Page 88 of Body Shot

“I’ll see you at the hotel,” I tell Claudia quietly. “You’re all right getting there on your own?”

“I was born and raised here,” she replies with a smirk. “Don’t worry about me.”

“It was good to meet you,” her father says, extending a hand.

“Likewise. I’m looking forward to spending some time with you tomorrow night.” I shake his hand with genuine affection.

“As am I.” He nods and I’m surprised when Laura leans in and gives me a warm hug.

“It’s so good to finally meet you,” she says. “Claudia has told us so much about you—I wasn’t quite sure you were real.”

“I’m very real.” I nod solemnly.

“He has to go, Mom,” Claudia interjects.

I reluctantly give Claudia a quick kiss and then head for the bus.

I hate leaving her like this, but there’s only so much I can get away with on road trips. It’s technically against the rules to have someone stay with us in our rooms too, but pretty much everyone breaks that rule. Especially the guys with wives or girlfriends. The single guys tend to be more careful, simply because it’s one thing to get caught with your wife or live-in girlfriend; it’s something else entirely to get caught with a random hookup.

“I think that went well,” Johan says as we settle on the bus.

“Yeah. I hope so.”

“Why wouldn’t it?” Aiden asks. “I mean, you haven’t done anything to hurt her and that’s usually the reason parents get tweaked about a guy their daughter is dating.”

“Speaking from experience?” I ask dryly.

Instead of the laughter I expect, his eyes are suddenly hooded. “We all make mistakes when we’re young.”

“We make mistakes now too,” Johan offers. “We just try to make less of them.”

“And to not make thesamemistakes,” I add.

“Yeah, well, that’s a lesson that’s harder in practice than theory,” Aiden mumbles. “Anyway, this isn’t about me. I’m glad you and Claudia are doing well. Like I always say, I don’t think I’m cut out for love and monogamy and all that.”

“Maybe not,” Johan says, “but you won’t know unless and until you meet someone special.”

“For sure,” I say firmly. “I didn’t think I was ready after the fiasco with my ex, and then—bam! Claudia slammed me into the boards of love.” The hockey joke makes them laugh and the mood gets lighter.

“I’m avoiding those boards like the plague,” Aiden says, “but I’m happy you guys are all doing your thing.”

“Not me.” I don’t realize that Jordan is listening until he joins the conversation. “I let a woman drag me around by my balls during my rookie season and she cost me almost everything. Never. Fucking. Again.”

“You were eighteen,” Johan points out calmly. “Your views will change now that you’re getting older.”

“I’m older and wiser,” he says. “Wise enough to know women are trouble.”

“Not all women,” I say firmly.

“Definitely not all women,” Johan agrees.

“I have to agree with them,” Aiden says. “In my case, I was the problem, not the woman.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sure there are nice girls out there, but I don’t know any and I’m not willing to risk my career to find one. Maybe when I retire.” He shrugs and leans back in his seat.

There’s undoubtedly a lot of advice us older guys could give him, but there’s no point. He’s still only twenty-one or so, and it’s better for him to focus on his career anyway. When and if the right woman comes along, there’s nothing you can do to stop the feelings.

I’ve found this out firsthand.

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