Page 9

CHAPTER 9

Cami

The Beach Boys are playing softly in Charlie’s car as he drives us to the bar. Might seem like an odd choice for a drive to the bar, but that’s Charlie. A walking contradiction at times.

I was surprised he actually took me up on my offer to come tonight, considering he is usually home and in bed as soon as possible after a game. Regardless of the reason, I’m glad he’s going out and spending time with his teammates. After seven years it’s about time he tried to make some lasting relationships. I wonder what it was that happened all those years ago that caused him to pull away as severely as he did—it’s not the first time I’ve been curious about it.

We haven’t talked much, just embraced the comfortable silence. This is one of the things I love best about my friendships with Alana and Charlie: the ability to feel comfortable while not speaking at all. It’s a special level of a relationship to be able to be with someone and not feel the need to fill the quiet moments with noise.

The song is interrupted when a call comes through the speakers. George Cade—his dad—flashes on the screen, and he hits ignore before it can ring a second time. Charlie’s dad calls him after every single game, and he declines the call every single time. Their relationship is extremely strained, pretty much nonexistent, and his contact name in Charlie’s phone is evidence of that.

“You okay?” I don’t know why I ask it. I know Alana’s relationship with their parents is strained, and with how close he is with his sister I know that affects him.

“M’fine.” His clipped response tells me he’s anything but, but I don’t push it.

We drive in silence for a little longer before I speak again, trying to steer us into better territory.

“You were great tonight. Like always.” He looks over at me and I wink, causing him to laugh and shake his head in annoyance at my praise.

“Wright’s goal at the end was epic.”

It was epic. He weaved around the opposing team and it was like the puck floated and followed his stick, sailing right past the goalie and into the net. It was unreal, and judging by the crowd’s reaction, totally unexpected. But Charlie’s response is so typical of him, never taking a compliment or wanting any spotlight on himself.

“It was. The crowd went crazy.”

“He’s really good, Wright. Seems like a good guy too.”

“Do you know much about him?” I ask.

“Not really. He has one more year in his contract, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they re-sign. He’s got a lot of talent and fits in well with the team. He has a girlfriend I’m pretty sure. I think I saw her tonight.”

“Maybe she’ll be at the bar. I’d love to recruit a friend to sit with me while Alana is gone.”

“Yeah, clearly we can’t leave you alone.” His comment reminds me of the situation that happened before the game started and I can’t help but ask.

“What was that about? Calling me down to the glass was a little much.”

“Just wanted to talk to you. Make sure you were coming up to the suite after.” He shrugs and stares forward like it was nothing, meanwhile I’m confused. He knew I would be at the suite, we always go after the game. I don’t have time to address it further, though, because just as I start to respond we pull up to the bar.

Charlie steps out of the car at the valet, then comes around to my door to get it for me. I take his hand as I step out, then straighten my jersey. I’m wearing light wash jeans with holes in the knees and a red, white, and blue jersey. The number nine and the name “Cade” feel like a claiming, and they should. I’m here for Charlie and I’m honored that I get to support him.

We make our way inside and move towards the back of the bar where the rest of the guys are. There’s about twenty of them here, some with girlfriends and some without, and it’s busy. I don’t mind it, but I can tell Charlie is struggling to get comfortable.

We make our way towards the bar and after pushing forward there isn’t enough room for us to stand side by side, so he stands behind me. I feel his front press up against my back as he leans forward to yell his order to the bartender and can’t help the shiver that passes through my body at the contact.

That was weird.

My body has never once recognized his as anything more than a friend, so I chalk the reaction up to the fact that we’re pressed up against each other like we haven’t ever been before. I can’t even see his face like this, and my body would react that way to any man pressed up against me…right? Right.

I turn around to try and remind myself that this is Charlie behind me, not some 6’4” hockey player (same diff, my brain supplies), and find him looking down at me.

“Thanks for coming with me tonight.” His eyes warm as he smiles down at me and I return it. I love getting to see these glimpses of him that he doesn’t show anyone else, and getting them in a crowded bar feels like a whole different level of intimate.

The bartender gives us our drinks, an old fashioned for him and a margarita for me, and we turn to make our way back towards the tall tables where the guys are standing. I spot Soren first, standing with a woman next to him. She’s beautiful, with long chestnut hair and a small frame. Her jeans and cropped Rangers tee make her look effortlessly sexy.

“Hey, man,” Soren says to Charlie as we approach. They clasp hands and slam their bodies against each other in a sort of bro-hug. He then turns to me and smiles.

“Good to see you again, Cami. This is my girlfriend, Mia.”

Mia steps forward and pulls me into a tight hug, one that lasts a little longer than a normal hello hug would last, but it feels welcoming and not awkward.

“It is so nice to meet you. The more women around here, the better. I get tired of being the only one,” she says and we both giggle.

“This is Theo,” Charlie says as he motions to the other man at the table. “He’s a goalie on the team.”

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” he says as he reaches out to shake my hand.

I do my best not to freak out at being introduced to not one, but two, of his teammates in one night.

Theo steps back to his spot around the table and Mia tucks herself into Soren’s side. He pulls her close as the guys start talking about the game, but I’m not paying attention to what’s being said. I’m stuck staring at Soren’s hand resting on Mia’s hip and the look in her eyes when she looks up at him.

Her smile looks confident, like she’s sure of her place next to him. I want to ask her, How did you know it was him? That he was the one you wanted to stick with? I don’t, of course, but my thoughts stick there.

What is it within me that doesn’t want to settle down? Why can’t I find anyone that I want for more than a few days or weeks? My family’s comments roll through my head and I don’t realize someone is speaking to me until Charlie nudges me with his shoulder.

“Cam?” He looks over at me and can tell I spaced, so he thankfully repeats the question for me. “Soren was asking what you thought of the game tonight.”

“Right, sorry.” I clear my throat. “It was a great game, close one until the end, that goal was incredible.”

“Total luck that no one stole the puck.”

“Nah, that was skill, my man,” Theo says from across the table.

“I agree. You handled it effortlessly.”

“It was a miracle Cade here stayed out of the penalty box tonight,” Soren says with a laugh. Charlie takes a drink of his old fashioned and shakes his head in disappointment.

“I do know how to control myself, unlike some of you.”

I’m honestly so impressed with his ability to carry this conversation with his teammates. It’s not like it’s anything groundbreaking, they’re just discussing the game, but Charlie doesn’t do this. He doesn’t go out to bars and debrief with his teammates. He goes home to the solitude and the safety of his apartment.

It feels like a tiny glimpse of the old him from high school. The one that had more friends than I could count and was the one every girl wanted. He used to know how to work a crowd like a pro, and I was afraid after everything that happened that version of him was gone. I smile at the fact that perhaps it isn’t entirely.

The conversation continues to flow easily, and I find myself enjoying the back and forth banter with his teammates. Charlie seems to settle into himself the longer we spend time with the guys and hope this might be the start of new friendships for him.