Page 52 of Sticking Around

“Are you kidding me? That would be phenomenal,” Trev says, and slaps me on the back. “Is that okay with you, Mel?”

“Yeah, sure.” She blinks rapidly, like she’s trying to wrap her brain around this sudden turn of events. “Of course. I’ll check the schedule against our next semester’s courses and see what works.”

“Hey, listen,” Trev shades his eyes and looks down the sidewalk. “Mel said you guys might have plans later, but we were just headed out for a much-needed end of semester drink. Any chance you have time to grab one with us?”

“That sounds like a good plan. What do you say? Want to join them?” I ask Melanie as I wipe my brow with the back of my hand as the late afternoon sun beats down on us. “I could use a cold one and hey we need to celebrate.”

She frowns. “Oh, I thought…um, yeah, that actually sounds like a great idea.”

“I know a place around the corner,” Trevor says and jerks his thumb out. “It’s a Scottish pub called Kilting Around.” He wags his brow playfully at Melanie, as if to entice her. “The guys don’t wear hockey jerseys, but they do wear kilts. We could grab a cold pint there.”

Tania loops her arm through Trevor’s. “Hot guys in kilts and cold beer. I’m in.”

They start down the sidewalk, and a warmth weaves its way through my blood as I take Melanie’s hand in mine and she glances down as my palm swallows hers whole. “I’m so glad your exam went well. I know how stressed you’ve been. You put a lot of pressure on yourself.”

She chuckles. “You’re one to talk.” She’s right, I do put a lot of pressure on myself. I’m just better at hiding it than she is, and honestly, I don’t want her to hide it from me. “Now to wait for the results.” She winces like that might scare her, before she adds, “Did you get all your errands done?”

“All done,” I say as we follow her friends who keep glancing back at me, like I might be a figment of their imaginations. They’re friends—not friends—of Melanie’s, so by proxy, they’re friends of mine and I want them to see me as a regular guy, not an NHL player who’s always loud and obnoxious.

Wait, did I just say I wanted them to see me for who I was?

I slow my steps to keep pace with Melanie’s stride as she glances at me, her nose crinkled up in a cute way that makes me want to forget drinks and take her home, to bed. “You really want me to come to a game and sit in the box?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Because that’s where the WAGs sit, and I’m not a wife or a girlfriend.”

I look straight ahead, my brain racing. “No, you aren’t, are you?” I say under my breath, thinking about how I can change that. I just don’t want to scare her off if it’s not something she wants. I know how hard she finds it to get close, and this arrangement came with a deadline that has been extended until she moves out in November. I spent the day moving pieces on the chess board, strategizing on how to extend it past that.

Christ, I have no idea what is going on with me. I have so many people counting on me back home, I never thought I could take on one more person, but it’s different with her. Everything is easy with Lanie, which is probably why I continually drop my defenses when we’re together. She doesn’t make me feel like I need to be there for her—in fact, it’s Lanie who wants to do things for me—and while it’s always tit for tat with her, it does make me want to be there all the more, without wanting anything in return.

What is even happening in my life?

We reach Kilting Around and Trevor opens the door for us. I glance at the big sign over the door. How did they ever come up with the name? “I heard about this place. Just never been.” I follow in behind Melanie and find a bunch of big Scottish men, full of tattoos, in kilts bustling about.

“I think I found my new favorite pub and study place,” Melanie teases, and I playfully pinch her side.

“Hey,” I tease, even though jealousy is zinging through my veins. We find a booth and slide in, and a server comes and brings us menus.

“Nachos for the table?” I ask.

Trevor and Tania nod, but Melanie puts her hand over her stomach. “I’m good. All the stress has gotten to me.”

I put my hand on her knee under the table and give it a tender squeeze. “Still not feeling good?”

“It’s anxiety. I get like this. I’m sure it will pass.”

She really does put a lot of pressure on herself, and doesn’t want to rely on anyone for fear of disappointment. “Okay.” I shift closer, and offer my comfort and when I do I notice the longing in Tania’s eyes as she watches us.

“I get like that too, Melanie,” she says and wiggles in her seat. “The sight of our server looking hot in that kilt is helping ease my anxiety, though.”

Trevor playfully hits her with his shoulder. “I saw him first.”

“I think I might just get a soda,” Mel says, as our server approaches us. I nod, and order nachos, a pitcher for the table and a soda for Melanie. Fuck, I hope she’s not coming down with something. But if she is, tonight’s plans will have to be put on hold.

I move my hand from her knee to her shoulders and pull her against me, kissing the side of her head. “Do you need anything? I can run to the drugstore.”

“Thanks, but...oh wait.” She plops her purse onto the table.

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