Page 20 of The Hat Trick

“Too sweet.”

He shrugs. “It’s just how I am. My mom raised me right I guess.”

“And don’t you have a sister? Is she older?”

“Yes, and yes.”

“Ah, that’s it then. So, where is the next stop for you guys?”

“We fly out in the morning to New York, then we have two days off before our game in Boston.”

“My parents live in Boston.” I don’t even think before I speak, and I don’t even know why I chose to share that.

“Is that where you’re from?”

“No, I’m originally from Colorado, my dad got a job in Boston when I was ten, and he moved us all there. I also have twin sisters that are ten years younger than me.” I don’t know why I’m word vomiting all of this to him, and I kind of want to take it back.

“Maybe you should go visit them in a couple days,” he winks.

“Why would I do that?”

“It seems like a good idea.”

“I have a job, you know, I can’t just up and leave in the middle of the week.”

“Technically, it’ll be the end of the week.”

I roll my eyes. “It seems like you want me to go there for another reason, that isn’t visiting family.”

“Not at all, I’m big on family, and think it would be nice of you.”

“Well, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“Not even if I set it up for you?”

“Vince Dumont, I’m starting to think you might be a little obsessed with me,” I tease.

“Chandler…I just realized I don’t even know your last name.”

“It’s Hart. And I’m twenty-five, in case you didn’t know that either.”

“Twenty-five-year-old Chandler Hart, I am not obsessed with you. I am, however, going to set you up with a way to get to Boston, and if you just so happen to use it then I will be happy to see you.”

“I take it back. You’re not too sweet, you’re just cheesy.”

We don’t talk for much longer, and when we get off the phone, I realize I never gave him anything that was alluded to in the text message, and he didn’t bring it up again. Maybe he is just a sweet guy. And that scares me even more than it should.

* * *

What I’m doing doesn’t reallyhit me until I’m about two hours into the flight on the way to Boston. Sitting in first class. After I called in sick to work for the rest of the week.

After a slight panic attack and asking the flight attendant if it’s too late to turn the plane around, I accepted that I’ve officially lost my mind. Right around a week ago I was learning about my ex being engaged. Now, I’m flying first class to Boston because the hottest man on Earth, who also plays for the NHL, wants to see me.

My dad knows I’m coming, but he doesn’t know why. He was excited about the last-minute trip, especially since I haven’t seen my family since last Thanksgiving. I, on the other hand, am not excited to see my fifteen-year-old sisters. Growing up, I was always expected to babysit them, and they are entitled little shit heads. Kind of like my mom, but that’s another issue.

Vince said they don’t fly into Boston until later today, which is fine with me because this way my dad gets to pick me up from the airport, and I can spend time with him sans the demon spawns. He smiles when he sees me at the airport, immediately pulling me in for a hug.

“I’m so happy to see you,” Dad says, squeezing me almost too tight.

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