Page 42 of Playmaker

“Jesus. That sounds like a cheesy superhero.”

“You’re our James Bond.”

I paused, checking JJ for an unexpected concussion. “What the hell?”

He gave one of his rare laughs. “Not that you’re a spy. But you’re good-looking, good at what you do, well dressed and always on top of things. You lead us. This group you set up to work out here? You’re being the captain, watching over us and helping us prepare for the new season. But that’s Captain Cooper. There’s another Cooper behind who’s a little less perfect, but we don’t see him much.”

JJ was quiet, but he observed. We’d been linemates for three seasons now. He was guarded, so he knew me better than I knew him.

“Captain Cooper, if you follow the analogy, doesn’t have women friends. He has dates, and they don’t last long. I know Hunter and Faith are your friends, and I like to think I am too. But these guys, even though they don’t know you as well, picked up that this is a little different.”

“I’m not completely altruistic. I’m helping her prepare for a golf tournament, and she’s my date for a family wedding which will be a shitshow.”

He stood up, throwing on a T-shirt. “If she’s a friend, that’s good. You need people you can be yourself around.”

“So do you, JJ. You have your twin and who else?”

“You, I hope.”

“Get your shoes on and let’s go before we start crying and making friendship bracelets.”

He flashed a grin. “As you wish, Captain Cooper.”

I threw a towel at him.

* * *

Callie

I wore moreof the golf clothes I’d bought. A driving range in the city might not have a strict dress code like an expensive country club, but I liked these clothes. They felt good, and I felt good knowing I looked good.

Since Cooper, I didn’t even want to wear some of my old stuff. At least I had a few new blouses to wear at the office, in the colors that Cooper and Valerie had picked to make me look good. And they did. I didn’t know why, and wouldn’t dare try something different on my own, but these colors were now going to be staples in my wardrobe.

I was waiting for Cooper at the door to my building when he pulled up. I managed to get in the car before he came around to help me.

“I hope you won’t do that when we’re at the wedding.”

“What?” What the hell had I done wrong?

“Get in the car before I can open the door.”

“But that’s just a waste of time. I’m perfectly capable of opening my own door.”

“Still.”

I closed my eyes and drew in a breath. “Basically, when we’re with your family it’s like being at the country club permanently.”

“That sums it up pretty well.”

“What was that like when you were growing up?”

He shrugged. “It was all we knew. All our friends were the same, so I thought it was normal. Until I started playing hockey.”

I shot him a glance. He was focused on driving, eyes slightly narrowed, hands relaxed on the wheel. He looked confident, even with buses cutting in and taxis treating yellow lights like greens.

Growing up the way he did was part of that confidence. He knew how to behave in any situation, how to be part of the in group. But despite that, he’d chosen hockey. I was curious about that, but it wasn’t my business.

Still, I let the pause linger in case he wanted to share, but instead he told me about the place we were going.

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