I nod as I stretch my back. After being bent over on this crap seating, my spine is crying. “That’s why it’s hard, because you hate it. Enjoy it a bit, and I think you’ll find it easier.”
She doesn’t look convinced. “I’ll try that, but you’re a godsend. I am actually going to make it to practice on time when I’d thought I wouldn’t.”
I glance at my watch to see she has about twenty minutes to spare.
“You’re honestly the best, Nico. Thank you.”
“Can you tell your sister that?”
She laughs as she stands and stuffs everything into her backpack. “She doesn’t listen. But keep at her. I think she likes you.”
I smirk up at her. “Yeah?”
She nods, and that excites me. I really thought she might hate me. I open the door for her and follow her into the shop. Just as the door shuts, Aviva yells out, “Is that you, Callie, or a customer?”
“Both,” Callie calls back, and then she waves at me. “See ya.”
“Bye. Have a great practice.”
She sends me a sweet grin, and my heart warms. She’s a good girl. As Callie walks into the back, Aviva comes out. When she notices me, she doesn’t look too happy to see me. But my inside source says otherwise. I just have to remember that. “Hey, Aviva.”
She nods as she puts on a pair of gloves. “Hey, Nico. How are you?”
“Good. You?”
She holds up her hands. “Living my best life.”
I smile since I’m pretty sure she’s being sarcastic. When she starts to make two subs, I perk a brow. “Already assuming I’m getting two? You’re not wrong.”
She laughs. “Oh, did you want two?”
“Please.”
She starts to make three. “I only need two,” I confirm.
“I’m actually making one for myself.”
My heart kicks up. “To eat with me?”
She looks up at me through her lashes. “Nope.”
I grin. “Where are you going to eat?”
“At the counter.”
“I guess I will, too.”
A little smirk pulls at her lips. “I guess that would be okay.”
Man, she’s beautiful. Her hair is up in a messy bun again, with her bangs covering her forehead. She’s got her Willz tee on and a pair of black shorts. No makeup and no frills—and I think she’s stunning. When the subs are done, she bags one and hands me the other. She sits up on the counter, and I lean on it as we both dig in.
“I have about twenty minutes before my dinner rush will start.”
“I want more, but I’ll take what I can get.” When her eyes meet mine, I wink at her, and a blush creeps up her neck.
“No one has ever winked at me.”
“Do you like it?”
She shrugs. “It’s not awful.”
I chuckle and do it again to tease her. This time, she laughs, and the sound is like hearing the puck knock off the post. It’s magic. I have to keep her talking, though. I can’t get distracted.
Around my bite, I ask, “Do you get sick of eating subs?”
She laughs. “God, yes. I’d love to go out for lobster and steak, but I don’t have the time.”
“You should make time. I’d love to take you.”
She rolls her eyes. “You don’t have time either, Mr. Hockey Goalie Guy.”
I shrug. “I’d make time for you.”
She grins. “I walked right into that line.”
“Like a blind man into a wall,” I tease, and we laugh. “So, Jo said it went well today.”
“Yeah.” She nods. “I’m only going to do it for a month at first to see if I like it and they like it.”
“They’ll love you, and I hope you love it too.”
“I hope so,” she confirms softy. “It will be great for the shop.”
“Great. I just want the food.”
Her eyes meet mine again, sending jolts of lust straight to my cock. “Thanks for that, by the way. The recommendation.”
“Hey, I love this sub.”
She covers her mouth as she eats and says, “It was my mom’s pride and joy. One that I’ve made mine.”
I look around the shop. The 90s is in full force in this place; even the music is 90s. “She was a 90s fan?”
She nods. “Yeah, she worked as a tour manager and managed some awesome 90s bands.”
“Cool. Is she off touring or something? I’ve never seen her. Just you and Callie.”
She presses her lips together before shaking her head. “We lost her about nine years ago to breast cancer.”
I pause. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize—”
She waves me off. “It’s fine. How would you know?”
A weighted silence falls over us as we eat. “My mom lives in Quebec. I don’t have a dad. He ran out on us.”
She points at me with a fake grin. “Hey, we have deadbeat dads in common.”
I hold up my hand for a high five, and thankfully, she hits it with her own palm. Her hand is soft, and I want to hold it. To keep from doing that, I say, “Go us.” She nods in agreement, a small smile on her face before she takes another bite. I watch her for a second and then ask, “So, it’s just you and Callie?”