Chapter 6
Then
I’m still riding the high from our win and my hat trick when I walk into the lobby with my bag slung over my shoulder and holding a white knit hat in one hand and my hockey sticks in the other.
My face lights up when I catch sight of her dark hair as she stands with her back to me while talking to Ryan. I take her in for a moment, loving the way her puffy coat nearly swallows her whole, before making my way over to where the two of them are laughing together in the corner.
“You have the best laugh I’ve ever heard,” is what surprisingly slips from my lips when I reach her instead of literally anything else.
Taevin startles, but when she realizes it’s me who gave her the compliment, an enigmatic smile lights up her face.
“If it isn’t Mr. Hat Trick himself,” Ryan says in a teasing tone. “Maybe if you’re funny on your date tonight with my girl, you’ll earn more of her laughter.”
I quirk a brow at Ryan. “Your girl?”
“Yep, Tae’s my girl. And you’re the lucky son of a gun who gets to take her on a date. I will say, though, you made that hat trick look easy.”
Taevin nods in agreement. “You did. Almost too easy—makes me wish I would’ve challenged you a bit more.”
“Not easy at all. I was just highly motivated,” I admit, shifting my bag on my shoulder to compensate for the sheepishness threatening to take over. This feeling is not one I recognize, as I typically toe the fine line between confidence and cockiness.
Almost as if Taevin knows I need it, she pivots the conversation. “I overheard someone say there’s scouts here.”
It’s my turn to nod once. “Yeah, from Harvard and Emery University.”
“Aren’t those both near Boston?” Ryan asks before aiming a knowing smile Taevin’s way.
“They are. Well, Harvard is in Cambridge, but Emery is right in the heart of Boston.”
“What a coincidence. Taevin happens to plan on attending—” Ryan is cut off when Taevin slaps a gloved hand over her friend’s mouth.
Taking a mental note to ask her about that later, I shake my head at their ribbing. They remind me a hell of a lot of how my friend Carson and I act around each other.
Speaking of my best friend, he spots me from across the lobby and saddles up beside me.
“What the heck, J? You flew out of the locker room like a bat outta hell before we even got to celebrate. It’s not everyday a guy scores three goals in one game—let alone a playoff game that earns us a ticket to state,” he says, playfully shoulder checking me.
It’s only then that he notices the two girls standing in front of us. “Well, hello ladies. I’m Carson, or Carsey as he likes to call me. And you are?” he asks them.
Tae holds out her gloved hand for him. “Taevin. And this is my best friend, Ryan. Pleasure to meet you, Carson.”
“Pleasure’s all mine. Wait, did you say your name is Taevin?”
“I did.”
Carson’s eyes widen to a comical size before he slowly turns to look at me. He’s the least subtle person I’ve ever met, and it shows when he mouths, “Like the Taevin?”
I roll my eyes before nodding once.
“Oh, shit. You’re the girl that has my Jaxy Bear completely smitten.”
See? About as subtle as a gun.
Taevin’s melodic laughter fills my ears again and I’m already obsessed with the sound. “Jaxy Bear? Oh, I think I like that. Might need to borrow that one,” Taevin tells him.
Carson sends her a playful wink. “Stick with me, kid. I’ve got all the best gossip and embarrassing stories about our boy.”
“Noted,” she says, tapping on her temple. “But I wouldn’t say he’s our boy. We haven’t even had our first date quite yet—it could go horribly.”
“It won’t,” I state with more confidence than I feel. It’s very possible that I blow it with her—she already has a way of knocking me off kilter. I’m just hoping I got a good enough feel for what she might like when we got ice cream the other night that she enjoys herself tonight.
Holding out her hat, I step toward her. “I believe this is yours. And speaking of our first date—we’d better get going.”
She grabs her hat from me and a slight blush creeps up her cheeks. “Thanks.” Turning to Ryan, Taevin asks, “I’ll see you tomorrow morning at church, right?”
Ryan wraps her in a hug and murmurs something in Taevin’s ear I can’t quite make out, but I think she said something about checking things off. Again, I find myself wondering what that’s all about.
Once they say their goodbyes, I place my hand on the small of her back to lead her out to my truck. And while there’s a massively puffy coat between us, being this close to her is still a heady feeling.
Only after I’ve made sure she’s buckled into my passenger seat and I’ve turned the key to start my truck does Taevin turn to me and ask, “So, where are we going? You could’ve given a girl a head’s up.
All your text said when I asked what I should wear was something that made me feel comfortable, yet here you are in a suit. ”
“We have to wear suits for playoff games. I brought a change of clothes but then I left them in my truck so I figured I’d just change once we get there.”
“And where is there?”
A sly grin spreads across my face. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
I grab my phone to put some music on before pulling out of the parking lot as the playlist I selected quietly plays in the background. After Bennett and I got Frannie running like a dream, my next big investment was installing an updated sound system.
Taevin and I talk about school and what classes we’re in, but as I take the exit for our first destination, “Just To See You Smile” by Tim McGraw comes on and I can’t resist turning up the volume.
I’m drumming my thumb against my steering wheel as I sing along when suddenly Taevin turns off the music, leaving silence to linger between the two of us.
“Don’t tell me you don’t like country music,” I say after a few moments have passed.
I chance a quick glance at her and find her shaking her head. “No, I do. It’s actually my favorite genre.”
I’m pleasantly surprised by that. “Even more so than Christian music?”
Her face turns down with a slight frown at my question. “I’m allowed to be more than a pastor’s daughter.”
My cheek twitches with a smirk. “I couldn’t agree more.”
The statement has barely left my lips when she lifts her gaze to connect with mine before I focus back on the road. “Really?”
“Yeah, Tae. I also get what it’s like to be put into a box because of a parent’s occupation.”
“I suppose you’re right. My dad told me yours is a senator. Is this his first term?”
I nod once. “He’s up for reelection next year, so I’ve got to be on my best behavior.”
“And have you?”
“Have I what?”
“Been on your best behavior?”
I chew on my bottom lip as I weigh my answer. Finally, I ask, “What’s your definition of best behavior?”
“Have you done anything that could bring shame to your family?” she questions, though a giggle slips past her lips.
I bark out a laugh. This girl’s going to keep me on my toes.
“I feel like I’ve heard something like that in Mulan before.
My little sister made us watch every Disney movie a hundred times growing up.
But to answer your question, no I don’t think I’ve done anything to shame the family lately.
I have been known to host a party or two when my parents are out of town, but the parties are pretty tame. ”
“Alright, I think I can work with that.”
“You think?”
“To be determined, Bear.”
“Bear?”
“Yeah, I think I liked Carson’s nickname for you. Thought I’d test it out.”
“You can call me whatever you’d like. So, if you love country music, then why did you turn it off? Not a fan of Tim McGraw?”
“Love him and his music”—she turns in her seat and faces me—“I just didn’t think you’d have such a beautiful singing voice.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, so I go for something playful. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“I said you have a beautiful voice. Don’t get it twisted,” she retorts, adding a roll of her eyes for good measure.
“Like listening to me talk, do you? We can turn our nightly texts into phone calls if you’d like to hear more of my voice.” I send her a playful wink as we roll to a stop at a red light.
Taevin gives me a slight shove on my arm that does nothing. “I feel like you’re deflecting right now. So tell me, are you in choir?” she asks.
“Me? No, I prefer not to sing in front of other people if I can help it,” I admit.
“But you just sang in front of me,” she points out.
“Guess that means I’m getting comfortable around you. But seriously, I don’t know how you sang in front of a packed arena the other night. Which, you killed by the way.”
“Thank you.” I’m not sure if it’s the red light or the compliment, but her cheeks take on a red hue. “It was actually a first for me, but I’m glad to have checked an item off the list,” she murmurs so quietly I almost miss it.
“And what list is that?”
Her eyes widen before she says, “Oh, it’s nothing really. Just a silly list Ryan and I put together for things to do before the fall.”
The light changes and I focus back on the road. “Sounds fun. Can I ask what else is on there?”
“Mmm, I don’t know, that kind of sounds like something that’d be classified until the second or third date at least.”
“Here’s to hoping I don’t make a fool of myself tonight, then.”
“I don’t think it’s you we have to worry about in this scenario. You’re far more experienced than me—I’m the one who’s never been on a date before, remember?”
Taking one hand off the wheel, I scratch the slight stubble on my cheek before admitting, “This is actually my first official date too.”
Taevin chortles at that. “Good one.”
“I’m being honest. I’ve hung out with girls in group settings that I’m guessing they classified as a date, but I’ve never done anything like this.”
“And what’s different about this?” she questions.
“Well, for starters, I’ve never picked a girl up and drove her to a date I planned out from start to finish. And I’ve never spent time alone with a girl like this trying to get to know her. Ultimately, you’re the difference.”