Page 60 of Any Second Now
It’s gonna be bad.
Barrett Steele is charming the shit out of Raleigh.
Not hitting on her, exactly, but he’s smiling and witty and I fucking detest him with every bone in my body.
He looks fit. Like, ripped. Taller than I am. Bright blue eyes. Straight blond hair sticking out from underneath a baseball cap.
A backwards baseball cap.
Is that what I look like? Fuck.
I want to punch him.
And he still hasn’t apologized for that last game. Not that it would help. Not that I’d accept his apology.
“I’m the second of four kids.” Barrett leans back and links his hands behind his head, his triceps popping out.
Well fuck you, Barrett, I have impressive triceps too.
“My older sister plays pro soccer and my younger twin brothers are playing hockey in college.”
“So there’s going to be another couple Barrett Steeles in the NHL soon?” Lachlan is captivated by the kid. He should be making fun of him with me, not starting some kind of bromance.
“Before I know it.” Barrett adjusts his baseball cap and Raleigh watches him do it.
I really, really want to punch him.
I excuse myself for a second and head to the bathroom to throw some water on my face. Leaning on the porcelain sink, I stare at myself in the mirror.
Pull it the fuck together, dude.
This isn’t about Barrett Steele. Not really. It’s about me getting in my own head about so many things. The fact that I suddenlydon’t feel as confident as I have my entire life. With hockey and with women.
With Raleigh.
I walk back out and stop at the bar for another round of drinks. The brewery has open, tall ceilings and wooden paneling on the walls. One side of the room has a mural painted on it that I haven’t noticed before, depicting Colorado mountains and blue skies. Raleigh’s RV needs a paint job, so I ask the bartender about it and she gives me a business card of the artist.
I feel much calmer, but I walk back to the table and sit just as Barrett asks Raleigh a question.
“What about you, Raleigh? What’s your story?” Barrett leans back in his chair, hands folded on his stomach.
I imagine he was talking about himself the entire time I was gone. But now? Asking Raleigh about herself? Fuck me. He is really risking his life right now.
Women must see through him.There’s no way Raleigh will be interested in him.
“Well,” Raleigh says, her cheeks rosy. From the alcohol? Or Barrett’s attention? It better be the first one. “I’m on sabbatical from my job and driving an RV around.”
“That’s amazing. I’ve always wanted to do that.” Barrett reaches for his beer and takes a long swig, and we all watch him.
He sure as fuck has not always wanted to do that.
“Yeah?” Raleigh says. I don’t like the interested look on her face.
“Maybe next summer in the offseason I’ll rent some ridiculously luxurious camper. Visit all the national parks. Star gaze, hike, you know.” Barrett winks at Raleigh.
Winksat her. I clench my hand around my glass of beer.
“My RV is definitely not luxurious.” Raleigh chuckles.
