Page 29 of Absolutely Not in Love
Parker studies me closely. “Your tone says you like her though. Otherwise her not liking hockey wouldn’t make you sound like I just kicked your puppy.”
I drop onto a barstool and lean on my counter, suddenly wishing Iwasspending time with Ivy. In fact, that’s exactly what I plan to do as soon as I’m alone. I’ve got a stack of new books from the library and a sudden craving for solitude.
“It doesn’t matter if I like her,” I say. “I don’t think anything is going to happen.”
Parker doesn’t look all that convinced.
“Either way, I didn’t know her,” she says. “I think she must be older than me, but her brother did play hockey with my brother Brandon—and Logan, too. Josh Mitchell. Brandon says he played a year of hockey at Ohio State, but when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant, he dropped out of school and moved back home, married her, and started working with his father-in-law. He and Brandon still see each other every once in a while. He says Josh is a great guy, but he doesn’t remember anything about his sister.”
“The brother never played hockey again?” I ask.
Parker shakes her head. “I mean, he might still play for fun. But he’s not doing anything serious. He’s an electrician now.”
I have to respect a man willing to step up and take responsibility like Gracie’s brother did, especially when it means walking away from college hockey. Most guys don’t go pro from college, even to the minor leagues, but it’s the easiest way to get a shot. If Josh Mitchell was a decent player, it had to have been hard to walk away.
“Oh, before I forget,” Parker says. She slides the stack of books toward me across the counter. “These are yours. Thanks for loaning them to me.”
“No problem.” I pick up the books and carry them toward the bookshelf. I slow as I reach the far end of the living room—the end closest to Gracie’s apartment. Gracie is practicing, the sounds of her cello floating through the wall and wrapping around me like some kind of warm weighted blanket.
After our game yesterday, I was halfway convinced that Gracienotliking hockey was a dealbreaker.
The second I hear her playing, all that flies out the window. I listen to classical music all the time, but somehow, hearingherplay it feels different. Likemore.
I lean forward, one hand pressed against the bookshelf, and listen for another moment, the music filling the emptiness I’ve been carrying around since last night.
“Hey man, we’re going to get out of your hair,” Logan says from behind me.
I spin around, embarrassed to realize I’d briefly forgotten they were even here. “Sorry, I guess I’m a little distracted.”
“We’ve got things to do anyway,” Parker says. “But think about what I said, all right?”
I nod. “Thanks. I’ll see you guys later.”
As soon as they’re gone, I drop into the chair nearest my wall and lean my head back.
As long as Gracie is playing, I plan on sitting right here to listen.
Chapter Seven
Felix
Ijoltawaketothe sound of pounding on my front door.Franticpounding.I have no idea how long I’ve been asleep in my living room chair, my book open and draped across my lap, but it’s almost dark outside, so it’s been a few hours, at least.
“Felix?” Gracie calls, and I scramble out of my chair, hurrying to the door.
I practically yank it open to find Gracie standing in the hallway, dripping wet.
I look her up and down, my eyes wide. “What is it? What happened?”
She brushes a strand of wet hair away from her face. “I have no idea,” she says, her voice laced with panic. “I think a pipe might have burst? There’s water everywhere, and you never gave me our landlord’s number, and I have no idea how to make it stop.”
“The water is still running? You didn’t turn it off?”
She moves toward her front door, and I follow behind. “It’s pouring out of my bedroom wall like a freaking fountain,” she says. “How do I turn that off?”
This shifts me into overdrive, and I hurry past her, cursing the old pipes in the building as I race to her laundry room. Behind the water heater, there’s a shutoff valve that will turn off the water to her entire apartment. The agent that showed her the place should have shown her where it is, but even if the agentdid,something like that is an easy thing to forget when you’re frantic.
Water squelches under my feet as I turn the knob, and the gushing sound coming from Gracie’s bedroom finally slows, then stops.
