Page 39 of Dating Goals
“Toogood?” Sawyer’s voice has that edge I recognize from when he’s about to lay a monster hit on the ice.
“Maybe.” I shrug, trying to shake off the nagging feeling in my gut.
“At least you didn’t invest your whole signing bonus,” Sawyer says, giving me a pointed look.
“Unlike some people we know,” Maggie adds quietly.
I think about Hendrix, who’s got more skin in this game than any of us. “Yeah. Starting to think you were smart to stay out of it, man.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Sawyer cups his hand around his ear and leans over the table. “I couldn’t quite hear.”
I sigh. “I said you were smart to stay out of it. Yeesh. Doesn’t your wife stroke your ego enough?”
Maggie chokes on her coffee, coughing uncontrollably.
Sawyer pats her on the back. “There, there.”
I roll my eyes at these two. “Seriously? Are we twelve?”
“You love us,” Maggie says, flashing that megawatt smile of hers.
Sawyer grins, completely unrepentant. “Hey, you started it with the ego-stroking comment.”
“You two need a hobby,” I say, checking my watch. It’s getting late, and the café staff has started giving us those polite “we’d like to close” looks.
“We do have a hobby,” Maggie says, giggling. “It’s called?—”
“Wow would you look at the time!” I stand up and stretch, not in the least interested in hearing the rest of…whatever she was going to say. “We should probably call it a night. Don’t you have practice at the crack of dawn or something?”
“Five AM,” Sawyer confirms with a grimace. “Coach doesn’t believe in sleep.”
“Hey,” I say as we head toward the door. “You guys should come down to Grächen for a visit sometime. Assuming your grueling hockey schedule will allow it, superstar.”
Maggie perks up. “Really? Can we?”
“Sure. The train ride isn’t bad, and now that the snow’s here, the skiing is amazing. Plus, I’ve got this little cabin that?—”
“We’re coming to meet your girlfriend,” Maggie cuts in, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Anika is not my girlfriend,” I insist for what feels like the hundredth time. “How many times do I have to say it?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Maggie says, not sounding sorry at all. “I meant yourfuturegirlfriend.”
“My language teacher,” I correct her.
“Your language ofloveteacher,” she counters.
“The woman who’s helping me learn Swiss German,” I try again.
“The woman who’s helping you learn the language oflooooove,” Maggie sings, drawing out the word.
Sawyer laughs. “Give it up, man. You’re not winning this one.”
“You two deserve each other, you know that?”
“We know,” they say in unison, and something tugs in my chest that feels suspiciously like…longing for what Sawyer and Maggie have.
My heart skips a beat in anticipation for tomorrow’s first official dating coach session with Anika. I’m already planning what we’ll cover. Confidence building, conversation starters, maybe a little role-playing to help her practice. Notthatkind of role-playing, obviously. Just…friendly practice.
