Page 34 of Slap Shots & Sweethearts

There's a twinkle in his eye that's giving me butterflies.

"Maybe we can discuss it during trivia night?" I bite my lip, the butterflies in my stomach are fluttering hard as I wait for his answer.

His smile grows slowly across his face. "I'd like that. Should I pick you up next Tuesday?"

I blush, and I hope people are no longer looking at us.

"I can swing by the arena when you get finished with work. Or we could grab dinner first."

Reality hits me like a slap in the face. My contract, no dating. There's no way I can go to dinner with Matt without Tiffany at the office reporting me. She'd be all too happy to see me fired so Lou’s ex can take my job. There’s no way in ice hockey history that I’m going to let that witch get anywhere near Lou.

"I—Matt I can't." I say, my voice dropping. "My contract doesn't allow me to date anyone on the team."

There's an intensity in his eyes as he looks at me. "Does your contract say anything about being friends?"

"Well..." I think about it for a moment. "No. I don't think it does."

"Then we'll go out as friends, and if we need to cross the bridge of dealing with your contract we'll figure it out."

"It's complicated," I say. "If my boss even thinks it's more than being friends I'm gone faster than you can say puck drop."

He sighs and leans back. I hadn't even realized that we were so close to each other, and I lean away as well.

"I get it. I don't like it, but I get it."

I nod and look away. Only to see Lou standing by the cake watching us. He's got narrowed eyes and the clench in his jaw gives away his irritation. My dad's got a hand on his shoulder and I really don't want to know what they're talking about.

Lou lifts a brow in question, then purposefully looks at Nate. I shake my head, not wanting to answer his question. But Lou visibly relaxes and I realize then what he was asking. I'm such an idiot. After our conversation at the rink earlier, of course he's asking if I'm seeing his best friend.

I'm making such a mess out of everything. I turn away from Lou to finish this conversation with Matt.

"I appreciate that Matt." I tell him.

"I'm here Hannah. If you want to talk, or...anything."

I nod. My feelings are all mixed up now and I'm left frustrated and hopeful. It's so unfair. Knowing that Matt might want something more, with me, well that's a dangerous thing to know.

Leaving the table, I excuse myself to the lady's room. I need a moment to clear my head. I text a 911 text to my friends asking for their advice. I spill it all out in my texts about Matt, and Lou, and the mess with Tiffany at my job. I even tell them about the flowers I bought myself. The responses I get alter between helpful and absurd.

Charlotte suggests I go for it anyway while Maria says I should leave it alone. One after another my phone buzzes, but there's one idea that stands out.

Sofie: Make them think the admirer is real. If your heart's taken you couldn't possibly be seeing Matt as more than a friend.

I think of Tiffany at the office, she gets gifts from her long-distance boyfriend all the time. Maybe if I go back to the office and tell her I got back in touch with an old boyfriend, she'll back off. A gift or two at the office could help too. Then I'd be free to do trivia night with Matt.

Responding back to the group, I agree to Sofie’s plan. Immediately the ladies start volunteering to help send me stuff.

With my plan in place I return to my seat. I'm about to tell Matt that I'm good to go to Trivia Night when Missy and Gabe ring a metal triangle to get everyone's attention. For now I have to focus on the party and my family. I smile and cheer when Missy and Gabe slice the cake to discover they’re having a little girl.

But each time my Dad catches my eye, I think of his question. "Am I sure it's not like that?" And maybe it is, or maybe, just maybe, it could be if I find a way to make it work. A few white lies can't hurt, right?

Chapter 11

Matt

The baby party is uncomfortable. Mostly because I only know Lou and Hannah well. But their mom considers me a family friend as a result, which is why I received an invitation. I put a card on the table with some cash that I hope will help get the baby whatever it needs. According to Lou, his mom wanted to make sure the food she paid for was eaten so that is our job.

Sitting by Hannah, is a slow torture in and of itself. Every time her arm brushes mine, or I catch sight of her smile as she talks with her family, it sends a jolt through me. Even if I know that her smile is hiding something. When she shot me down earlier it hurts a lot more than I care to admit. It makes me realize that I feel a lot more than I want to recognize. She's right of course. I don't want to put her job at risk, and if I get the call up to the big leagues, I don't want to leave her behind. Long distance isn't my thing. My parents traveled a lot, and by the time I had my driver’s license they were gone more often than not. A housekeeper kept the fridge full and the house clean. The more they were gone, the less I desired to talk to them. That kind of relationship death is not something I'd do to someone I was serious about. Hannah I definitely wanted to be serious about.

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