Page 60 of Hockey Halloween
Teddy
“Five, six, seven eight!” Teddy clapped out the numbers and walked through the basic steps to a modified “Thriller” dance for the tenth time to tired hockey players who were quarter-assing it at best after morning practice.
But this was the only time to do it before they left for a swing of away games, and she needed the video to post on actual Halloween.
There were a few issues. Despite Saralynn informing them they had to do this, there was a wide range of interpretation on the definition of “participation.” The ones who did try like Archer, even though his movements were small and self-conscious, couldn’t get the hang of mirroring her movements versus copying them as she faced them, so half of the room zombie-walked left when they were supposed to go right.
She needed help. But right now? No time.
She snapped her fingers to halt this attempt and turned off the music.
“Okay, this is pretty good.” Good enough .
“Let’s do this for real, and then you can go home. ”
That got a round of cheers. Teddy pushed the record button on her phone, cued the music to the beginning and mouthed the numbers to count them down.
She held her phone steady in one hand and used the other to point and gesture what they were supposed to do like a hybrid choreographer/conductor.
It was not the most effective, but knowing they were being recorded, the guys got into it more.
Not necessarily the correct steps, but some enthusiastic ones, making faces she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at.
When they got to the minute mark, she stopped the video and cut the music.
“Got it! Thanks guys. I know you were tired after practice, and this was the last thing you wanted to do. I really appreciate it. You’re saving me. You don’t even know.”
Even the grumbliest guys softened at that and waved away her thanks with a “No problem.” Archer just stared at her with a small, shy smile that made her stomach flip. Not real. Not real. Important to remember that. But the rest of the guys needed to believe it.
She tucked the confusing feelings away and strode up to her fake boyfriend, pulling him in for a soft kiss.
The guys who hadn’t left immediately after being dismissed raised their eyebrows and whistled, gently shoving Archer, teasing.
He didn’t seem to notice. His full lips were pliant under hers, surprisingly velvety, and an inadvertent low hum in this throat made her smile before she stepped back.
She waited until they were alone in the space outside the locker room before sighing.
“Sorry about that, but I saw an opportunity. Looks like they’re embracing you. ”
Archer blinked like he’d been in a bubble that just popped, and it took him a second to process her words. “Um. Yeah. They mostly tease me about you, but today they also talked to me about my experience in Carson City, and they invited me out for drinks tonight when we get to San Jose.”
She playfully punched his arm. “That’s great!”
“Yeah.” Except his brows were in a straight line parallel with his mouth.
“What’s wrong?” Her hand went to his without thinking about it, giving it a small squeeze.
He looked down at it then back to her and swallowed.
“I’m nervous. I don’t know if you noticed, but socializing isn’t my strong suit.
Hanging out at a bar, trying not to drink enough that it’d affect my play the next day while attempting to hold conversations with guys who intimidate the hell out of me?
How am I supposed to do that?” His cerulean blue eyes reflected the anxiety, and she felt a pinch in her chest.
His introversion was oddly endearing since she spent most of her time around extroverts and her job demanded she be the queen of them. She slid her thumb gently over his knuckles. “Can I give you some tips?”
His gaze darted down to their joined hands again, but he wasn’t letting go. He nodded.
“Blending in is easy. All you have to remember is that interested people are interesting. You don’t actually have to talk about yourself.
Keep asking questions about them. And it can be subtle.
When they tell you something, repeat the last few words back to them like a question.
They’ll expand on their thought, and they’ll keep going as long as you do. ”
His brows rose. “That works?”
“Every time. And if you need to change it up a little, make an obvious observation about something they said. Let’s practice. Tell me something about you. Anything.”
“Uhh. I’m allergic to peanuts.”
“It must be so hard managing at restaurants with an allergy like that!”
“Yeah, you’re not kidding. I always have to make a point to talk with the server…
oh. I see what you mean. Good tips. I’m also nervous about the games.
I did okay last night, but I’ll have to do better than okay to stay here.
Every game matters, and everyone’s watching me.
And I feel like I can’t talk to anyone here about it. Not yet anyway.”
“You can talk to me.”
He hesitated like it felt too big of an ask.
She smiled and squeezed his hand again. “We’re friends, right? You and Saralynn talked those guys into doing that dance for me. And you’re talking to me now. I mean it, if you start stressing on the road, you can text or call.”
“Teddy, I just met you. You really want to listen to my neurotic rambling?” Adorable vulnerability shone in his eyes. Obviously, no one up until now had made that offer.
“I really do.” And it was more than wanting to help him with the team so he’d keep helping her.
He had a lost puppy quality that made her want to look out for him.
And even though their relationship started out fake, maybe it didn’t have to stay that way.
Not that she was getting her hopes up. Even if he was looking at her like he might feel it too.
“In that case, I might take you up on it. But right now, I need to get to the hotel and pack.”
“They still have you in a hotel?”
“I’m switching to an Airbnb when I get back. Didn’t make sense to do it too early since I knew we’d be leaving for these away games.”
“Right, well, good luck…” The door behind him opened and Knight, Reese, and Cole reappeared.
Teddy swayed into Archer’s space, grabbed his jersey, and pulled him down for another kiss.
He did that stunned deer thing again, but only for a second.
Then his arm slid around her waist, pulled her closer, and he kissed her back.
Like he meant it. She sighed and her arms wound around his neck to keep her vertical since her knees liquified, and just as things were about to get interesting, his teammates catcalled and whistled, breaking the spell.
Archer stepped back, blinking at the guys like he just realized why she kissed him, and was that disappointment in his eyes?
Her chest ached. This was getting more complicated by the minute.
Dashel Knight wiggled his brows. “Hands where we can see them, guys. At least until we get to the parking garage.”
Teddy felt her cheeks warm and waited until the door to the underground garage shut before clearing her throat. “I’ll, uh, talk to you? ”
Archer couldn’t look at her, but he nodded and disappeared into the locker room.
She released a slow breath and slid a hand back through her hair, updating her to-do list: Edit the video. Talk to Saralynn. Try not to lose her sanity or her heart to get this job .