Page 29 of Forbidden Puck
I nodded. “Lindsay had a bad day and so she wants him all to herself tonight.”
He laid his giant hand across his face and rubbed his eyes. “That sounds like Lance and Lindsay, alright.”
“Oh well. That's okay.” I flashed a polite smile. “Have a good time tonight, Radar.”
“Yeah. Yeah, thanks.”
His body leaned in the direction of the door, but something seemed to stop his feet from actually moving. He looked like he had something to say, but he struggled to find the words.
“You're not leaving.” I sighed. “What's wrong?”
“I shouldn't say.”
“You'll feel better if you get it off your chest,” I said, matter-of-factly. “That's something I live by.”
“That's right. Lance mentioned that you have an honesty policy.”
“I do. So? Care to get it off your chest?”
Radar sighed. “Okay. Sure. You're all dressed up, you look nice, and you're ready to go—yet you're staying in. I feel bad. I feel like I should invite you out with me, at least.”
“So why don't you?” I blurted out. Blame it on the wine. Or blame Lance for stranding me here in the first place.
But Radar let out a labored laugh, as if it were an impossibility.
“Ah. I get it.” I gave an understanding, if not cynical, bob of my head. “Because you're going out to meet a girl, and I'll be the third wheel.”
“How'd you figure that?” he asked.
“Oh, please. I know how you hockey players are.”
He smiled with a hint of embarrassment.
“Besides, Lance told me that you're a real player off the ice.”
“Did he?” He neared and lowered himself into the couch cushion next to me. Not too close—but close enough that the velvet richness of his woodsy cologne snuck into my personal space and hijacked my senses.
He smells so nice. I wish he didn't have to leave.
“Well, if we're going by your honesty policy, then I guess I have to admit to that,” Radar said. “And yeah,I am going out to meet a girl.”
“That's cute. What's her name?”
“Umm—” Radar squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to remember. “Fuck, I forgot.” He pulled out his phone, checked something, then stuffed it back in his pocket. “Kara. That's right. Kara.”
“I take it you and Kara have been going steady for a while now,” I teased.
He gave a coy smile and an uncomfortable little laugh at the knowledge that his sleaziness was on full-display. That was also when I noticed his smile was a perfect row of piano-key teeth.
“Oh! Look! You even put your false tooth in for Kara.”
“Yeah, the missing tooth look tends to scare women away.”
“That's too bad. I thought you looked kinda cute without it.”
“… You're the first, then.”
“And where are you meeting Kara?”
