Page 15 of Tough Score

If it's not raining, then it's at least misting in Seattle for more days of the year than not.

The door opens again as someone walks out of the loud crowded bar with their cell phone up to their ear to take a call. Another gust of wind hits us and she shivers again.

I knew she wasn’t telling the truth about the jacket being warm enough. I yank my hoodie up over my head, my t-shirt pulling up with it. I pull it down to make sure it doesn’t come off with my hoodie, but I notice that Keely’s eyes drop to my bare torso—her eyes widening quickly in surprise.

I smile to myself.

The interest goes both ways. I wasn’t sure until now.

Instead of asking for a second time if she wants another layer, only to be shot down again, I pull my hoodie down over Keely’s head.

“What are you doing?” I hear her muffled voice against the fabric of my sweatshirt until her head pokes through the top. More flyaways around her hair pull out from her ponytail and frizz around her face and I’ve never seen anyone look as cute as she does in my hoodie. “You’re going to catch a cold out there in just a t-shirt, and then how will you play in tomorrow's game?”

She’s worried about me.

I can’t stop a small smile from pulling at my lips.

“Don’t worry about me. I could play on my deathbed. You, on the other hand… I need you not to get sick so that you can interview well tomorrow, doc.”

She chuckles. “Doc, huh? Are you planning on making that nickname a habit?” she asks.

I help her hands find the armholes, and now she looks as if my sweatshirt swallowed her.

“Oh, it's warm,” she says, crossing her arms around herself, like she is hugging it.

I knew she was cold.

“A habit would suggest that I call you Doc more than once. Does that mean I’m going to get to see you again?”

I reach out for the bar door and pull it open for her to exit first.

Her eyes don’t meet mine as she walks past me. Instead, her attention locks onto the outside world that I just opened the door to as she takes steps through the bar’s exit.

We both step out into the midnight air and onto the cement sidewalk.

It’s still sprinkling outside but it’s not coming down as hard as before. My t-shirt will be damp when I return to the bar and take back over for Lake, but I won’t be soaked. It wouldn’t matter to me either way.

I grew up in Alaska and I play Hockey for a living. The cold and the wet don’t bother me.

“Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to pressure you into seeing me again, I just—”

Her eyes flash back up to mine as we walk down the sidewalk heading for the crosswalk, and she shakes her head. “No, you didn’t say anything wrong. I would like to see you again too. It’s just that…” she trails for a second. “Right now, I’m trying to focus on this new move and getting myself established in Seattle. It’s just a little too soon for me to get involved with anyone.”

I’m in the same situation—It's too soon for me too.

In seven months, the season will be over, and if the team works its ass off, we should have a Stanley Cup to show for it. If she plans on living here permanently, I’ll get my chance later. There’s no reason to rush into anything.

“You don’t have to explain yourself. It’s not a big deal. You’re busy, and the season is in full swing for me. I wasn’t trying to push anything on you.”

“I know that you weren’t. I just have a lot I'm dealing with right now.”

I promised myself that I wouldn’t get into a relationship until after this season was over and I have a championship win.

I should be happy that my moment of weakness is met with Keely’s lack of availability at this time in her life.

I should be relieved, but I’m not.

I’m disappointed, but I won’t let her see that.

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