Page 21 of Let It Be Me
Today, Riley is working at a Little Blades camp as per his reputation rehabilitation. Although, now that I’ve gotten to know him a little more, maybe it wasn’t his reputation that was the issue. But simply those who weaseled their way into his life and caused him to veer off track. It’s easy for that to happen when you’re no longer in the safe and constructed bubble of college. The real world exposes the sharks from the sea turtles. And I think that’s exactly what happened with Riley. Because the more I get to know him, the harder it is to find anything reckless about him.
Laughter and the sound of blades cutting through the ice is now a new soundtrack to my life. I was never too interested in hockey growing up, it also wasn’t a popular sport in Charleston, so to be surrounded by it now puts me in an entirely new environment that I’m determined to get comfortable with. I’m in awe and today it’s my job to take some pictures and videos of him with the kids. Not fawn over the sport or who’s on the ice.
I spot Riley easily on the ice and lean against the opening as I watch him get chased by a few of the little ones. The action brings a smile to my face and I whip my phone out to take some pictures and videos. I keep the main focus on him. His carefree smile and laugh that echoes around the ice. I alternate between ground level and at the highest point of the arena I can go to get the bigger picture of this sport he plays. My attendance eventually doesn’t go unnoticed as an hour later, the sound of skates gliding through the ice gets louder. I look up from my phone in time and see Riley, looking larger than life, with a smile that spreads from cheek to cheek, getting closer to me. Before I put my phone away, I quickly snap a photo of him and lock my phone.
My neck tips back as he stops inches from me. He’s in his element here. Not schmoozing with sponsors to make sure Ohio’s professional teams stay funded, relevant, and supported. But on the ice is where I see he shines the brightest.
“I’m not sure which I like seeing you in more: your Louboutins or Nikes.”
“Luckily, you don’t have a say in what I wear.” I tell him and I look past him at the kids trying to shoot the puck in the net.
“Yet.” Riley says with a wink and I narrow my eyes athim. “So what do you think?” He asks and moves to the side to allow me an unobstructed view of the ice.
“Definitely a different ball game,” I say and bite my cheek to keep from smiling.
Riley snorts at my wrong terminology. “Rink, babe.”
“That’s what I said,” I tell him and I try to keep a straight face as he drops his head in defeat. I don’t ignore that my heart skipped at his simple pet name for me. “Anyways, I’ve already gotten some good pictures and videos for your Instagram. Do you have a website?”
“Nope.”
“Okay. I’ll get to work on that and see if I can get some action shots from your team photographer. I’ve also got some feelers for brands who want to work with you.”
“Already?” Riley turns and looks at me with shock covering his face.
“Why is that so surprising?”
He shrugs although I don’t miss the guarded expression. It’s clear his last team never built him up. Athletes have fragile egos and if no one is there to feed them praise, they wither away. Not even the sport they love will be enough to save them.
“Hey, why don’t you get through this and then later we can go through the brands who are thinking about working with you and your dream brands to work with.” I don’t physically reach out to coddle him. Because when I touch him, no matter how platonic, my mind eats up that contact.
“Are you sure? You don’t have anywhere to be?”
“Nope. I’m all yours today.” The moment the words leave my mouth I want to take them back. But the grin on Riley’s face replaces the disbelief from earlier and I consider that a win.
“Famous last words.” Riley says and this time I do reach out to shove him and watch as he glides away.
With a soft smile and a shake of my head, I walk up to the stands and find a spot away from the parents to get some work done.
A couple hours later,a whistle causes my head to shoot up from my laptop. Looking around, the arena is practically deserted. I pack my laptop up and walk down to ground level to meet Riley.
“Are you done for the day?” I ask him as I resume my earlier position at the opening to the ice.
“Yep.”
“Why are you still dressed out?”
“Have you ever skated before?” Riley asks, completely ignoring my question.
“No.”
“Do you want to?”
I chew on my bottom lip. On one hand I’ve always wanted to. On the other hand, I’m scared I’ll fall and hurt myself. “I don’t have skates,” I tell him. The argument is weak at best as we’re literally at an ice rink.
“Nice try, Blue. Meet me at the bench.” Riley says and skates over to the closest bench.
Blue?That’s a new one. But I walk over to the bench anyway and wait for more instructions. Riley joins me at the bench and sits down, patting the spot next to him.
