My Lucky #13 (Hockey Hotties)

by Piper Rayne

  “You gotta tell us what that’s about,” Jeremy says.

  “No, I don’t.” Jeremy is the last person I’d tell that I’m only here with Aiden due to his superstition and that we’re not really a couple. I glance at Olivia and mentally compare myself to her. How come he proposed to her and not me? What makes her so damn special? “I’m going to get a beer, do you guys want anything?”

  They both decline and I walk up the stairs, really wanting to continue walking right out of the arena. After getting a beer, I hover at the top of the stairs, not ready to go back down to my seat. I watch Aiden take the face-off and he wins, passing the puck to Ford, who skates down the boards. Ford shoots it to Aiden, who’s coming down center ice and passes the puck to Tweetie, who flings it to Aiden just before circling the back of the net. Aiden backhands it and scores.

  I smile as he raises his hands, falls to his knees, and slides for a second—his signature move after winning a goal. After everyone hits him on the head in congratulations, he looks at my empty seat. His smile dims and the look on his face tugs on my heart. I wonder for the millionth time what we’re doing.

  The friendship thing surprised me on our walk, but he’s right. Somewhere in all of this, he has become my friend. As weird as that is. And friends support friends.

  I walk down the stairs, sit next to Jeremy again, and decide that tonight I’m cheering Aiden on.

  For the next three periods, I’m screaming, yelling, and banging on the glass. Even Aiden’s eyebrows are raised when he skates by, but he always rewards me with a wink. One time he even blows me a kiss. He’s really taking this fake relationship thing far.

  When the final buzzer rings, Fury has won, two to one.

  “Man, that was an exciting game. Nonstop action.” Jeremy shakes his head.

  Olivia spent the majority of the time on her phone, but Jeremy was actually cheering with me at one point.

  We stand, and I’m stretching when Aiden skates over to the glass. “I’ll meet you there in thirty or so,” I can just make out over the sound of the crowd exiting the building.

  I nod. Great, now I have to go by myself to the bar with my ex and his new fiancée. Perfect.

  There’s a booth open, so I beeline toward it right as we get in. It’s in the back, which will help with people not coming up to Aiden. Of course, Jeremy gets stopped a few times on our way through. I forgot about him.

  “I love it here,” Olivia gushes as the two of us reach the table.

  Once we’re seated on opposite sides of the booth, I ask, “Where did you two meet?”

  “We met in Milwaukee. I was out for a bachelorette party, and he and a few of the other players were at the same club. We chatted a bit. He called the next day and now.” She holds up her hand. “We’re engaged.”

  I fake a smile, but there must be something about it that she can tell isn’t completely genuine.

  “I know about you, you know,” she says. “And I think it’s absolutely horrible what he did to you.”

  I’m surprised Jeremy shared that information with her since it doesn’t exactly cast him in a positive light. “Thank you, but it’s been three years now. I’m good.”

  “Oh, great.” She looks over her shoulder where Jeremy is still talking to a group of guys. “He felt absolutely awful about it, even when we met. He said you two just didn’t have the stuff to make it long term.”

  I swallow the bitter comeback that’s clawing up my throat. “Should we order some drinks?”

  I smile and raise my hand for a passing waitress, and she tells me she’ll be right back.

  Jeremy finally joins us, sliding in beside Olivia. It’s weird seeing him do the same moves with her as he once did with me. He rests his arm behind the bench, and she slides in close to him. They do make a cute couple, and they’ll probably make good-looking kids.

  “Did you guys order anything?” he asks.

  “The waitress hasn’t come over yet,” I say.

  Jeremy grabs the waitress’s attention and of course she heads right over, and we all order our drinks. She returns with menus, and I absentmindedly let my gaze drift over it. If I told Tedi to guess where I am right now, she’d be as likely to guess correctly as I am to slide down a unicorn’s rainbow tail someday.

  The half hour with the three of us is excruciating, but when Aiden walks in, I forget the entire uncomfortable night. His hair is still slightly damp from the shower and he’s dressed in his suit. Tall, dark, and handsome aren’t strong enough adjectives to describe him.

  He searches the room, mindlessly saying hello and shaking hands with a few fans. When our eyes meet across the bar, a wickedly delicious smile crosses his face, as though he’s been waiting all day for this opportunity. I can’t deny that it feels great to have that expression poised in my direction.

  Winding through the crowd, Aiden reaches us and slides in next to me. Instead of wrapping his arm around me, he places his hand on my thigh and kisses me just under the ear. I whimper and close my eyes briefly.

  “Great game,” I say.

  “Thanks,” he whispers in my ear.

  “Yeah, man, when you took that hit in the second period, I thought for sure you were out,” Jeremy says.

  He pats his side. “I’m little banged up, but luckily we have four days off. I’ll heal.”

  “Is it bad?” I ask, concerned.

  “You can kiss it later and make it feel better.”

  I smile and roll my eyes playfully at the act he’s putting on.

  The waitress comes over. I’m not surprised she’s willing to stop for Aiden like she was Jeremy. “Can I get you anything?”

  “Just a water please.”

  “Water?” I shift to face him a bit.

  Aiden looks at me. “I took some pain pills for my side.” Then he turns back to the waitress. “But I will have eight buffalo wings, chips and queso, and a bratwurst. You getting anything?”

  I shake my head. “No, I’m full from the game.”

  “You can snag some chips and queso off my plate like usual.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jeez, he plays the part of doting boyfriend well. It’s like he’s done this before.

  The waitress looks at Jeremy, and he says they’re good but asks for some refills on their drinks.

  “Bratwurst, huh?” Jeremy says. “No one makes them like they do in Wisconsin.”

  “I know. I’m from there originally.”

  Jeremy shuts up then.

  “So Saige throws a drink in your face before every game?” Olivia asks.

  Aiden glances over and squeezes my thigh even though they can’t see it across the booth. His hand has moved up an inch since he got here. Not that I’m paying attention.

  “It’s how we met,” he says. “She thought she could resist me, but turns out I have too much charm.”

  “Sure, that’s it.” I laugh.

  “Come on. You couldn’t resist me that first night.” He nudges me with his shoulder.

  “You’ll never know,” I singsong.

  “One day I will.” He locks eyes with me, and I swallow because sometimes I forget how breathtakingly beautiful he is.

  “You guys are really in love,” Olivia says, resting her chin on her hand and looking at us dreamily. “The chemistry is wafting off you two. If everyone could have what you guys have.”

  “And what we have.” Jeremey tugs her closer to his side.

  “That goes without saying.” She gives him a peck on his cheek, but Jeremy is staring at me.

  Finally the food arrives and Aiden scarfs it all down except for the few chips and queso I sneak off his plate. Aiden pays the entire bill with his credit card, and we file out of the bar before it gets too late.

  We stand on the sidewalk a little awkwardly for a minute before I say, “Bye, guys. I wish you both luck.”

  I put my hand out and Olivia shakes it, but when I do the same to Jeremy, he pulls me into a hug.

  “You look really good, Saige
. Happy.”

  “I am,” I respond, lying because this whole thing has been an act, but he doesn’t need to know that. It’s apparent from spending time with Jeremy at the game that he doesn’t follow hockey. He won’t be looking for me at all of Aiden’s games for years to come.

  After Aiden wishes them well, I watch them walk down the street hand in hand. It takes me a minute before I hear Aiden telling me there’s a cab waiting. I slide in and still can’t tear my eyes away. Seeing Jeremy with someone else only makes me question myself, because at one time, I thought we were destined to be together.

  I’m not sure if my face shows it or not, but Aiden puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side. I lay my head there and welcome the comfort of a friend.

  Looking up at him, I rest my hand on his chest. “I lied earlier.”

  “About what?”

  “You are my friend.”

  The brightest smile I’ve seen from him transforms his face, and I go back to resting my head on his shoulder and let my eyes drift closed. Even if we can never be more than friends, this feels good too.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Aiden

  After a reprieve in Florida, we’re on a flight headed to New York City. It’s three weeks until trade deadlines and my game has never been better. I’ve scored and assisted in every game since Saige started throwing wine on me. This time, since I’m heading into town early to spend some time with my cousin, Frankie, and her daughter, I get to fly with Saige.

  We’ve just stepped onto the plane and she situates herself in first class, pulling out a book and buckling her seat belt. She looks so organized and poised, I want to go all animalistic on her and dirty her up. If only she were mine.

  Joran’s been MIA lately, saying he’s got a problem client and as long as things are cool with me, he’ll be in touch after the trade deadline to make arrangements for a new contract at the end of the season. The selfish side of me has no issue with him keeping his distance because I’ve been able to see Saige more than ever lately.

  She insists on posting more social media content since we’re still in the building phase, as she calls it. I only go along with it because it lets me go places like the zoo with her.

  Today I want to get her on the ice. I rented a rink for a couple hours. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m teaching her how to skate this afternoon.

  “I would have been happy in coach,” she says, accepting the glass of mimosa from the flight attendant.

  I shake my head. “But first class is better.”

  She smiles. “You’ve been spoiling me.”

  As the plane taxis away from the gate, the flight attendant comes by and takes our mimosas. Saige gets comfortable with her book and I check out the cover. It’s some self-help book.

  “What’s that about?” I ask.

  She shuts it with her finger where she left off. “It’s a book on how to love yourself.”

  I cock an eyebrow. “You don’t love yourself?”

  She puts the bookmark inside the book and places it in her lap, turning her body toward me. “I love myself, but this is teaching me how to keep toxic relationships at bay. Make positive lifestyle changes. Meditation. That sort of thing.”

  “Who’s toxic?” I ask.

  She tilts her head. “Aren’t we nosy today?”

  “I’m just curious. I’m not toxic, am I?”

  “The fact that I’m willingly on a plane with you and that you bought me a first class seat and have a hotel room booked for me says you’re not toxic.” She moves to pick up her book, but I like having her attention, so I keep the conversation going.

  “Is it Jeremy?” I wanted to ask her about her ex that night in Colorado, but she didn’t seem to feel much like talking, so I walked her to her hotel room and said good night like a gentleman.

  She sighs. “I knew you wanted details.”

  I shrug. “I find out you were dating a pro football player after you tell me you don’t date athletes. Of course I’m gonna want answers.”

  She studies me for a moment then sighs. “It’s not an original story. We were high school sweethearts, ended up at the same college. He got drafted to Florida, and I followed him. He got traded to Wisconsin and told me he didn’t want me to go with him. Apparently he wanted to spread his wings and live a little.”

  My brow furrows in irritation. “Why didn’t he tell you that when you were in Idaho?”

  “That’s a question you’d have to ask him. So he left me in Florida, knowing no one but Tedi. Oh, and he was cheating on me. Tedi’s the one who told me. We lived in the same apartment complex. So there’s that too.”

  Fuck, no wonder she doesn’t trust athletes.

  “Well, it sounds like he’s just a douche. You should give other athletes a chance.” Her eyes narrow a bit and I raise my hands. “You know, if you and Joran don’t work out.”

  Something falls over her face, but I can’t decipher it at all, which is weird because usually I have a pretty good read on her nonverbal.

  “You know how you say your profession might make it hard to find someone genuine who wants you as a person and not just everything that comes with you?” she asks.

  I nod.

  “Well, it’s kind of the same but in reverse when you’re dating an athlete. A lot of you guys are charismatic. Could sell a girl on anything, make her believe how special she is, but then the one night the girlfriend doesn’t go out, some other girl is there telling you how great you are and you’re eating it up. No offense, but I think athletes live and die by their egos.”

  I study her for a moment. Damn, Jeremy did a number on her. But it’s not because he’s an athlete. Look at Joran. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but he’s a womanizer who’s probably sleeping around on her and he’s not an athlete.

  “I know the kind of guys you’re talking about, and maybe hockey is different, I don’t know, but there’re a lot of guys in the league who are happily married, have kids, are faithful. Ones who go to their hotel rooms and call their wives instead of going out to a bar. Ones who don’t take every opportunity to sleep with any woman who’s presented to them. It might be a small number, but there are good ones out there. Jeremy just wasn’t a good one.”

  Her gaze falls to her lap. “Maybe so, but I’m not willing to take that chance after getting bulldozed the first time around.”

  “You’re scared?”

  She says nothing for a moment, but then her back goes straight and she picks up her book off her lap. “I’m not scared. I’m just logical.”

  She opens her book and I figure this conversation is over—for now.

  We check in, drop our bags in our rooms, and I get Saige to the rink with the promise of us doing some promo shots for her company. So far the social media thing hasn’t been terrible, but I’m still worried that what happened before might happen again.

  I’m thankful that the new skates I arranged for her are up in my room when I arrive, and I tuck the box into my hockey bag and bring it down to the lobby with me. I opted for figure skates because I didn’t think she’d want hockey skates. Hopefully I made the right call. Saige is already there, looking through some brochures. Sadly, we won’t have a lot of time to sightsee this trip, since we’re going to my cousin’s adoption party.

  I lean in and whisper, “Miss me?”

  She startles and steps back into my chest. “Why must you do that?”

  “Because it’s fun.” I hold my arm out for her to go out of the hotel first.

  The doorman hails us a taxi, and it doesn’t take long for us to get to the arena. Once we’re out, I follow the directions and ask security who I should talk to. Everyone is accommodating and gracious, and we’re escorted to the ice as they pop on the lights. The entire arena is empty, and the Zamboni has just gone over it, so all we can see is the shine of smooth ice.

  “These are the perks I enjoy.” I stare at the fresh ice and inhale deeply. “It’s beautiful.”

  S
aige stares and huffs. “We don’t share the same thought.”

  “Really? You don’t find an ice rink, an empty ice rink, alluring?”

  “Actually it makes me nauseous.”

  I think about the skates in my bag for her. Damn it. “Have you never skated before? Because I’m an excellent teacher.”

  She smiles, rolling her mesmerizing eyes. “I’m sure you are. Too bad I don’t have any skates,” she singsongs the last part.

  “Au contraire.” I unzip my bag and hold up the box of women’s skates for her.

  “You planned this?”

  I shrug. “I knew I had it all to myself and you can watch me do drills and take pictures and videos, or we can skate together. I’d love to teach you.”

  She stares at the ice. “I’m not sure, what if I fall?”

  “I’ll catch you, but I won’t let you fall.”

  “I could break something.”

  “Not with me here.” I point at my chest as though I’m a superhero or something.

  She giggles and hope fills me. “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

  “Pretty much.” I grin.

  She snags the box out of my hands and sits down to put them on. “You’re responsible if something happens to me.”

  “Definitely.”

  My hands itch with the possibility of having them on her hips. Sometimes I feel as though I’m deceiving Joran because I have no idea what’s going on with them, but she never speaks about him and I don’t ask because I don’t really want to hear about any of their dates. Most times I forget he’s the other guy.

  I’ve got my skates on first, so I head out to the ice and do a lap while she finishes lacing hers. I skid to a stop at the opening and find her walking around the black rubber floor, practicing her footing. I hold out my hand for her to take and she accepts it, her ankles getting more used to wearing skates.

  “I haven’t been on a pair of skates in a while,” she says.

  “Don’t worry, you’re safe with me,” I say softly, bringing her out onto the ice.