Page 84 of One Night Only
“Dallas is like our third child,” Jenn says with a big smile directed at me. “We’re his home away from home when he misses his family.”
I love Jenn. But man, I hate how she says that. Like I’m this pathetic, defenseless child who misses his mommy. I just dislike being alone. The quiet is too loud. The team psychologist said it’s why I’ve sought female attention for most of my adult life; I crave company.
“Where’s home?” Simon asks.
Sitting directly across from me, I don’t say. Shifting in my chair, I clear my throat. “Texas.”
“Dallas?” he guesses with a wry smile, looking around the table in search of laughs.
It takes all I have not to bark an obnoxious fake laugh at him.Good one, dickhead.But instead, I play dumb, as if his lame-ass joke went way over my head. “Forty miles outside of Amarillo.”
“An ice hockey player from the Texas Panhandle?” His eyebrows climb high. “Interesting.”
I nod but say nothing.
“Jenn, this fish is so good,” Emily says.
I glance at her and give her foot another little rub under the table, a silent thank you for taking the focus away from me.
“It’s my grandmother’s recipe,” Jenn replies with a warm smile.
We get back to eating, and I can’t deny the tone in the roomisn’t what it probably should be given this is effectively a double date. And I love that. Goldie told me she isn’t interested in the doctor, but now I can see it with my own eyes, with every attempt she makes to try and put distance between them.
“So, Dallas, you got a girl?” Simon asks after a moment.
I swallow what’s in my mouth, my ankle still rubbing up against Emily’s. Wiping my lips with my napkin, I shake my head. “No.”
Andy snickers to himself. “Dallas isn’t your typical one-woman man.” He takes a sip from his wine, flashing me a knowing glance.
“Oh, to be young again,” Simon jibes.
My face twists of its own accord despite my attempt at a smile, but the ageism in the room is stifling. I look across at Emily to find her looking down at her food, her shoulders slightly hunched, and I know it’s from the mention of my age.
“Are you going home for Christmas, Dallas?” Jenn asks.
“Yeah. Our roster is pretty good this year, so I get to fly out the day before Christmas Eve and I’ll come back the day after Christmas to make our game the following day.”
“Oh, lovely,” Jenn coos. “I’m sure your mom is excited to have her baby home.”
“Yeah.” I grin.
Moments later, we’re interrupted by a loud ringing coming from Simon’s direction. He leans over to pull his phone from his pants, and his face falls the second he sees what’s on the screen.
“It’s the hospital,” he says, looking around the table at no one in particular. “Excuse me.”
We watch him answer the call as he leaves the room, his low voice a murmur from outside in the hall.
“So, Emily?” I look across the table, smiling as she lifts her gaze to meet mine, a flicker of terror in her eyes like she’s not quite sure what I’m going to say. “How are you enjoying working at HMC?”
The tension in her shoulders eases some, and she manages a smile. “Oh, I love it.” She nods. “Everyone is so nice and…friendly.”
I don’t miss the innuendo, and I clamp her foot between both of mine, giving her a little squeeze that makes her cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink.
Before I can ask a follow up question, Simon walks back into the room, heaving a dramatic sigh, and I’m forced to look away so I can roll my eyes without anyone seeing.
“Not great news, unfortunately,” he says, still standing.
I take a sip of my wine to stop myself from ginning because I know what’s coming.
