Page 9 of Unmasking Love
Harper
Field Trip to Smutville
Itotallyshouldhavelooked up who Aiden Youngren was because, holy shit balls, he's hot. Even in his goalie gear that makes his head look shrunken compared to his well padded shoulders, he's delicious.
While the commission would have been nice from a home sale I'm seriously wishing he'd respond to my texts just so I could hang out with him. Stare at him. I'm finding it difficult to look anywhere else but him, even with a wiggly puppy on my lap, and a hockey game taking place directly in front of me
It seems like he is too.
I caught him looking. Then I watched him turn back to the team where I saw Felix give him eyes. I wonder if Aiden knows who I am.
"So, if he calls you, are you going to take him out?" Wes asks as he places his puppy’s front paws along the glass.
"I'm dating Crispin." I remind him.
"Not what I meant," Wes replies in his sing-song voice with a wink. "I’m asking if he called you, would you take him to see the homes you've been sending him?"
Oh. Right.
"Yes, of course. He's a client.” I clear my suddenly dry throat. “He's a referral. And Felix, sending teammates and friends to me has been a steady source of income, so I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize that."
"Of course." Wes says in a way that tells me he's placating me.
"Listen, I sold a house to Austin Thorne. He's like one of D.C.'s most eligible bachelors."
"Not anymore, and he was already dating when you got him as a client. You'd never be a homewrecker."
"No. I wouldn't." The word causes a shadow to pass across my spirit. Wes doesn't know everything I went through because ofthatword. Because ofthatnotion. No one knows. Just myself and my inner voice. Both who remind me of the damage done bythataction.
I shake my shoulders as the game starts again. With only a few minutes left in the first period the Renegades score and the building erupts. Wes and I jump up and down with the puppies in our arms. Performing our publicity tasks perfectly and earning bonus points for our appearance on the jumbotron. I try not to focus on the sight of Aiden looking at us through the glass instead of at his team celebrating the goal.
The period ends and the players walk back down the tunnel. Felix is the last one off the ice. He bumps the glass next to my head with his glove.
"I'm gonna put you on the list to come down after the game. Meet us at the rope line."
"Okay!" I yell. "Wes too?" I throw a thumb over my shoulder.
"Yep." And then he disappears down the hallway to the locker room.
***
The Renegades win, 2-1. For the first intermission we walked the puppies around the concourse and then handed them off to the shelter handlers. We were back in our seats halfway through the second period and stayed for the rest of the game. I caught Aiden looking my way when play stopped but I'd best describe them as stolen glances. He would flick his eyes over his shoulder at me quickly and then adjust on the bench so hewould be turned towards the ice. Wes started to keep track and texted me the eyes looking emoji every time it happened.
I have 43 unread texts.
My phone buzzes in my purse.
44.
It has been a struggle not to check my phone with each notification. Wes scolded me as we waited in line for a beer for constantly working but I told him it was part of my job to quickly respond to clients. He said he’d buy me ice cream on the way home if I didn’t check my phone for the rest of the game.
It hasn’t stopped me from watching his phone and keeping count of the messages he sent. I have a plan to quickly unlock my phone and determine if the only messages I missed are his but as I slowly turn it over in my palm he whacks it out of my hand.
“Wes!” I screech as I dive to pick it up. No cracks. Thank god.
“Sorry,” he says sheepishly, “I didn’t know my own strength there. I’ll still get you ice cream but I seriously think you need to establish some no-phone-zones in your life.”
As the arena clears out we make our way to an attendant and tell them we're on a list to head down to the locker room. She asks us to follow her. She uses her badge to call a service elevator, hits LL, and then sends us on our way. As we descend, Wes is talking about how he's bringing puppies to the game for an adoption event on Sunday afternoon because there will be more families in attendance.
