Page 64 of O Goalie Night
Every moment I spend with Foster, whether we’re in his kitchen, in the rink, or in his bed, feels overwhelmingly right. Being around him is the most natural thing in the world.
It’s almost dizzying at times, though. Like whateverthis is between us is a walking paradox. How can someone make my heart race and my head swim, yet make me feel so centred and grounded at the same time?
We’ve been in constant contact since he left on Monday. He Facetimed me when he got back to the hotel after the team beat Philly last night and we talked for more than an hour before I fell asleep on him. When my alarm went off this morning, it woke him up, too, as he’d stayed on the call all night.
“Why didn’t you hang up after I fell asleep?” I’d asked, feeling horrible for waking him.
“I like waking up next to you. Almost as much as I like falling asleep next to you.”
I’m not even sure how I’ve been functioning all day, seeing as at that moment my heart exploded in my chest.
The rest of the day goes by without incident. Well, Tamal got his second nosebleed this week and had to go to the office, and Daisy pretended to feel woozy from the sight of blood and said she needed to go to the office, but that’s it. Tamal was fine and Daisy just has a crush on him and insists on following him everywhere.
As I’m leaving for the day, I run into Jacob. It seems that Tamara was right about him orchestrating all our chance encounters last week; this is the first time I’ve seen him since Friday.
“Hi, Beth.”
“Hi, Jacob.” I don’t want to be mad at the guy, but I am. I miss the anonymity of last week when I was Beth, the new teacher from Prince Edward Island, instead of my typical role of being Beth, Ben Michaels’ sister.
“How’s your week going?” he asks cautiously.
I’m the talk of the town, thanks to you.
“It’s been fine, thanks.”
He moves ahead of me to the double doors to hold one open, but I side step and push open the other one for myself then hurry down the steps.
Jacob catches up to me. “Look, I’m sorry everyone found out who your brother is.”
“They didn’t find out, Jacob. You told them.”
“Well, technically I just told Marcus that you were staying with Foster James. He was the one who figured the rest out and told everyone.”
“Ah. So you set the rumour mill in motion, but didn’t stick around to supervise what it produced. Great. I feel better.” I reach Foster’s car and throw my bag in the backseat.
Jacob stands with his hands in his coat pocket looking abashed. “I’m sorry. I was just so surprised. I mean, I was working up the nerve to ask you out when Foster freaking James opens the door. But I shouldn’t have told anyone.”
I sigh. Like it or not, this is my life. It’s not like I would have kept my family a secret from the people I work with forever, though I would have appreciated telling them on my own terms.
People will always see me as Ben’s sister.
Until, that is, they find out I’m dating Foster. After that, they’ll see me as his girlfriend.
I’ve seen how athletes’ girlfriends are scrutinised in the media and online. Picked apart and judged to see if they measure up. Am I going to be okay with that?
“It’s okay,” I tell him. He didn’t do it to be malicious and he was one of the first people here to actually try to get to know me.
“Really?”
“Really.”
He’s visibly relieved, his face breaking into a broad grin. “I promise, the next time I see you with a pro-athlete, I’ll just keep it to myself.”
“Much appreciated.”
He hesitates, unsure of himself. “Maybe we could still go to a game sometime? My treat,” he asks hopefully.
“I’d like that—as friends.”
