Page 39 of Hooking Up with the Hockey Player

“No stalling!” she calls after me, wagging a finger like a stern mother.

Still laughing, I get in line to order a crepe, grateful for the opportunity to look at the menu without being accused of stalling. I’m hungry, though, so I don’t want to stall either.

When it’s my turn, I order the berry surprise, which comes with seasonal berries, whipped cream, and a dusting of powdered sugar, grabbing a fork and napkins when I step off to the side to wait for my food.

Brit’s practically bouncing in her seat when I return, compostable box in hand. Since she got here early, she’s nearly finished with her food—a savory crepe stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon crumbles, topped with a drizzle of maple syrup.

I nod to hers. “That looks delicious.”

“It is,” she answers perfunctorily. “Now. How was last night?” Her voice is sly and singsongy on the question, and I can’t help giggling. “Oooh. That good, huh?” She props her chin on her hand, waiting for me to answer.

Rolling my eyes, I stuff a bite in my mouth and nod. Brit might be dying to hear about my evening with Troy, but I’m hungry, and I’m also still not sure exactly how much I’m ready to divulge. “I mean, we didn’t have a whole lot of time alone,” I say around my mouthful, holding my hand in front of my mouth as I chew.

Brit’s eyes sparkle with delight, but she doesn’t say anything, giving me the time and space to share as much as I’m willing to, but with the way she’s rolling her lips between her teeth, I can tell she’s dying to pepper me with questions.

I tell her the broad strokes of the evening—the canoe ride, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows with his teammate’s family, how adorable he is with the kids, and then how they left to give us time to ourselves, which was interrupted by his other teammate’s return with his drunk girlfriend.

Brit covers her face as I tell her about Jenny’s drunken antics. “Oh my god. I can’t blame you for hightailing it out of there at that point.” Uncovering her face, she finishes off her crepe, washing it down with a drink from her water bottle. “It does sound like a fun evening, though. Do you wish you could’ve gotten more time alone?”

I tilt my head to the side, considering her question. “Yes? But also, I feel like it ended at a high point. I mean, shouldn’t a date leave you wanting more time with the other person rather than relieved to get away from them?”

She laughs. “Good point.” Drumming her hands on the table, she says, “Okay. When are you seeing him again? Please tell me it’s soon.”

“Tonight,” I mumble, around a mouthful of my crepe. “Or, well, this afternoon. We haven’t firmed up the details yet, but we’re definitely doing something today.”

She stifles a squeal. “This is so great, Anna.” Planting her elbow on the table, she points at me, eyes narrowed. “If I don’t get a full update afterward, I’m hunting you down at your office tomorrow.”

I raise my hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t dream of keeping you in the dark.” That’s not entirely true, actually, and from the look on Brit’s face, she knows it as well as I do, but she accepts my statement anyway.

“See that you don’t.” Then she grins, gathering up her trash as she stands. “This was fun. Let’s make a point to do this kind of thing more often, okay?” She gives me a meaningful look as I do the same.

I bob my head in a nod. “For sure. Thanks for inviting me. And thanks for your help last night. I really appreciate it.” And all of that is the truth.

Brit’s face softens as we both toss our trash, and she gives me a quick hug. Stepping back, she narrows her eyes at me. “Just one thing. As happy as I am that things are going well for you and Troy, you’re not allowed to run off to the big city and abandon me, okay?”

Laughing, I shake my head. “I’m pretty sure there’s no real chance of that happening.”

She shakes her head, clicking her tongue doubtfully. “I dunno. Tori would’ve said the same thing, and look at her now.”

“Ehh. Not quite the same situation, though, is it? She wound up with a movie star, and she’s working on costumes and designing dresses and all that. It makes sense that she couldn’t use Arcadian Falls as a home base forever. But me?” I shake my head. “I’m an office manager with no aspirations to design clothes or whatever else.”

“Yeah, but you’ve caught the attention of a hockey player.”

I laugh that off, though my cheeks flush. “I hardly think knowing someone for two days is reason to suspect my life will change course completely. And besides. He’s retired. Who’s to say he couldn’t wind up here?”

Brit’s eyebrows jump, and a slow smile spreads across her face. “That’s a very good point.” She gives me one last quick hug. “Okay. I’ll let you go so you can lock that man down! Let me know how it goes!” And with a wave over her shoulder, she’s off, leaving me a little stunned but with my mind starting to whirl at the implications.

It’s too early to think about that, though, right? We barely know each other. We’ve kissed, sure, and I wouldn’t mind more. But I’m sure he just sees me as a vacation fling.

That’s all this is. A fling. A short-term bit of fun. Something different to break me out of my shell, get me out of hiding, and maybe after Troy’s gone, I can look for someone else to date.

The thought of finding someone else makes me immediately recoil in revulsion.

Okay, so maybe not right away. But I can for sure start going to girls’ nights on the regular. And hang out with Brit more. She’s fun. I like her. And even if I didn’t realize it until she twisted my arm into going to girls’ night, I miss having friends.

I’m not going to examine too closely the sadness that Troy leaving sparks inside me or the revulsion at the thought of dating anyone else. Instead, I’m going to focus on the important lessons I’ve learned this weekend—namely that I want friends and that I’m capable of making and sustaining friendships after all, no matter what that tool bag who left me at the altar tried to make me feel.

Feeling more empowered than I have in far too long, I tap on the screen of my phone and press it to my ear, smiling when Troy picks up on the second ring, his voice warm and deep when he answers. “Hey. How are you?”

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