Page 43 of Stick Side
Melody:Sure, sure. I’m sure your *sister* was . . . I guess you’re just a Wannabe. ;-)
Chapter 19
Ben
Benbreathedahugesigh of relief as he stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac at O’Hare International Airport. It always felt good to come home after a series of away games, but he was currently feeling extra happy to be back in Chicago.
It had felt like torture to meet a woman like Melody and then have to leave her when what he most wanted was to spend time getting to know her. He’d enjoyed their chats, but it wasn’t the same as being in the same room with her, seeing her face light up with a smile and, inevitably, seeing her cheeks redden in an adorable display of innocent embarrassment.
He was pretty sure she was as eager to see him as he was to see her, but he wasn’t completely certain and it was making him feel no small bit unsettled. He’d known within seconds of first clapping eyes on Melody that she was a woman he wanted to get to know better. Everything he’d seen and learned since had only reinforced his certainty. How could it not? What man alive wouldn’t be interested in forging a relationship with a sweet, kind, beautiful, and accomplished woman?
Ben had always been a man who quickly realized what he wanted and dedicated himself to pursuing it with unfettered determination. And there was no doubt about it: He wanted Dr. Melody McGuire. He wanted her with a certainty that defied logic, but it was no less real for his inability to explain it.
He had a bone-deep feeling about how good they could be together. The problem was he didn’t want to scare her off with the full force of his interest. Just because he was sure of them didn’t mean she was. It wouldn’t be easy, but he would have to moderate his desire and give her feelings a chance to catch up with his.
He patted down his tie and pulled the edges of his overcoat together as a gust of wind blew across the airstrip. He might have been born and raised in Illinois, but the crisp Midwestern climate felt all the more severe after a week in sunny California. He suppressed a shudder as chilled air whispered against his neck. Grateful that he’d thought to pack a mid-weight trench coat, he made quick work of fastening the buttons before popping the collar. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jacket and picked up his pace as he hastened toward the vehicles waiting for him and his teammates.
Richie caught up to him as he drew up to the line of waiting town cars.
“Hey, man,” Richie greeted. “Do you want to grab a beer? There’s a new microbrewery in Lakeview that I want to check out. I think it’s pretty close to the border of Lincoln Park.”
Ben smiled amusedly. “Is this your way of trying to score a place to sleep if you pull too many pints?”
Richie shrugged, but one corner of his mouth quirked up into a reluctant smile. “Your place would be closer than mine, but it would be nice to hang out and catch up. I don’t feel like we’ve really seen a lot of each other off the ice since you joined the Challengers.”
There was some truth to that. Between getting settled and working to find his stride with a new team, they hadn’t had a lot of time to kick back and reconnect.
“Let’s definitely make time to do that, but I can’t tonight.” He felt his lips arc up into a contented smile. “I have a date.”
Richie’s eyebrows hiked in surprise before knitting together ever so slightly. “A real date? Not just a hookup? That was fast. Not that I’m judging, but didn’t you and Natalie just break up?”
Ben took a small step back and crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t enjoy the feeling of defensiveness that rose in his chest at the mention of his ex-girlfriend.
“Natalie and I broke up over three months ago,” Ben volunteered after doing the silent calculation in his head. Maybe it hadn’t been that long, but it wasn’t like he was trying to jump into Melody’s bed while Natalie’s was still warm. It had been a mutual, amicable breakup.
Richie must have been able to tell he’d upset Ben with his question because he raised his hands in front of his chest, his manner placating. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to imply anything. It’s just that I’ve only ever really known you to be in a relationship. With Natalie. I guess I just figured it would take you longer to get over the breakup.”
Ben fought to throw off the defensiveness Richie’s question had raised. “I hadn’t planned to start dating again so soon, but . . .” Ben imagined he wore a dopey expression as he thought about Melody and the torrent of emotions she’d already invoked in him after their mere weeks’ acquaintance.
“Damn,” Richie observed with a drawn-out whistle. “This woman must be something special to put that look on your face.”
“It’s new,” Ben admitted, “but I think so.” In fact, he was pretty sure heknewso.
Ben torqued his head this way and that to make sure no one else was listening before disclosing, “My date’s with Melody McGuire.”
Considering the woman they were discussing was their coach’s daughter, Ben figured he shouldn’t broadcast who he was choosing to get involved with. Not during the early stages of their relationship, at least.
Richie proved him right when he literally stopped in his tracks. His eyebrows shot up so much they practically disappeared into his hairline before he resumed his stride.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Richie said with a seriousness that was uncharacteristic for him.
Ben didn’t even have to think about his answer. “I am,” he said, imbuing the words with all the conviction he felt.
Richie clucked his tongue. “Coach McGuire might be a top-notch guy,” he observed, “but you should’ve seen the way he practically ripped Cassidy a new asshole when it started to look like he might be interested in Melody as more than a friend. You donotneed that kind of drama, my friend.”
Richie shook his head as though he was trying to throw off the potential drama that merely discussing the matter might bring his way.
“It might be complicated,” Ben observed, “but Melody is too special not to pursue.” As the words left his mouth, Ben knew he believed that.
