Page 64 of Face Off
“You’re not,” Hudson draws out. “She wants to join the mile high club with you.”
“Fuck, no. There’s probably piss everywhere, and I have some standards.”
The plane pushes back and taxis out, rolling down the runway until we’re in the air and DC turns into a speck behind us.
The flight attendants keep the overhead lights off, knowing that most of us like to sleep on morning flights, but I’m restless.
I can’t sit still, and I crane my neck over the seats until I see long red hair ten rows up.
I jump into the aisle and saunter toward the front of the aircraft. I get stopped by Seymour and Connor on the way, answering their questions that no, they sure as shit cannot eat hotdogs for lunch tomorrow before the game but yes, they can have deep dish pizza tonight.
When I finally get to Emerson’s row, I grin down at her.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, barely looking up from her phone. It’s like she was waiting for me. “The seat belt sign is on, and this is a safety risk.”
“Guess I’ll have to sit next to you then.” I plop down in the aisle seat and shrug out of my suit jacket. “What’s up?”
“Really?” She lifts her chin and finally glances my way, a scowl on her mouth. “It’s too early to be having conversations, Miller. Do you ever sleep?”
“You were just talking with Piper and Lexi.”
“They’re my friends.”
“Am I not your friend?”
“No.” Emerson snorts. “You’re my teammate, and there’s a big difference.”
I frown. “What the hell has gotten into you? You had a great time at team dinner last week. We even got through a meal without you wanting to strangle me, but the only times you’ve talked to me since have been on the ice.”
“I’m not surprised you think everything is about you.”
“Why are you so adamant about keeping me out?” I challenge. “Would being my friend really be the worst thing in the world?”
“Yes, it would be. You’re obnoxious, and you never know when to stop.”
“Wow.” I laugh and lace my fingers behind my head. “Tell me how you really feel, Hartwell.”
“I’ve been down this road. I know how being your friend ends, and I’m not putting myself in that position again. I’m gladyou consider all of our teammates close pals, but I wish you would stop trying so hard to make me one of them.”
I drop my head against the seat and sigh. “Not every hockey player is a bad guy. Some of us have the team’s best interest at heart, and that includes everyone getting along.”
“And some of you don’t understand when to stop pushing,” she tosses back, and that stirs up something inside me.
“I’m not pushing you. I’m trying to figure out how to get my left winger to play better, because she missed three shots on goal in our last game, and I’d really fucking like it if she showed up when we needed her.” I huff out a breath. “Forgive me if I thought that by being nice to you, by being someone who tries to make you laugh and gets a half-hearted smile from time to time, it might fix that.”
Heat burns behind Emerson’s eyes when I look at her again. “You haven’t shown up either, Miller, and I don’t appreciate you throwing me under the bus. This is ateamsport, and I’m not the only one out there fucking up.”
“Exactly. It’s a team sport, and here you are, not talking to me. Is that what you want, Hartwell? For me to ignore you? To not give you the time of day? To treat you like we’re strangers?”
“Why don’t you mind your business and I’ll mind mine?”
“Last I checked, my business as captain includes getting the team to play together, and if someone needs to step up, then I’m going to call them out on it.”
“Call yourself out, Miller. Stay in your lane and I’ll stay in mine.”
I roll my lips together.
It’s so obvious Emerson is dead set on keeping me at arm’s length. If I haven’t won her over yet, there’s not any hope for us, and I guess the only way forward is to wave the white flag.
