Page 34 of Mr. Broody

A slow smile creeps up on her perfect pink lips. “Found your angle, huh?”

“Well, you don’t want to go all the way home just to come back here. With Saturday traffic, you’ll be in the car forever.”

“You don’t even know where Eloise lives.”

“I do. I ran into her a couple years ago. She’s still got that same apartment she’s had since graduating from Loyola. I even met her boyfriend at the time, Tristan.”

She laughs. “You say that like you have an opinion about him.”

I do, but I’m not sure I’m going to share it. I shrug. “Come to lunch, and maybe I’ll tell you what I think.”

“Fine. Let’s go. But just something quick.”

My heart rate picks up now that she’s agreed. “Hot dogs?”

Her smile says she hasn’t had one since she got back. I nod to walk down the street, deciding to take her to one of Bodhi’s and my favorite places.

She’s quiet during the five-block walk, and I let her have the time to process the fact that she’s going to share a meal with me. If I’m lucky, maybe I can swindle an ice cream afterward. Jade can become hyper-focused on her fears and never take the time to sit back and let her emotions cool.

I open the door for her, and we step inside.

“God, it smells so good.” She stops and inhales a second time, something she often did when she enjoyed the smell of the simplest things. Things people take for granted. Like the smell of a hot dog joint that I’ve definitely taken for granted every time I’ve been here. Her eyes slowly open and meet my gaze. “Don’t look at me like I’m weird.”

If she was mine, I’d grab her and kiss her right now. Whisper that I fucking love just staring at her soaking in the world around her. How many nights have I wished I’d been with her when she took the pictures she has on her socials, just to see that spark in her eye right before she pointed her camera and clicked.

“I’m not.” I smile at her, and we move up in line. I push my hand closest to her in my pocket so I don’t place it on her lower back.

“Hensley,” a guy says from a booth across from where we stand.

I nod. “Hey.” I give him a small wave.

“That goal the other night in the third… Jesus, that was something,” he says, and his buddies all nod in agreement.

“Your whole line is what we’ve been needing for years. Landry’s great, but he needs you and Sorenson to make him look as good as he does,” the friend next to him says.

It’s a backhanded compliment for Rowan and a full-on compliment for me. I could tell him that Rowan is the best damn center in the league, and the Falcons are lucky as shit to have him, but I learned early in my career not to argue with the fans. Just nod, thank them, and move on. Everyone has their opinions.

“Pinkie’s a real game-changer.” I only bring up Conor because I always feel like goalies don’t get the glory they deserve when they’re playing well. Conor has saved so many games this year, and people need to be looking at him for the asset he is.

“For sure.” The guy who started the conversation sips his soda.

“Keep it up, and the Cup is ours,” his friend says.

I nod, and this time I do press my hand to Jade’s back to get us moving so we’re not standing here all day. “Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the support.”

The conversation with them spurs whispers and more finger-pointing from the other people here. I worry that soon my lunch with Jade is going to turn into a signing and selfie event.

“Do you mind if we don’t eat here?” I whisper in her ear.

Her gaze coasts around the room, and she must notice what I do. “Since someone just took a picture, not at all.”

“Really?” I cringe. “Sorry. It probably won’t end up anywhere.”

“Henry, you forget, I was in your orbit a long time ago when you were the hot jock on campus. I’m used to being your…” She stops and turns her head toward the assembly line across the glass.

“Finish what you were saying,” I practically beg, closing my eyes for a moment, wanting to hear her say it.

“Don’t, Henry.” She shakes her head.

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