Page 3 of SlapShot Sweetheart

“I’m lonely but not desperate,” she said softly. “I would like to find someone for me someday because I have so much to give – but if it’s not in the cards, then it’s just not. I don’t mean to be mean, but I think we are in different spots in our lives.”

“I’m lonely too,” Theo admitted, his words whistling slightly as he stared at her, obviously upset. “I ‘ad a game and needed to go to the ‘ospital for stitches. I’m sorry I skipped going to the ‘ouse to change.”

“You had a… a game?” she asked, confused, and then realized that it didn’t matter. If he chose Scrabble, Monopoly, flag football or whatever, it didn’t change things. She wanted a man who was ready for a relationship, wanted a family, or someone who she could depend on – none of that was happening right now. He was handsome but was certainly rough around the edges. If she gave him a chance, a second chance, a third chance, how many doctored injuries, how many teeth, how many late arrivals would she be dealing with?

“I’m so sorry you were hurt,” she began again, gentling her voice. “I appreciate you sharing, but maybe we should try this again…someday. Maybe. I hope you get healed, get some rest, and I would see a dentist about that tooth.”

“You’re leaving?”

“I think it’s best that we just call this a night. Goodbye, Theo,” she said kindly, rising to her feet. “I’ll handle the bill on my way out.”

“I’ll get it.”

“No,” she protested. “You assumed I picked this place because of the cost – and I’d like to reiterate how wrong you were about that assumption. See, Theo, the big difference between me and other women is that I don’t need a man – I’d like one. Which is why I refuse to settle.”

“Maybe you’re wrong about me, too?”

“Maybe,” she admitted, looking at his glittering dark gaze. “Take care of yourself – and have a good life.”

Aimee left.

Hours later, Aimee was sitting on the small black couch in her living room, staring at her computer. She was a very private person, kept to herself, and probably worked wayyy too much. She graduated high school with a certificate in internet security and delved into web page building. Her company, her LLC was doing well, and she had a financial cushion that gave her security. Her house was something small, that suited her perfectly, and she was careful.

Almost to a fault.

Sometimes, when people got too close, they criticized or made comments – and she fully admitted that she wasn’t the best person to receive them. It was hard not to take things personally, because her company was… her. If she said something about money, then she felt like a failure. If she was too busy, it was a lack of organizational skills. If her car neededwork, then ‘if she had a real job, she could handle stuff like this better financially.’

Everyone was a critic.

In fact, she could hear the voices in her head commenting about her failed date.

If you were more understanding…

If you would let someone in…

If you gave someone a chance to be a friend…

“I can’t,” she breathed, feeling that protective pang in her chest. This fragile freedom she had working for herself was something she couldn’t risk or chance – and finding someone who could give you space, didn’t pry, or valued your privacy was so very hard.

“Maybe I’m just not cut out for a relationship,” she whispered painfully at the silence. “Maybe I’m not meant to love someone. Just look at this evening, it started off wrong, and he never bothered to explain much other than he had a ‘game’… so I’m less important than Jenga or whatever he was doing.”

Closing her laptop, Aimee hesitated before opening it again. She logged in, turned off the availability on the dating app that she’d put herself on, and sighed, utterly depressed. This thing was hopeless. Blind dates were hopeless. The entire human race was destined to fizzle out because everything seemed to be a complete bust anymore.

“Perhaps the man of my dreams is out there… but I think he’s lost,” she whispered softly, clicking submit and closing her account. “I’m done. I give up. This is me, swearing off romance and love, because I simply don’t think it’s in the cards for me anymore. And I hate that because I want the fairytale like everyone else. I want my prince, my happily ever after, but I feel more like a sidekick than ever before. I’m the donkey in Shrek… and it sucks.”

Sitting there, she stared out the window beside her couch, watching the world go by. There were children playing in the yard across the street, people walking their dogs, and families going on an evening stroll before the sun disappeared. Glancing at her watch, she noted that sunset was getting earlier and earlier.

“Maybe I’ll just get a cat or something.”

CHAPTER 2

THEO

“Maybe I’ll get a cat…”

“Sir, please hold still,” the dentist told Theo for the fourth time, attempting to reseat his incisor in the hopes that the tooth wouldn’t die from trauma. The first game of the season had been a rough one, and Frontnac had literally mopped the ice with him – which only served to piss Theo off.

“Cats aren’t judgmental, finicky, and ornery – plus, I can pick out my cat from the shelter instead of dealing with some devastatingly gorgeous know-it-all all with a temper that matches her hair. Why on earth do I have a thing for blondes and redheads? My goodness, they make my knees weak…”

---