Chapter 11 #3
But there was such a genuineness in the way Aspen spoke about her job. The steady voice. The eyes still on the player she was concerned about. The whole mission of protecting professional athletes’ careers.
And Maddy was rearranging everything she thought she knew about Aspen St. Claire for what felt like the hundredth time.
Maddy shot Aspen a sidelong glance. “Don’t take this the wrong way…”
Aspen’s mouth immediately pulled into a smile. “Oh God. Nothing good ever comes after don’t take this the wrong way.”
Maddy chuckled lightly. “I guess I thought you just did PT for the local Coronado community. You know. Retirees with hip replacements and the occasional freak tailbone accident.”
Aspen burst out laughing, head tipped back, smile taking over her whole face. “Maddy Sterling, did you just make a joke? On purpose? Wow, hell really has frozen over.”
“Whatever.” Maddy crossed her arms in a mock-pout, eyes back on the field, fighting her smile.
Aspen laughed again. When her laughter died down, she spoke again. “About ninety-five percent of my patients are professional or semi-professional athletes.” She bumped Maddy’s shoulder lightly with her own. “I make a rare exception for close friends and family.”
The follow-up question was already lining up. What did she mean by close friends? And the follow-up to the follow-up: was she implying that she, Maddy, qualified as a rare exception should she ever require Aspen’s PT services?
Maddy took a drink of her beer instead and rolled her shoulders once.
The roll only confirmed what she had been actively pretending not to feel for the last thirty seconds: that Aspen’s shoulder was still pressed lightly against hers from where she had bumped it.
Aspen had not moved. Maddy had not moved either.
And she had no idea what any of it meant.
Enough.
She had been working at full capacity to try to make sense of Aspen St. Claire for weeks. She had nothing to show for it. Every question answered opened up ten more, and Maddy was no closer to understanding what this night even was.
She could keep trying. She had stamina. She had strategies.
She could also not.
Maddy let her gaze return to the field. Her shoulder stayed against Aspen’s.
The Wave took the ball.
Aspen leaned across to point at the visiting team’s right back. Her cheek came within two inches of Maddy’s. “Watch #6 on her recovery run. She over-commits every time. The next time the Wave switch the field, she’s going to leave Lussi a window.”
Maddy caught her scent again. The coconut, and the kombucha on her breath underneath it. She tried to focus her attention back on the field.
She watched #6 did exactly what Aspen had said she would. Left too wide a gap.
Maddy turned her head slightly to look at Aspen, who was already wearing a smug little smirk. A smirk that was, somehow, not as irritating as it usually was. The most irritating part was that Maddy knew it was meant to be charming, and it was working.
The Wave switched right, switched back. Lussi cut in through the gap #6 had just vacated.
The crowd shifted. Maddy felt herself shift with them: the small involuntary lean forward, the tiny spike in her pulse. When exactly had she gotten so invested in this game? It wasn’t even her team.
Aspen tapped Maddy’s knee in excitement and muttered under her breath. “Come on. Come on.”
The cheering grew louder as Lussi closed in. Aspen sat up, her hand still on Maddy’s knee. Maddy sat up with her, dimly aware that her own hand had come down at some point to cover Aspen’s.
Lussi kicked. The ball sailed into the back corner of the net. The crowd erupted.
Aspen and Maddy leaped to their feet and cheered. Aspen grabbed Maddy’s arm and pointed. “Lussi! That’s your girl!”
Maddy laughed, and cheered along with the crowd.
Aspen’s hand moved to Maddy’s hip as she leaned in close to her ear. “You’re clearly her good luck charm.” She said loudly enough to be heard over the roaring crowd.
Maddy turned her head and met Aspen’s sparkling gaze, the wide smile still on her face from the excitement. Maddy knew hers looked the same.
After several seconds, Aspen seemed to remember that her hand was still on Maddy’s hip and pulled it away. She turned back to the field and resumed her clapping.
When Maddy stole another glance at Aspen, Aspen was looking at her out of the corner of her eye with a small smirk on her lips as she continued to clap, and Maddy felt a flutter in her stomach.
It was the same flutter she felt earlier, when Aspen had knocked on the front door and held out a jersey for Maddy to wear.
And when Aspen had said you look nice with no trace of teasing.
And when Aspen had bought her a beer and refused to let her pay.
And with every arm-brush, leg-brush, and shoulder-brush over the past hour.
And just a few seconds ago, when Aspen’s hand was on Maddy's hip and her lips were against her ear.
And right now, with the way Aspen was smiling at her.
She shook her head, lightly laughing at herself.
Fuck. She was attracted to Aspen St. Claire.