Page 62 of Ice Ice Maybe
Nolan and I exchanged amused smiles as we entered our room. We rolled our bags off to the side and both made our way to the window to look out toward the Cumberland River.
I scanned the area, enjoying the view.
I gestured down to the street right below our room. “Oh, look! Honky Tonk Central!”
Nolan slipped his arms around my waist. “I enjoyed going there with you last night. A lot.”
I leaned into his touch, the warmth spreading through my chest. “Me too. I’m enjoying everything about you, Nolan.”
Nolan smiled as he turned to face me. His expression unexpectedly morphed into something more contemplative that was difficult to read.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” I asked.
“Let’s sit for a moment.” Nolan took my hand and led me to the bed, where we sat down on the edge. He sighed, looking like he was trying to find the right words. “Something has been on my mind and I wanted to talk to you about it. I didn’t mention it before because I have been conflicted about what to do. I’d like your thoughts on the subject, if you don’t mind.”
I was confused, but nodded. “Of course.”
Nolan hesitated, then asked, “Do you ever get the feeling that this is all wrong?”
I didn’t like the energy shift and needed clarification. “What’s wrong? You mean our relationship and what’s happening between us?”
He shook his head quickly. “Are you kidding me? I love this, us, and I love the direction we’re headed. I don’t want to change a single thing about it.”
Relief washed over me. “Good.” I smiled and tilted my head to the side. “Then what is it?”
“It’s Mitch, and my job to push his buttons to irritate him,” I said. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s an egotistical world-class bonehead, and the way he treated you and so many others is inexcusable. But stooping to his level sometimes doesn’t sit right with me, even if it helps the team perform better.”
I studied his face, trying to understand. “Are you feeling guilty?”
Nolan shrugged. “Maybe. Okay, yes, I am. It seems wrong.” He scratched the side of his face, deep in thought. “Honestly, I would have never agreed to something like this if my job wasn’ton the line. It’s not in my nature. I even wondered if I wanted to work for someone who would ask me to do such a favor.”
I nodded, considering his words. “Well, keep in mind that I told Dad ‘no’ the first, second, and third time he asked me to do this.”
“I had no idea,” Nolan said. “What made you change your mind?”
“He told me the only reason Mitch signed the contract to play for the Sea Lions again was because he was planning on dating me again, as if I didn’t even have a say in the matter. Mitch had much better offers from the Red Wings and the Maple Leafs, but turned them down. Anyway, my answer to your question is, I said yes because I thought that pretending to be in a relationship would get Mitch off my back, plus it would help Dad lower his stress level by winning games. But yeah, this is weird and unorthodox, I agree. Mitch is using my Dad to get back with me, and my Dad is using you and me to make Mitch play better so they can win the Stanley Cup.” I fell silent, then asked, “So what do you want to do? Are you thinking of telling my dad you’ve changed your mind?”
“I have no idea. What I know is if I didn’t say yes to your dad, I never would have met you, so there is something supremely positive that came out of this. Anyway, I wanted to be honest about how I’ve been feeling. You deserve to know where my head’s at, and I want us to talk openly about anything and everything. Honestly, I’m more afraid of disappointing you than losing my job or facing your father’s wrath.”
His words melted my heart on the spot.
I couldn’t resist the urge to kiss him.
When we pulled apart, Nolan asked, “What was that for?”
“You could never disappoint me, Nolan.” I smiled softly. “I wonder about my dad’s health and what it might do to him if we told him we didn’t want to do this anymore.”
Nolan’s brow furrowed. “You and your mother have mentioned his heart before. What exactly is going on with him?”
I sighed. “High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of heart disease. He’s a prime candidate for a heart attack if he doesn’t slow down and manage his stress.”
Nolan nodded, looking concerned. “I certainly wouldn’t want to see that happen because the guilt from causing him to have a heart attack would be a million times worse than the guilt of picking on Mitch to make him play better.” His eyes lit up. “There is a possibility I’m overthinking this whole thing.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Nolan’s eyes sparkled with a newfound clarity. “What we have between us now, it’s real.” He took my hands in his, his touch warm and reassuring. “There’s nothing wrong if we enjoy each other’s company and show our affection naturally, not to get a reaction out of Mitch, but because it’s what we genuinely feel.” A soft smile played on his lips as he continued. “Maybe we can just ease up on pushing Mitch’s buttons. Now that you and I are together, it feels wrong to rub it in his face. We’re better than that.”
Nolan’s words were filled with sincerity and respect. It was a testament to his character, and I admired him more for it, but it certainly would not stop me from having some fun at his expense.
