The unique sound of bare feet running on concrete came from behind me. It was either Hunter or Scott, and I didn’t want to take the chance. I walked faster.
“Elise. Hey. Wait. Elise!”
Was I to be spared no humiliation today? He came from behind me. “Hey.” He panted. “You’d think you had earphones in, but you never do. Where are you going?”
I didn’t look at him. Couldn’t. “Home.”
“But…you got here just a little while ago.”
“I can’t stay out in the sun long with my fair skin.” The excuse came easy.
“Oh, well…can we stop for a minute then?”
I came to a halt, squeezing my eyes shut. I didn’t want to talk to him. I just wanted to get home and cry it out in my room.
He exhaled. “Well, I was planning on working my way into this, but…. I was wondering if you would let me take you out to dinner. I’d like to continue to get to know you.”
My mind spun and I stared at him with venom. “Knock it off.”
His mouth dropped open for a second. “Wh-what? Why? What did I—”
I glanced around to see who was watching us. Thanks to Mandy’s spectacular outburst, it seemed half of the pool had their gazes fixed on us. I blinked away tears, my vision blurring. “You don’t think I know your friends put you up to this?”
“My friends?” He shook his head as if to clear it. “I’m confused.” He took my arms. “Up to what?”
“Hunter. Come on. Don’t do this. I thought we were—” I thought we were what? A couple? I thought he might like me? Idiot.
“You thought we were…what?”
I was so wrong about him. He’s gonna make me say it. He’s gonna make me say it so he and his friends can have a good laugh about it later. “Friends. At least I thought you didn’t loathe me. But I guess you’re like all the rest.”
He opened and shut his mouth like a nutcracker. “Look.” I had dropped my gaze to his toes, so he bent his knees to try to draw it back up. “You need to explain things to me, because I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Ugh!” I stomped my foot. “Like you don’t know we’re in two different leagues. Two different stratospheres.”
“What do you mean?” He took a quick glance behind us. “Who says that?”
“No one has to say it,” I fumed. “It’s obvious.”
His jaw tightened. “So why aren’t I good enough for you? Because I don’t have a dad who’s an NHL hockey ref?”
I glowered at him. “Not good enough for me? Ha. That’s funny.” I ripped myself out of his arms and stomped away. He didn’t come after me. I guess he’s had his fill of fun with Elise.
When I reached the car, I knew I’d never make it home, so I laid my head on the steering wheel and sobbed. I hoped most everyone was at the pool right now, but even if someone spotted me, I couldn’t care less.
After a few minutes, I pulled myself together. I sat straight, wiped my face with a tissue, and started the engine. I knew then I’d be back the next day.
You all may have won today, but I will not let you break me.
When I got home, I made an effort to get past my mom on the couch with my head low, but she knew. She always knew.
“Something wrong, honey?”
“No, Mom. Why do you always think something is wrong with me?” I pounded up the stairs and slammed my door like a five year old. It was somewhat cathartic.
The next morning dawned bright and beautiful. Like a zombie, I stepped into my polka-dot swimming suit. I wanted to walk in alone, but at the last minute I decided to call Scott for some moral support. I told him nothing about it. He’d try to fix it somehow.
But some things even Crazy Glue can’t mend.
Hunter
For once I was at the pool but not watching the water like a hawk. I was watching the parking lot like a hawk. I got there, on my day off, before the place even opened. Once in, I found the lounge chair nearest the entrance and angled it toward the fence. I was watching for a little yellow MINI Cooper. I had watched her roar away in one, and I hoped to see it again today. Otherwise this would a long summer until I could speak to her again at school. I was stupid enough not to get her last name and had no way of contacting her besides the long shot of her returning. I even stooped so low as to ask that ridiculous Mandy Cartwright what Elise’s last name was. She claimed not to know, but I’d put money on that being a lie. About quarter after ten the Coop entered the parking lot and I flew out of my chair, reminding myself it could be someone else. I ran around and waited right inside the entrance for her. She wouldn’t be able to avoid me. When he got out of the car with her, my heart dropped. But I would find out what I did wrong no matter what.
I don’t want to say that I slunk in the shadows, but I slunk in the shadows, waiting for them. When she entered through the gate, I stepped out in her path. I watched for a reaction from Mr. Universe, but it seemed I caught him off-guard. He stood with his mouth open, then peered at Elise uncertainly.
“Elise.” My rehearsed speech blew away on the breeze. “We had a conversation yesterday.”
“Yes.” She crossed her arms, not looking at me.
“Well…I’d like to try to have it again, only have it make sense.”
“Ooh. Aim high, Hunter.” Her eyes flashed, but I wasn’t about to give in.
“Why are you being so nasty to me?”
She exhaled, scanning the ground like she was searching for a lost coin. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
I reached for the lines I practiced last night again, but finally blurted out, “Why won’t you believe me when I tell you I’m interested in taking you out on a date?”
She stared at me. I shifted my gaze to the guy beside her, and we instantly formed a bro bond. He shrugged, shaking his head. He knew how hard it was to ask a girl out and had sympathy for me.
Elise huffed. “Fine. You want me to spell it out for you. I’ll spell it out for you.”
“That would be helpful.”
She uncrossed, then re-crossed her arms, taking a deep breath and hold it before exhaling in a rush. “You date…cheerleaders and…and…junior pageant winners, and—”
This conversation was supposed to clarify things, not make them harder. “Junior pageant winners? Like who?”
She glanced at the guy. “Isn’t Mandy Cartwright a…like…Miss Junior America or something?”
He finally spoke. “Not that I know of.”
“Oh.” She seemed to absorb that for a second. “Huh.” She focused on me again. “Anyway…. You—” She unhooked her arms so she could jab a finger into my chest, then she waved above her. “Up here. Me—” She pointed to herself. “Down here.” She bent to put her hand a couple of inches off the ground.
I had zero idea what she was talking about. I appealed to the guy again, but he was no help. He was just frowning at her.
I closed my eyes for a moment and shook my head then tried again. “Why do you say that? And why do you assume I have alterior motives?”
“Ulterior.”
I chuckled, probably not the right thing to do, but I couldn’t help it. It struck me as funny, her correcting my pronunciation in the middle of an argument. “See. You make me so nervous I can’t even speak right.”
She cocked a hip and tapped her foot impatiently. Me and the guy exchanged a glance again. Then she pounced. “Come on. I know I don’t look like any model or—”
I threw my hands out to the side. “What?” I gaped at the guy. “Is she crazy?”
He lifted his arms, palms facing me, and shook his head a fraction, taking a giant step back.
Chicken.
“Anyway, do you think all I’m interested in is your looks? Is that all you’re interested in?”
“Well it wasn’t your IQ I was ogling when you were lifting that deck tarp yesterday. And I’m not staring at your lips and thinking ‘Gee. I bet he’d make a great orator.’”
I grinned. “See. That’s what
I like about you. You say the wildest things.”
She rolled a shoulder. “You should meet my mom.”
“I’d like to meet her.” I bent to try to catch her gaze. “But mostly, I’d like to get to know you better. Why won’t you believe that?”
“Because, Hunter, I’ve been the butt of every insincere asshole’s jokes since third grade. Maybe even second, I lost track.”
“I can’t help what other people did. I wish I could. I’d kick their ass if you wanted me to.”
She studied me, really examining my face for the first time since the conversation began. “So, if you’re telling me the truth, what is it you like about me?”
I spread my arms wide. “Everything.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Uh-huh.” She turned to her friend. “Come on, Scott.”
She tried to brush past me, but I stepped in her way, grasping her biceps. “No, wait.” I licked my lips. It was imperative I get this right. “Well, to start with, your smile.”
“My smile.” She raised an eyebrow, her voice flat.
“Yes. Maybe you don’t realize it, but your smile….” I shook my head in disbelief. “Your smile floors me. It’s warm, and sincere, and it lights up your whole face. It makes the world more beautiful. Like, it could make the sun jealous.” I winced, having said too much. I berated myself. “That sounds stupid, doesn’t it?”
She cleared her throat. “No. No. It doesn’t sound stupid.” She rolled a pebble with her foot. “Listen, I don’t need Shakespeare here.” She looked me in the eye. “I need the truth.”
“The truth is—I like you and I want to spend some time with you.” I became aware of the people filing past us. Some seeming more than a trifle interested in eavesdropping on our conversation. I cleared my throat. “Do you think we could go—” I glanced around. “I mean, everyone is overhearing us here. Can we go somewhere a bit more private and talk?”
Her lips twitched. “Yeah.”
“Yeah? Awesome.” Okay. Now what? “How about we go down by the lake, or pond, or whatever they call it, and take a walk.”
She shifted her focus away, then back. “Okay. That sounds good.”
I started to move in that direction with her but the guy she was with stuck his hand out. “Hey. My name’s Scott McCord.”
One side of my mouth lifted. I shook it. “Hunter Reynolds.”
“Okay. So, Hunter…could I have a quick, little…” He jerked his head to the right indicating he wanted to talk mano e mano. We stepped aside and he grasped my shoulder. I stole a peek at Elise. She was waiting and probably trying to listen in to our conversation. He lowered his voice. “Look, dude. I’m rooting for you and all.” The grip on my shoulder tightened. “But if you—” he took in a breath “—ever hurt her, or pressure her to do anything she’s not ready to do…” His eyes glowed for a moment, and my palms began to sweat. “I will fuck you up.”
“O-okay.”
He turned normal again. “Good.” He patted my shoulder. “You two kids have fun. Elise, you know where I am if you need me.”
“Gotcha.”
I was about to put my hand on the small of her back as we spun to leave, but I thought twice about it, glancing over my shoulder. He was watching us.
Elise leaned in and whispered, “What was that all about?”
I looked again, and so did she. Scott waved. I whirled around and exhaled with a shaky laugh, running my fingers through my hair. “He wanted to make it clear to me if I did anything to you he didn’t like, I’d be in a world of pain.”
She gasped. “He did?” She glanced in his direction. And a huge smile lit her face, and she nodded. “Hmm. How about that?”
I grabbed her hand in an act of defiance. A wave of happiness hit me and I rode that puppy. “Come on.”
Chapter 9
Kyle
It was a day off, on the road in sunny Anaheim, California. I’d reffed an Avalanche game in Denver the night before and taken an early-ish flight out. I arrived, checked in, and headed straight for the gym. I used to love free time on the road back in the day. If the weather was nice, I’d walk around the town, find myself a pub, and find myself a woman. Even if she didn’t wind up in bed with me, it would be a pleasant evening spent in a woman’s company.
Now, I hated these days without work. When I was involved with my game day rituals, or traveling, time passed quickly on the road. But with no game to prepare for, the hours ticked away slowly and I always found myself thinking of Sam and missing her. Today was no different. But a nice long, hard workout would tire me out. Plus, I needed to stay in shape. The game these days was quicker, the guys, bigger, stronger. I had to be at the top of my physical condition. After all, hockey refs don’t get shift changes like the players. We’re on the ice the full sixty minutes and then some. It was exhausting, but nothing beat the adrenaline rush of a breakaway. When hockey was played right, it was a work of art.
I was on the bench, taking a short break between sets. I’d been at the gym for close to two hours and worked up a good sweat. I made it a habit to leave one earbud out, so as not to be rude to other lifters who may ask to use my equipment. It was a particularly slow day at the gym, probably because it was gorgeous out. The gym doors were propped open. The breeze, kissed by California sunshine, weaved through the building and out the back, lightening the usually heavy, stagnant air in the weight room. I was told Sly Stallone worked out here before one of his Rambo movies, but, besides the autographed pictures of the movie star, the gym was nothing special. Still, it was three blocks from the hotel, and had everything I usually used, plus a few other nice pieces of equipment.
A strange noise made me lift my head. It was an odd rasping—like an air conditioning hose hissing? Some of these places had some pretty sketchy equipment. Then the faint “Help me,” reached my ear. I pushed to sitting quickly, ripping my other earbud out and twisting to look behind me. A second weight room was half a flight of stairs below, with clear plastic slats as balcony rails, allowing me to see into that room. I could spot no one, but I still heard the cry nearby. I moved closer to the railing and peeked over it. Directly behind me, a woman reclined on a weight bench with a bar across her chest. It was evident she’d tried to bail on a lift, as one end of the bar was on the floor to her left, but she didn’t get clear of it and was pinned. I used my bench as a stepping stone and vaulted the plastic barrier, landing between benches. I grabbed the high end and lifted it to give her some relief, at the same time yelling for help. Another guy was already on his way, and with his assistance we moved the bar out of the way so we could see if the lady was hurt. She was sitting, straddling the bench, coughing and wincing with a hand to her chest.
I crouched by her side, the other guy hovering over my shoulder, dripping sweat on me. “Are you all right? Do you need us to call 911?” I was freaking out a tad. I’d seen a lot of folks get in trouble, but usually someone provided relief within seconds. How long had she sat with weight on her chest?
She continued to cough, but shook her head. “I’m fine,” she struggled out. After a few seconds, though, she lifted her face and asked the guy behind me. “Could you grab me a cup of water?”
“Sure thing.” He dashed away for the water cooler.
She had one of those metal water bottles beside her, but it must be empty.
I put a hand on her leg. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
She covered my hand with hers. “Fine. Thank you.” Someone must have alerted the manager, because he appeared above.
“Dana!” He seemed both scared and pissed. He walked to the stairs, a few benches away, and came down.
The girl looked at me with a weak smile. “Now I’m gonna get it.” The other lifter arrived and gave her the water, and she drank.
The owner came and stood, his gaze darting from one of us to the next. “Are you okay?” he said to begrudgingly, although his face showed genuine concern.
“I’m fine, Frank.” He started to say something, but s
he waved and cut him off. “I know. It was stupid to do it without a spotter. It’ll never happen again. I swear. Never again. But it’s strange because this is a lighter weight than usual. I was going for reps.” She stood but swayed on her feet, and we all lunged for her. She leaned on me mostly because I was the closest. “Whoa.”
“I’m calling an ambulance.”
She surprised me by quickly grabbing his arm. “Please, Frank, no. I simply forgot to eat lunch.” She turned to me. “Could you maybe help me to the bench?” We gently lowered her, and I again squatted beside her, ready to catch her if she passed out and slid my way.
“Forgot to eat lunch? Who forgets to each lunch?” the guy behind me said. It was evident he’d never missed a meal in his life. His bulk wasn’t all muscle. We all chuckled.
“I’ve got a protein bar in my bag. I’ll go get it.” I started to rise, but the owner stopped me.
“Wait. I’ve got some behind the counter.” He took off.
“Are you better?” I asked gently.
“Yes, much.” She put a hand on the side of my face. The way she was looking at me…I suddenly was uncomfortable. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”
I subtly moved away an inch or two. “Yeah. I almost didn’t hear you above that fan.” I pointed to the level above and a fan clearly out of balance and squeaking where it rubbed on the light casing.
She began to cough again, and I instinctively moved closer. “Are you sure you’re okay? You could have a broken rib.”
She pulled her top up. The guy behind me whispered. “Holy shit.” Let’s just say the gods were benevolent with her when creating her chest. She had an athletic bra on, but still…. Doing my best to ignore that, I peered at her rib cage. A mark had been left where the bar landed, but it was much better than I expected.
“Is it broken?”
I duck walked a hair closer to her and studied it. “Can I examine it?”
“Are you a doctor?”
“No. A hockey ref. But I’ve seen plenty of trainers assess a player who took a stick to the gut. It’s okay if you don’t want me to,” I reassured her.
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