Page 6 of Slap Shots & Sweethearts

"That's not what I'm doing." I protest, feeling her words like a hit to the gut.

"I'll see you around Matt."

She hangs up, and I can't blame her. That didn't go the way I meant for it to, but it's probably for the best anyway. I have no right to a woman like Hannah. But still, I can't shake the feeling that I've let an opportunity slip right through my fingers.

Chapter 3

Hannah

My mind is still swirling with the things my friends said the night before when I get home from work. Matt’s ticket request made my day tricky since the game is less than a week away, but I can’t shake the question about if he really meant to ask me to dinner.

I kick off my heels at my door, then move them to the shoe tray next to my big potted plant. The red heels now sitting by the peace lily are my favorite shoes ever. After all, it's not every day a girl gets Louboutins; I'd bought them with my signing bonus after getting the job with the hockey team. I know people speak behind my back, many of them whispering that I'd only gotten the job because Lou was on the team. I've heard Tiffany at the office imply just as much earlier when she said how nice it must be to leave before I've gotten things done.

Ugh. I really don’t want to think about her, or any of the other haters.

After setting my takeout on the coffee table, I quickly pick up the remote and turn on a rerun of Say Yes to the Dress. By the time I return to my couch with a pint of cookie dough ice cream and sit it on my coffee table next to the Thai takeout I brought home, the bride on the TV is showing off her gorgeous cowgirl boots she plans on wearing to her country wedding. If I ever get married, my mother would be incensed at the thought of boots. Ladies wear heels.

With that thought I opt to start with the ice cream straight out of the tub. The benefit of the little pint of ice cream means I have less dishes to wash. Living alone isn’t bad, but dishes are the worst. I watch as the beautiful country bride tries on gown after gown with her gorgeous boots. By the time the episode ends I've finished my ice cream and Thai food.

The clock only shows it’s seven, and with nothing else to do I decide to get some work done.

Valentine's Day has to be my least favorite holiday. Seriously it is just another day for the candy and jewelry companies to earn money. Even the hockey team I work for is trying to capitalize on it by doing a Sweethearts game. Seriously, hockey... the least romantic sport ever. But also my favorite sport, or I wouldn't be managing the PR for the Glacier Bay Bears. So I suck it up, and hit schedule on the social media photos and videos that would go live on the chocolate heart holiday anyway.

My mouse hovers over the team's photo on the website. Out of habit, I zoom in on one face in particular. Matt. I've had a crush on him ever since that English class. Then Lou had made sure to tell everyone I was off limits, and I've sat by and watched the two of them and their nearly identical hockey careers, the only difference being left wing or right wing, and that I’m not attracted to my twin.

Matt though... Oh, he has the face of an angel with the soul of a gentleman. I wanted to take him up on his offer of dinner so badly earlier, but if Lou or my boss found out…I sigh and close the browser.

The commercial in the background blares about the last chance to order flowers for that special person in your life. Another dig of the knife at my lack of a relationship. All I need is for my mother to remind me my clock is ticking. Seriously though, who tells a twenty-four-year-old that their clock is ticking?

My phone rings, my father's name on the ID.

At least that was something. I pick up the remote to pause the TV.

"Happy Birthday!!" My parents shout in unison as soon as I say hello.

"Did you already call Lou?" I ask.

"We just got off the phone with him. He had a date with a girl named Cinnamon." My mother complains. "How did I get blessed with twins so terrible at dating?" she whines.

My father chuckles. "One that dates anything that moves, and another that won't date at all."

"I date." I tell them both.

"What's his name?" Mom asks just as Dad says, "Does he have a good job?"

"Woah. I didn't say I had a boyfriend. Just that I date."

My mother sighs. "At least tell me you won't be eating ice cream out of the carton on your couch for Valentine's."

I pick up my empty ice cream carton and walk it to the trash as I tell her. "I'm going to a speed dating thing with my friend Maria."

My mother perks up. "That sounds fun."

"Remember to take your pepper spray." My dad tells me.

"I keep it on my keychain."

"Good, or I'll have to call your brother back."

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