, and next time I’ll come with a candy bar, and you can tell me all about how you know Jagger.”
She winks, then heads out the door.
Oh no, that’s not good. Well, the candy bar part is, I can never turn down chocolate. But her curiosity about Jagger is a red flag. Is that because of what happened the first day or because she’s noticed something between us in the last week? It’s not like I can ask.
With my office door open, I hear shouts from the ice. Practice is over. I do my best to focus on the task at hand, deciding which Hawk member will be the first up for my “Day in the Life” series for TikTok. I think there’s only one choice… Dax.
If Dax doesn’t get some fans’ attention, I’m not sure who will. His personality has everything you need to get TikTok users to stop scrolling. Yes, he’s handsome with his lean, muscular build, strong clean-shaven jawline and eyes that remind you of a summer sky. He’s got tousled blonde hair that looks perfect even after being in a helmet for hours with just one swipe of his fingers.
But what I like most of all is his personality. He’s all goofball and energizer bunny on the outside, but he’s got that good mama’s boy heart that cares deeply for others, and he’s not afraid to show it. I love it, and I think the fans will love him too.
It’s only his second year, so many of them probably don’t know him at all. He didn’t play very much last year looking at the stats. But with Jagger by his side, I think he’s in line for a breakout season. So, Dax it is.
I make a note on my desk calendar to call him in tomorrow. And then I notice something. Written in the smallest letters I can see without a magnifying glass are the letters “JJI” in the corner of today’s date, and the words “nine p.m.” and “playground.”
Playground? What in the world?
I instantly google “playgrounds in Echo Ridge.” There are four, but then I realize it’s obvious. One of them is called Sunflower Meadow, and that’s all I need to know.