A smile fills my face when I see the smile on hers. Julia leans over and says something to her, making her throw her head back and laugh. I skate back to the bench, getting off the ice. After placing my stick with all the other sticks, I make my way back toward my spot. Grabbing one of the Gatorades from the middle of the room.
Coach comes in before the press does. “Cooper, Michael.” He points at us as we sit side by side. “Not sure where that play comes from but good fucking play.”
I smirk and look over at Cooper, who holds his fist up to me. I fist-bump him, laughing. “It’s a family play,” Cooper boasts, smiling as the coach just nods at us and walks out of the room before the press descends on us.
“To be born into hockey royalty,” Wilson says, getting up and taking off his shirt to walk toward the showers.
“He has sex every single night,” I say, getting up. “You would think he would be less frustrated.”
Cooper gets up next to me. “Maybe they don’t let him finish.”
“Or maybe he’s just an asshole,” I reply, shaking my head as my phone beeps.
Jillian: Do you want us to wait for you?
I look over at Cooper. “I’ll be right back,” I say, grabbing my phone and walking out of the room. Dialing her number, she answers right away. “Hi.” I lean against the concrete wall.
“Hey,” she huffs, and I can hear all the people around her as she tries to make it out of the arena.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be, and I know you have school in the morning.” I turn, wishing I could see her if only for a second. “What time do you leave for work in the morning?”
“I have to leave tomorrow at eight,” she says.
“Would it be okay if I brought breakfast to you?” I say softly. “I leave tomorrow at ten.”
“I’m up at six thirty,” she says.
“I’ll see you then,” I confirm, wanting to talk to her longer but knowing I have to get back into the room. “Okay, I have to go meet the press.”
“Out of all the excuses I’ve ever had from a man, that has never been one of them.” She laughs.
“Good to know I stick out.” The pit of my stomach burns.
“Oh, you stick out all right.” She laughs. “See you tomorrow.” I disconnect the call and walk back into the room.
“You okay?” Cooper asks me when I sit back down. “You look like someone kicked your dog and stole your cat.”
I look down at my skates. “Yeah, just…” I shake my head when the press comes into the room, pushing Jillian to the back of my mind.
When I get back home, I pack my bag and slide into bed, turning to look out the window at the black sky. The one lone star in the sky blinks as my mind spins around and around, and I try not to think about what is really bothering me. My eyes drift to sleep, and when the alarm rings at five thirty, I fly out of bed, slipping on black dress pants and a white button-down shirt. It’s a travel day, and we have to travel casually.
I’m out of my apartment by six o’clock, loading the SUV with my travel bag. I make my way over to Jillian’s, stopping by the same place I got her food the last time I showed up at her house. By the time I’m parking the SUV, it’s six thirty-three.
Getting out of the SUV, I take a look around and notice how quiet it is. I try not to make too much noise when I knock on the door. The door opens softly, and I see that the apartment is still dark. “Hi,” she grumbles as she wipes the sleep away from her face. “Sorry, I just got up.”
My heart speeds up. “I can go,” I say, ignoring the burning that starts again at the pit of my stomach. “I can leave the food, and you can go back to bed.”
“No.” She reaches out her hand to grab my arm. “Don’t go.” Her voice is soft as she pulls me into the apartment. “Let me just go to the bathroom.” She walks toward the bathroom. “Make yourself at home.”
I put the bags on the counter, taking out the containers as I listen to water running in the bathroom. Something in my chest feels heavy, and I don’t even know how to explain it if someone asked me. Grabbing two plates and utensils, I put them on the counter and sit on the stool waiting for her, nervously tapping the counter.
My head turns to look at her when I hear the door open. She comes out with her hair piled on top of her head. Her black-and-white shorts are loose on her, and she has a pink T-shirt that says Let Me Sleep. “I should have called,” I say when she gets on the stool beside me.