Page 78 of Looks Real Good Now
“They’re good. They got the win, which improved the mood,” she said, sounding more confident now we had moved into familiar territory.
“Yeah, Teddy told me about the win. Asher played well, apparently. I didn’t get to see it. Alana doesn’t really watch hockey, and she’d made plans for us when it was on.” Mel didn’t know that those plans were completely rewiring my association with a certain superstition and then not leaving her bed for most of the afternoon.
Mel pursed her lips for a moment before speaking. “Alana. That’s who was with you in those pictures? She really doesn’t like hockey?”
“That’s her. It’s not that she doesn’t like it, more that she typically has other things she would rather do. It used to be studying or cheering for one of the other sports teams. Now it’s baking or seeing if she can read a whole book in the time it takes to play a whole match.”
Or seeing how many times I can come in a six-hour period. We reached four, but I know she wants to try and go for five. I’m already excited for her attempt.
“She’s the one, isn’t she?”
I shook my head to clear it of thoughts of that afternoon. “The one who?”
“I’m not an idiot, Liam. That well-hidden tattoo matches the sign of that bakery all the Panthers are obsessed with. The place where I got your birthday cakes from, Sweet Nothing. The problem is, four different people work there, and I could never figure out which one was connected to you because two are from New York and one is from Boston. But it’s her, I’ve seen her. Rarely, because she’s almost always in the kitchen, but sometimes she would come out and say hi. I met her boyfriend a couple of times as well. He seemed like an interesting guy. I guess he’s an ex too, now.”
“Let me guess, you talked hockey with him?”
She laughed softly. “Yeah, we did. What’s the story there?”
“Between me and Alana?” She nodded. “We lived next door to each other and were in each other’s pockets all the time. She’s been my best friend since I was four.”
“What happened?” She sounded almost sad.
“She left before high school graduation because she thought I would break her heart and she wanted to get ahead of the game,” I answered truthfully. It was nice to be able to have an answer for it now.
“Is she why you wanted to move here? I did think it was an odd choice when you could have gone back to New York.”
“I didn’t want to go to New York because my parents live there and I love them, but my dad coming to my games frequently and having lots of opinions face to face was not something that I wanted for myself. But hey, if I moved to NewYork, I would probably still be playing because I wouldn’t have wanted to disappoint him.”
“But why Detroit? There were other teams interested in you that would have kept you from your dad.”
“You don’t have to believe me, but I didn’t choose Detroit because it was where Alana lived. I wouldn’t have done that to you. Alana and I hadn’t spoken until about two weeks ago when we bumped into each other in this very airport. I came to Detroit because Teddy was here, and I was twenty-six and distinctly aware that I was closer to the end of my career than the beginning of it. And while I still could, I wanted to play with him. It was the best choice for me.
“Just like retiring at the end of last season was. I guess you ending our relationship might have also been for the best because I think we might both be better for it. You look good, Mel. I might see you around if you keep hanging out with the team because I told Teddy that I would help with the kids outreach program in the new year, but I’ve gotta go.”
She nodded her head.
“It was good to see you too, Liam,” she said softly before she turned and walked away.
When she had disappeared from view, I walked out of the airport.
The moment I stepped outside, a long, checked coat that looked vaguely familiar caught my eye. I stopped and turned towards it.
“Alright there, Muller?” Lenny said, leaning against a car.
“Len?”
“Your eyes are not deceiving you. I am here. In the flesh.You’re welcome.” She smiled as I walked over to her.
“Where did you get a car?”
“It’s Max’s. Pretty sure she only let me drive it because I said I wanted it to pick you up.”
“You didn’t have to come get me,” I said as I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to me.
“I know, that’s what makes me so nice,” she said before she pressed her lips against mine. The kiss started chaste and just as I was about to pull away, she looped her arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer, sweeping her tongue into my mouth and deepening the kiss. I sunk into it.
She pulled away first, breathless.
