Chapter 3
Last week’s yoga session is still living rent-free in my mind as I warm up on the stationary bike before our game. I’m just outside the locker room, far enough away from the open area where some of the other guys on the team warm-up, so I’m able to attempt to focus but am a tad distracted.
Sophia loved every second of getting to hang out with those goats, but that’s not what keeps replaying in my head.
My mind is on the yoga instructor, Sadie.
She was so unbelievably good with Sophia; it was hard not to take notice.
Her patience, her enthusiasm, her openness to allow Sophia to not only hang out with her, but help with the yoga session.
There was also the adorable, awkward moment when Sadie referred to my groin as fabulous, but my interest is stuck on how wonderfully she treated my daughter.
I can’t remember the last time I was thinking about something other than hockey or parenting. But seeing the way Sadie and Sophia interacted, she definitely has my attention. And I find myself wondering when the next time I might see her is.
It doesn’t help matters that Sophia seems just as captivated as I am.
She seems to sneak Sadie’s name into random conversations every day.
For example, during breakfast, she said, “Daddy, did you know that Sadie’s favorite animal is a goat too?
” Or when we were at the park playing with Sophia’s purple kickball, she said, “Daddy, did you know Sadie’s favorite color is purple too? ”
It’s kind of hard not to think about Sadie when my daughter is making it her mission that I do just the opposite.
I’m not going to lie, seeing Sophia open up so easily to someone, especially a woman, was really fucking awesome to see.
The guys on the team all love her to death.
She even has a special bond with Connor, calling him “Uncle Connor” because both Claire and I don’t have any siblings.
But seeing her bond with Sadie at goat yoga made it all the more clear to me how important it is for her to have a female role model in her life.
As if my thoughts conjured her up, I see Sadie walk into the open area from the hallway where the administrative offices are. Some of the guys have gathered there to warm-up and are kicking a soccer ball around.
Something our rookie, Jefferson, says has her throwing her head back to laugh. Seeing her laugh is another reminder of how much I enjoyed last week’s team activity. I remember Sadie and Sophia laughing with a goat in their arms, the look of pure bliss etched on my daughter’s face.
What the fuck is my problem? I need to forget about yoga and focus on today’s game.
Having Sadie here. In my space. When I’m already struggling to get her off my mind. It is definitely not an ideal situation.
Connor takes a seat in the empty bike next to me, causing my attention to shift to him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Connor rarely smiles. He has a quiet way about him, only laughing when something is ridiculously funny. But he’s wearing a smirk right now, and I don’t like it. Not one bit.
He turns the knob on his bike, loosening the tension, and starts pedaling. “You’re looking at that girl like she’s the answer to all your questions, man.”
“Fuck off. I’m looking at her like I’m trying to figure out why the fuck she’s here.”
He shakes his head at me before leaning his forearms on the handles of the bike. Not believing a word coming out of my mouth. “It sure doesn’t look like you’re looking at her that way. And if you’re so curious, why don’t you ask her best friend that question. Here she comes.”
Ellie makes her way to the stationary bikes, leaning against the vacant one next to Connor. Leaning down, she removes her red high heels and lets out a sigh of relief. “Don’t ever buy a new pair of Louboutins and think you can break them in at work. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”
Connor looks extremely uncomfortable as he peers down at Ellie’s bare feet. I snort to myself, remembering his ridiculous aversion to feet.
“Noted. Hey, Coach. What’s your friend Sadie doing here? Just come to see a game?”
I’m trying to play it cool but Ellie’s assessing eyes have me crawling in my own skin. I’m doing a shit job at hiding my intrigue.
“Actually, she had a meeting with management this afternoon. They’ve decided to hire her part time as a health and wellness instructor as we prepare for playoffs.
I’m not sure what magic those goats had, but you guys have been playing out of your minds ever since.
Some of the guys actually asked for her info because they wanted her to help out with meditation, visualization, and mindfulness.
Word got around, and the GM saw the benefit of hiring her on a short-term contract. Is that going to be a problem, Cap?”
Connor, the traitor he is, laughs for the first time in months. Fucker.
“Not at all. I think that’s a great idea. I could use a little help with meditation, myself.”
I hear Connor whisper under his breath, “I bet you could.”
He’s a dead man.
Ellie slips her shoes back on just as Sadie makes her way toward us. “Hey, Sades, we were just talking about you.” Ellie smirks at me, and I shrink down onto the bike, as if I can hide from the impending interrogation.
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that. All good things I hope?”
Sadie looks from her best friend to me and Connor. “Hello, gentlemen. You weren’t talking bad about me to my best friend were you?” She raises her eyebrow, attempting, but utterly failing, to look threatening.
Connor stays quiet next to me. Surprise, surprise. Leaving me to handle the conversation solo. Some best friend he is.
I sit up straight on the bike, crossing my arms over my chest. “Never. Coach Ellie was just telling us about your new job. Congratulations.”
Sadie’s cheeks turn a shade of pink I’ve never seen before, and it’s officially my new favorite color.
Her hair is down today and it cascades down her back in loose waves, making the purple streaks much more evident. The strands look as smooth as silk, begging for me to run my fingers through it. Okay, so maybe that shade of pink on her cheeks and the purple in her hair are my new favorite colors.
She tucks her hair behind her ear before speaking again. “Oh. Well, thank you! I’m pretty excited to work with the team. They seem just as eager as I am to get started.” She flicks her attention to the rookies behind her that she just finished chatting with.
I bet they fucking are.
“Coach Ellie said you were gonna help some of the guys with meditation and visualization. Think I can get in on that?”
Connor chuckles under his breath next to me, and I fight every urge in my body to turn around and throw him off his bike. Keeping my eyes on Sadie, I anxiously wait for her response.
She bites her bottom lip and the tiny move does something to me. My heart starts pounding and my foot slips off the pedal of my bike, causing my body to wobble to the side of my bike.
Sadie reaches her arm out, her hand wrapping around my bicep, trying to steady me before I make an even bigger fool of myself. “Easy there, big guy. Maybe you do need some help with meditation and staying focused. Let’s chat tomorrow after practice.”
“Yeah, okay. Sounds good to me. Thanks, Sadie.”
She gives my arm a squeeze before letting go, and I straighten myself on my bike again. She and Ellie take off down the hallway toward the training room, my eyes not leaving her for a second.
Once she’s out of sight, I lower my head, grab the handlebars, and try to focus on the game tonight, getting lost in a rhythm on the bike.
Just as I think I’ve got my head on straight, visualizing different game play scenarios, I hear Connor’s voice interrupt my thoughts.
“Dude, you are in so much trouble.”