Page 173 of XOXO

Chapter 6

Tue, Feb 18 7:12 pm

Practice had long been over but June still sat in her office going over plays and lineups. A phone chime from beside her caught her attention and she smiled at the notification. A quick reply and then she left her desk and the rest of her work behind.

“So what do you think?” she asked Ara. He stood at the edge of the rink, his eyes darting everywhere.

“It’s huge. Bigger than I thought.” He turned to her and pulled her close for a soft kiss. “I’ve only ever been to one big league game and that was football and that was in New York. I knew that would be massive, but I dunno…”

“I get it. I grew up skating and the first time I skated out for a game, I nearly froze.”

“I wish I had got to see you play,” he told her. “Hey, maybe we could skate together. You’d have to teach me of course…”

“I’d love to.” She stole another kiss. “But for tonight I really need out of this building.”

“As my lady wishes.” His hand tangled with hers. “Do you have everything you need? The nice security man let me park in the staff area so my car is close, and then I’m whisking you off for Greek.”

“Oh man, I’m fucking starving. Let me grab my bag.” She dashed back to his office and was back by his side quickly. Hands linked, they walked through the empty arena. At the doors, she thanked Jorge for watching Ara’s car and the man winked at her. She slipped in Ara’s car, giggling.

“You just make everyone fall in love with you, don’t you?” Ara said. He quickly got them off campus and headed toward the city.

“Who? Me?” She grinned and got comfy in the plush seat. “I just try to be nice to everyone, especially folks who work for the public like that. If you’d seen how some of mom’s people treated guards and waitstaff—she shuddered—it’s just so easy to be polite. You never know what kind of day they’re having or any problems they’re going through.”

“I get it. I do. And it’s nice to see someone so passionate about it.” At a red light, he looked over at her and smiled. “It seems everyone I meet nowadays is just so… apathetic about everything.”

“Everyone needs a hug,” she joked.

“You might be right. Now, look out for seventh and Lexington, and that’s our turn.”

“Oh, there!” she pointed up ahead and he merged lanes to take the right. “Now, much like the speakeasy, I’ve not been here but a co-worker said it’s the best Greek in town.”

“Do you get all your recs from people at work?”

“Yes. I work, maybe not as much as you, but a lot. I made department head two years ago and being in charge, as you know, means a lot of late nights.” He parked, and hopped out to round the car. She waited, because she knew he would want to open the door for her. It’d only be their second date but she had already started to catalog his little quirks.

“Alright, let’s see if this place is as good as your co-worker said.” She took his offered hand and followed him into the small restaurant. They were seated at an empty table near the kitchen and offered menus right away.

“There’s a sample platter, you want to get that and we can try a bit of everything?” Ara offered.

“Yeah, that sounds good, but I also want to order the baba ganoush and pita, which, is that Greek?” She looked at him over her menu and found him smiling at her.

“I would think tf they make it here, that means it must have some Greek connotations.”

“Okay mister scientist.” She laughed and put her menu down. “I was just saying that I know I had it at this Lebanese place when the team was in California.”

“Perhaps it’s one of those dishes that gets personalized to each country from a base idea? Like pizza or spaghetti.”

“Either way, I want some. I love it.” She leaned back in her chair and sighed, letting her shoulders lose some of the tension she’d been carrying the past few days.

“Whatever you want baby.” He placed the order when the waitress showed up, and then he sipped his water. “So how is, Cara was it?”

“She’s as good as can be. Out for the rest of the season and pissed off about it.” June sipped her water, trying to cool herself off. All he’d done was called her baby, but since their night together it took nothing to get her hot under the collar.

“I can't imagine how upset she is. How much longer is the season?”

“A little over two months. Championship is in April, but honestly as much as I hate to say it, I don’t think we’ll be going. We’re a young team this year and now with our goalie out, it doesn’t look good for us.”

“I’m surprised you’re so blasé about it.” His gaze was locked on her and it made her want to squirm in the seat.

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