Page 38

THIRTY-EIGHT

LEXI

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN(DAMENTAL RIGHTS) AND GOOD SEX

Piper

New York, baby! And for multiple nights because we’re doing a back-to-back with both NYC teams.

Madeline

I think I need a job with the Stars. You all go to these amazing cities all the time, and I’m watching the rain in DC.

Me

Our equipment manager is retiring at the end of the season. Do you have any NHL experience?

Madeline

I couldn’t even tell you what equipment hockey players wear, Lex.

A jersey? And… socks?

Emmy

Close enough if you ask me.

Maven

Where are you today, Em?

Emmy

Right across the river in New Jersey. We’re leaving for Denver later this afternoon, though. I’m grabbing dinner with Amelia Green who’s the associate coach for the Goldminers.

Me

She’s my ultimate girl crush.

Piper

SAME. Her ability to ignore the commentary about her being a woman coaching men is astonishing. And her clothes? I’m so jealous. I want to raid her closet.

Maven

She gave me a tampon in the bathroom last season, and I think I fell in love with her.

Emmy

You know I love you all very much, but if we were going to add anyone to the group, I’d love for it to be her. She’s an icon.

Me

Tell her she has a fan club in DC if she ever makes her way out east!

Piper

Want to get dinner tonight, Lex and Mae?

Me

Sure. I can make reservations somewhere.

Maven

Sorry! No dinner for me. Dallas is also playing in New York this weekend, so we’re doing a kid-free night of dinner and a Broadway show. You two have fun!

Me

Looks like we’re going on a date, Piper.

Piper

Can’t wait!

* * *

Riley

I’m excited for this surprise. When do I get it?

Me

Tomorrow after practice. I’m stealing you for the rest of the afternoon, Mitchy.

Riley

Sounds promising. Are you still not telling me where we’re going?

Me

Nope. You can be patient, right?

Riley

Do I get something if I am?

Me

The rest of the day with me. And the night, if you want it.

Riley

I definitely want.

Me

Good answer. See you later ;)

* * *

“Okay. This place is way too nice for the jeans I’m wearing.” Piper opens her menu and scans the wine list. “I didn’t think we’d be going to an upscale restaurant when I packed yesterday. There is a hole in the denim right above my knee.”

“I don’t think we’re the most underdressed people here. Those tourists are wearing Statue of Liberty crowns on their heads.”

Piper giggles. “Okay, fine. We don’t look that out of place.”

“Evening, ladies.” Our server stops at our table and smiles at us. He’s young, probably in his late twenties with tan skin and dark eyes. “Can I get you all started with something to drink?”

“I’ll have your sauvignon blanc please,” Piper says.

“Gin and tonic for me,” I add, and the server nods.

“I’ll be right back,’’ he says, flashing me another smile.

“Okay.” Piper puts her menu down and kicks my shin under the table. “He is cute . And flirting with you.”

“What are you talking about?” I laugh and roll my eyes. “He asked if we wanted something to drink. That’s his job , Piper.”

“The extra smile he tacked on at the end probably isn’t included in his job description.”

“Maybe not. But who doesn’t love some extra hospitality?”

“Are you going to give him your number?” she asks.

“Why would I give him my number? I’m here with you, and he’s clearly busy with work.”

“Wait a second.” She drops her chin in her palm and narrows her eyes. “You’re hiding something.”

“I’m not hiding anything!” I exclaim.

“You so are and—” Piper gasps and moves my hair away from my neck. “Is that a hickey?”

“You are so nosy.” I touch the mark Riley left on my skin two nights ago when he came over to watch a movie. We lasted thirty minutes on opposite ends of the couch before I was in his lap and his mouth was on my throat. A rough growl rumbled out of him when I said if he wasn’t careful, he was going to make me bruise, and he sucked on my skin even harder. “It’s not a hickey.”

“It is so a hickey. Who are you sleeping with?”

“A guy I’ve seen a few times.” I shrug, the lie easily rolling off me. “It’s not serious.”

“Not serious? Lexi Armstrong never goes back for seconds. He must be pretty special.”

“Okay, look. I’ve gone back for seconds once or twice. I just don’t like to. Why drive the same car when you can keep test driving better models until you find the one you like best?”

“Doesn’t seem like you’re test driving this one.” She smiles. “How’d you meet him?”

“You know.” I wave my hand and scan the restaurant, hoping the server is on his way back with our drinks. I could use some alcohol right about now. “Around.”

I can’t pinpoint why I’m hesitant to give Piper details. I know everything about my friends’ dating histories and who they’ve been with, and no part of me thinks they would judge me for sharing it’s Riley I’m sleeping with.

Deep down, I think I’m afraid. Nervous that if people find out about us, they’ll put a label on something I don’t want to define. They’ll start asking questions, and it’ll ruin the fun we’re having. It’ll put pressure on me, on him to make it something it’s not, and the last thing I want is for someone to try to explain why there’s an ache in my chest when he leaves my apartment in the morning and why I check my phone to see if I have a new message from him waiting for me.

That’s all too deep, too personal, and I’ve never been that girl.

“Around,” she repeats, then gasps again. “Oh my god . You like this guy.”

“I like his dick,” I clarify, blushing when the server returns and clears his throat.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he says, setting the drinks on the table. “Are you ready to order?”

“I think we need some more time,” I say, and he nods.

“Sure. I’ll be back in a few.”

When we’re alone, Piper studies me. Her attention makes me itchy, and I hold my menu in front of my face so she can’t scrutinize me.

“Lex,” she says softly, and I peer at her over the top of the pasta offerings. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I’m sleeping with someone I’ve slept with before. We enjoy spending time together, but it’s never going to be something other than a physical relationship, and I’m okay with that.”

“So, you do like him.”

How could I not like him?

My mind races to Riley and the handful of times he’s slept over at my place lately, an arm behind his head and a book open on his lap. In the early mornings before the sun rises and his hands slipping under my sleep shirt. Late at night when I’m curled around him and telling him about my day, his eyes half closed and on the edge of sleep but still fully engaged in my stories.

He’s perfect. The antithesis of everything I ever thought a man could be, and for as much as I do like him, for as much as I want to spend my free time with him, I also hate him a little bit for making me so reliant on him.

“He’s fine,” I say.

“It’s okay to have feelings for someone, Lex.”

“Is it? Because usually when you’re attracted to someone, bad things start to happen.”

“Hey.” Piper plucks the menu out of my grasp and sets it aside. She takes my hand in hers and squeezes my palm. “You’re talking to the woman who got divorced before she reached thirty. I know firsthand what happens when you start to fall for someone, and it’s absolutely terrifying. It’s even more terrifying when you do it a second time after a disastrous first attempt.”

“Fall for someone?” I laugh. “It’s not like that. I’ll admit I like him and I like spending time with him. I’ll admit he’s great and wonderful and everything a man should be. But I’m not falling for him. I’m not that girl. I never will be.”

“What if the right guy makes you that girl?”

“I’m not changing for a man. Besides, he wouldn’t want me to change. He likes me exactly how I am.”

“Are you happy?” she asks.

I’m so happy I could fucking die, and it’s the worst feeling in the world.

“Yeah,” I answer. “I am.”

“Poor Riley.” Piper sighs. “He’s going to be so disappointed to hear his crush is crushing on someone else.”

“He doesn’t like me that much.”

“Sure he doesn’t. That’s why he looks at you nonstop. Because he doesn’t like you.”

I hide my smile behind a cough. He is always looking at me, and I like it when he does. Attention from him means more than attention from anyone else, and I hope he doesn’t stop looking at me anytime soon.

“He’ll get over it,” I say. “I doubt he’s losing any sleep over me.”

“I hope not. That boy has been through enough, and it’s good to see him so upbeat these days. Whatever he’s doing seems to be working.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” I grab for my highball glass. “Are we finished with the interrogation about my personal life?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m happy for you and the good dick you’re getting.”

“Thanks for your support. It is good dick.”

“One day you’ll confess, and until then, I’ll keep pointing out the servers who are hitting on you. Oh, look. He’s headed back this way.”

“I’m not interested. For now, I’m a one-man woman.”

“Lexi Armstrong. I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Me either,” I say. “But I kind of like it.”

* * *

Me

Hey. Are we all set for tomorrow?

Maverick

Yup! Just got off the phone with the board of directors and made a generous donation to the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Everything should be up and running and fully staffed.

Me

Thank you so much for doing this, Maverick. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.

Maverick

Don’t mention it. I’m a little jealous I wasn’t invited, but I’ll let it slide.

You two have fun ;)

Me

I’m ignoring that winking face.

Maverick

And I’m ignoring the fact that people think I don’t notice things. I see everything, Armstrong.

Me

There’s nothing to see.

Maverick

Keep telling yourself that!

* * *

“A subway?” Riley laughs when I tap my phone against the machine and nudge him through the turnstiles. “This is the big surprise?”

“We have to take the subway to get to the surprise.” I tap my phone a second time and follow behind him. “We’re not there yet.”

“Darn. I was looking forward to seeing all the boroughs.”

“We can do that instead if you want.”

“Nah.” He drapes an arm over my shoulder and ruffles my hair. “I want to see what has you all fidgety.”

“I’m not fidgety,” I challenge, but it’s a lie.

I’m so goddamn nervous about this surprise, and I have been since the idea came to me a couple of weeks ago. I’ve spent days exchanging phone calls and emails with important people, and even though Maverick told me everything is in place, I’m still holding on to the doubt that I won’t be able to pull this off.

“Whatever you have to tell yourself, Lex.”

The train comes and we find two seats next to each other. The hour ride passes quickly as we talk about tomorrow’s game, and Riley lights up when he mentions the line switches he helped Coach make that have led to a two-game win streak.

A couple of people do a double take when they step on the subway and spot him, but no one approaches us. When we get close to our stop, I make him put on a pair of noise-canceling headphones so he can’t hear station announcements. I lace my hand in his when we climb the stairs at the exit so we don’t get separated, telling him to keep his eyes closed.

“Almost there,” I say after a short walk in the March sunshine after I take his headphones off. It’s warm out, the start of spring in the air, and I keep our fingers intertwined. “Sorry it’s taking so long.”

“I have gone over a hundred possibilities of what’s about to happen, and I don’t know which one to pick.” Riley shuts his eyes and lets me lead him down the sidewalk, excitement pounding in my blood as I see the entrance gates. “I feel like a kid on Christmas.”

“Okay.” I stop us in front of the ticket booths. I loop my arm through his and put my head on his shoulder. “You can look.”

He blinks and covers his face with his hand to block the sun from hitting his eyes. He squints and reads the words stretched across the welcome sign. “Coney Island? What the hell are we doing at Coney Island? Are they even open?”

“No. I, um, had Maverick pull some strings.”

“What kind of strings?”

“A generous donation. He can afford it.” I pause and swallow down the nerves sitting in my throat. “We wrote out a life list for you, and I want to help you check off some of the things you want to do because you deserve to be happy and have fun, Riley. You mentioned going on a roller coaster and screaming until your throat is sore. There was also discussion about carnival games, so. Two birds, one stone.”

“You rented out an entire amusement park?” Riley spins so we’re facing each other. “For me?”

“Yeah. I know it’s not much, but with us having the afternoon free, I figured we could do something besides sit in our hotel rooms. The fresh air is nice. There won’t be anyone else around, and if you’re bored after two hours, we can leave and grab pizza somewhere.”

“This is unbelievable.” He holds my face in his hands and shakes his head. His glasses slide down his nose, and he smiles when I push them up for him. “I'm so excited.”

“You are?”

“Of course I am. I get to spend the day with you. And on Maverick’s dime? We’re buying everything in the park.”

I smile so hard my cheeks hurt. I tug on his arm, laughing when he lifts me up and spins me around. “Put me down, Mitchell. We have a busy day. We’re starting on the Cyclone. It’s been standing since nineteen twenty-seven, and it’s three minutes long.”

“Look at you being a theme park expert.”

“I did a lot of research for today.”

Riley sets me back on the ground, and I let him hold my hand as we walk toward the roller coaster. We pass photo booths and benches, the entire area deserted save for the occasional theme park worker. They wave to us but keep their distance, and when we make it to the entrance of the Cyclone, a bubbly blonde welcomes us.

“You must be Lexi and Riley.” She smiles and gestures to the front row of an empty car. “Hop on in.”

“I sure hope I don’t lose my leg,” he whispers to me, a hand on the small of my back as I climb in first. “Can you imagine how embarrassing that would be?”

“I bet it wouldn’t be the first time.” I yank him next to me and smile when he puts his arm around my shoulders. The car is a tight squeeze and our legs are pressed against each other, but I don’t mind. “A lost prosthetic is probably infinitely better than two teenagers humping each other on the ride.”

“Oh, we should try that. Forget about my leg.”

“Keep your pants on, Mitchell.”

I wave to the ride attendant. Our vehicle lurches forward, and I squeal when we roll out of the station and start up a hill.

“Jesus. The track isn’t even straight.” Riley holds me closer to his side. “And look at all those marks on the side. What if we go off the rails?”

“You need to live a little! That’s the whole point of this. Look how high we are!” I lift my arms above my head as the beach comes into view ahead of us. “I better hear your scream, Mitchy.”

We fly down the first hill, and Riley lets out a yelp next to me. He slides into me when we come around the first hill, elbow jabbing my side and making me burst out laughing. Our car shakes and rattles, and when we go down the second decline, he’s screaming his head off.

“I feel so alive,” he yells, and it’s my turn to smash into him. He puts a hand on my thigh to keep me in place, and he howls with laughter. “Holy shit. I wouldn’t care if we went flying off.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!” I yell back.

We match each other’s screams for the duration of the ride. Tears are streaming down my face from how hard I’m cackling, and when we pull back into the station, I fall out of the vehicle and onto the platform in a fit of hysterical giggles.

“Ignore her,” Riley says to the attendant who watches us like we’ve lost our minds. “This is normal behavior.”

“I’m going to pee my pants. You sounded like a kindergartener playing dodgeball.” A fresh wave of laughter hits me as he helps me to my feet and leads me down the ramp that dumps back into the park. My sides hurt, and I wipe under my eyes. “Can we please go again?”

“I think my throat is going to be sore for weeks.” He coughs and touches his neck. “Am I twenty-six, or am I going through puberty?”

“You have to admit that was fun.”

“It was insanely fun. What’s next, Armstrong?”

“Carnival games! We’re knocking things out left and right.”

“I’m going to have to get Maverick a disgusting birthday gift to say thank you.” Riley puts his arm on my shoulder and I loop my arm around his waist, my palm slipping into the back pocket of his jeans. “This is unreal. It’s some apocalyptic shit walking around without anyone else here.”

He picks a ring toss game first, ignoring the attendant’s protest that everything’s been paid for and slapping down a twenty-dollar bill. After fifty rings, he’s nowhere near landing on the clear bottle for the grand prize, so we shift over to a water racer game where we sit side by side and try to hit the targets in front of us.

Riley reaches the top first, and he picks a giant stuffed ice cream cone as his prize that he hands over to me as soon as it’s in his possession. We move to the lone hot dog stand that’s open where we take a selfie that he sends in his group chat with the guys. His phone starts chiming immediately, and he blushes when he silences the text message notifications.

“You’re a popular guy, Mitchy.”

“Ethan is very happy we found the hot dogs, and everyone else has some commentary about how we’re spending our day off.”

“Good commentary?”

“Embarrassing commentary.” He wipes a drop of mustard away from my mouth and smiles. “But fuck ’em.”

“That’s the spirit.” I take another bite of my hot dog and gesture to the rest of the rides. “What else do you want to do? We have hours to go and so many options.”

“The go-karts,” he says.

I grin, not caring about the piece of bun stuck to my gums. “Our stomachs are going to be fucked up.”

“Is there any other way to do a theme park?” He pops the last of his hot dog in his mouth and tugs on my arm. “Let’s go, Lexi baby.”

We spend the rest of the afternoon going from ride to ride. I kick his ass at go-karts, but he makes me pay for it by spinning us around the Tea Party attraction like a madman. After a visit to another roller coaster and a second ride on the Cyclone, we grab two ice cream cones and take our time walking down the boardwalk.

“Want to finish with the Ferris wheel?” I ask. “Technically it’s part of a different amusement park, but Maverick paid for it too.”

“Gift cards really aren’t going to cut it for a gift this year.” Riley stops us in the middle of the sidewalk and hooks his finger in the belt loop of my jeans. “Thank you for doing all of this for me. It means a lot, and this is the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.”

“We’ll get to some of the other things on your list.” I give him a one-armed hug, but he pulls me close. Tips my chin back so our gazes meet, and the sun setting behind his head makes him look like he has a halo. “I’m glad you’re having fun.”

“Lexi.” He rubs his thumb along the curve of my jaw. I sigh and turn my head so I can kiss the center of his palm. “Today was a very, very good day.”

“Yeah?” I smile, heart leaping up to my throat when he rests his forehead against mine. “It was pretty great, wasn’t it?”

“One for the books,” he murmurs, nose bumping against mine. He bends his neck and kisses me soft and slow, out in the open where anyone could see, and I let him. “You’re my favorite person in the entire world.”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I say, because I’m caught off guard by how natural and right all of this is; spending a full day together. Being affectionate out in public. Having fun and feeling free in a way I’ve never felt before. “Okay. I’m lying. Besides the girls, you’re my favorite person in the entire world too.”

“I’d never ask to be put above them. That’s their rightful spot.”

Something tender stirs inside me as he tosses his ice cream in the trash and kisses me again, a hand in my hair and the other back on my cheek. It’s steady, heart-pounding, and I think my feet might be coming off the ground because I’m enjoying it so much. I think my heart might be skipping a beat when he laughs against my mouth and kisses me harder. I think the deepest parts of my soul might be healing when he throws me over his shoulder and ignores my complaints about riding the Sling Shot with a full stomach.

On the subway ride back to the hotel, I put my head on his shoulder and close my eyes, feeling like a goddamn liar.

Today wasn’t pretty great.

It was the best day of my life.