Page 7

seven

Noah

I wanted her attention, so I asked for it.

Now, Paisley and I straddle two of the last empty bar stools at Red Barn Kabobs. She knows everyone’s names. If she is nervous, she doesn’t show it, because she keeps talking to everyone.

I never noticed it before, as we’d only ever chatted about food and photos, but, man, she has hockey stats filed in her brain like a hockey Google machine.

NHL, AHL, college, and even high schools. I would never admit it to anyone, but I’m relieved when the subject finally goes somewhere other than hockey. “Hey, I saw the strangest thing.” She slides to the edge of her seat, bouncing her gaze from Axl to Sophie to me.

“A skibbity toilet rizzlier Ohio,” Axl interjects from across the table.

Sophie elbows him with a chuckle. “Sorry, he’s been spending too much time with my little brother.”

“No.” Paisley wags her head, the seriousness in her expression making her eyes grow wide. “This morning when I was driving over to the arena, it was still a little dark out, and right as I pulled off the interstate, I glanced to the left—you know, where there’s all those trees—and I swear I saw a monkey.”

“You’re not wrong. Mapleton has monkeys.” Sophie juts to a more upright seating position and extends her hand in excitement. “I see them all the time!”

“So, this is a thing?” Paisley’s gaze slides to me. “I thought I might be dreaming.”

I nod. “Yeah, they are escaped circus monkeys, and Mapleton is famous for them.”

“That’s a little weird.” Paisley shakes her head in bewilderment, her gaze directed at me. “I know I’m supposed to stick to sports, but I might have to add something about that to my article.”

“Do it.” I bark a supportive laugh. “You’ll get so much more talk about it.”

“You two are so cute together.” Sophie wags a finger between us, and then, in a voice as loud as a stage whisper, says, “You are dating, right?”

“Nah—” Paisley starts to speak, but her feeble attempt at a rebuttal is over spoken by Sophie.

“I have the best idea! You both should join us on our couples’ ski weekend!” Sophie’s voice grows louder, and her focus slams back to Axl.

Axl picks up her idea and rushes to expound. “Yeah, Sophie booked this all-inclusive ski package at Mapleton’s ski lodge. We have a cabin, ski rentals, and lift tickets. We have extra tickets because Jackson and his lady friend were going to go, but they broke it off. You should come up. Everything’s already paid for. You’d be doing a favor to not waste them.”

I level my gaze with Paisley’s. We pause for a long moment, as if we are both yielding to the other. She seems as stunned as I am.

Here we are—Paisley and I—sitting together on something that looks like a date, but I don’t want to make her uncomfortable by insinuating things that aren’t real.

We’re definitely not a couple.

We will not be going on any couples’ weekends.

Even though I love snowboarding.

The team doesn’t have a hockey game this weekend, which means that if I have no plans, I’ll be hanging out at the house with my mom and Bill.

I would love a weekend away from Bill.

Paisley’s gaze is locked on mine with no indication that I should refuse this gift.

Hmm, would it be wrong to insinuate a little?

For the sake of snowboarding.

It wouldn’t feel wrong.

It feels like fun.

Paisley still hasn’t uttered a word. She’s sitting on her stool, the muted-yellow bar light looming over her, lighting her best side.

Who am I kidding?

All her sides are the best ones.

I’m looking for a secret wink to let me know she likes free stuff, too, but she’s still. I finally reply for us both. “It’s sort of new . . .” I ease my words to not give away any embellishment. A light pink fires across the tops of Paisley’s cheeks. I tip my head toward her. “I love snowboarding. What do you think? Should we join them in their already-paid-for-couples’ skiing weekend?”

“Er, thank you so much for thinking of us.” She clears her throat and continues with a non-answer, “That’s certainly generous.”

I can already feel the wind in my face as I fly down the slopes. My adrenaline pumps as I lean closer, wagging my brows. “We don’t have a game, so you’re also off. I don’t think it’s an offer we should refuse.”

Her muteness carries on for a beat longer than what feels comfortable before she leans into me, sending waves of her effervescent sweet scent and smiling coyly at me. An electric zap spirals through my body, and it’s still zapping when she says, “I would love a couples’ getaway. After all, this weekend is Valentine’s Day.”

“Oh, really?” I startle. The word Valentine echoes in my head so loudly that I start seeing a mirage of red hearts and stuffed teddy bears. Sweat beads on my brow as I realize that the stakes are suddenly raised.

Why am I the last one to find this out?

Valentine’s weekends are for serious couples.

Not just people who want to get free ski passes.

I’d look like a complete jerk backing out now. I press my teeth into my lip, not enough to hurt but enough for me to feel the sting. “That sounds like, ah, such a great p-plan.”

“Right!” Sophie’s tone ticks up a notch. “We can all ride together. It’s going to be epic.”

My gaze replants on Paisley. Her complexion has gone ashen as she swings her bar stool back and forth. Her straight expression is silently hinting she might need to talk about this.

“Well, it’s getting late.” I stretch my arms wide, pretending I’m not in a hurry to get away from these two before I agree to do something else—like a Vegas trip to get married. I casually look at Paisley, pleading with my eyes. “You want me to take you home?”

“We can get out of here.” She nods as she slides off her stool and slips on her coat.

I stand, placing a protective hand on her lower back as I stride a half step behind her. We are about a yard away from the table before she leans in and harshly whispers, “What were you thinking back there?”

“I know!” I slam my gaze to the ceiling. “I was hung up on the free skiing. I didn’t realize it was a romantic couples thing.”

We continue to pace away from the table at a brisk speed. Paisley hisses under her breath, “Sophie flat out said couples’ weekend when she offered.”

I open the exit door and wait for her to pass through it. “Right, but nobody gave me a heads-up about the Valentine’s thing. Where did that come from?”

“It came from the calendar.” She snicker-laughs.

I drop my voice to include more calm inflections. “It’s fine, really. Just because it’s a couples’ thing doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the free skiing. It doesn’t change anything because a pink angel in a diaper claimed this weekend.”

Her expression flattens, and the only clue to how she’s feeling are her round, now vulnerable eyes. “You still want to go knowing it’s Valentine’s Day?”

“We are both off work and don’t have to make a big deal about the couple things. It’s free skiing.”

“Right.” Her arms cross over her chest, as we are almost to my car. She echoes as if she’s still trying to convince herself. “Just free skiing.”

“And maybe some hot chocolate.” I gesture toward her, hoping to lighten the mood. “Nothing wrong with that.”

“Hot chocolate is good.” Her chin raises and lowers. “And probably a lot of time with Sophie and Axl, which will be great. It will give me a chance to get to know them better.” Her inflections have calmed down now. I risk direct eye contact as I’m no longer afraid her angered gaze is going to disintegrate me.

“Right. Don’t worry.” I open my door and get in. I’m calm on the outside, but my brain is still flashing a mirage of chocolate candy hearts, red roses, and cards with images of couples dancing and kissing. The brain filter that I should have put in place falters, and I word vomit the thoughts that should have stayed silent. “It’ll be totally fine. It’s not like there’ll be any kissing or anything.”

“Wait. What?” She opens her door with urgency and slides in next to me, her eyes searching for answers in mine. “Why would you blurt that out?”

My gaze slams to the heavens.

Why would I blurt that out?

For real, Noah.

“It was a joke?” My defense sounds like a question, and I avoid her gaze as I start the car and pull forward, so ready to change this subject. “Anyway, about those wild monkeys . . .”

When I get home, I dump the contents of my travel bag on my bed and sort through them. Unused socks. I drop them back into the bag, as I will definitely need them for snowboarding. Wireless earbuds. Yep, back in the bag those go, because Axl has been known to snore. The rest of the stuff is dirty laundry, so I scoop that all up in one giant heap and walk it over to my hamper. I’ll have to deal with that when I get back.

I cross my room again to my closet and open the door right as my mom pops her head in. “Hey, I thought you were done with overnight travel games?” Her reading glasses are on the tip of her nose, indicating that she’s already taken out her contacts for the night and is passing on her way to bed to watch the news with Bill.

“We are.” I snatch a Granite Ice sweatshirt off the hanger and roll it up as I walk back to my bed. “I got invited to go snowboarding this weekend with Axl and his fiancé. We are leaving in the morning."

“Oh, Sophie.” She nods, the ends of her lips pulling into a pleased grin. “That sounds like fun. Is it just the three of you going?”

“Nope.” I roll my lips in and silently chew myself out for not moving out of my parents’ house sooner. I love my mom dearly, but it’s moments like this that drive me insane. I have no idea what this little trip with Paisley means, but I know my mom’s going to insist she needs to know what it means. “And Paisley.”

“Paisley?” On cue, one eyebrow pitches up in the form of an actual question mark. I’m not even exaggerating. It has an arch and a squiggle, and it’s asking me to expound.

I stare forward, racking my brain to answer her eyebrow. “I don’t think I know her last name.” I draw a blank as I recall our past conversations. “It never came up.”

“Hmm. Interesting.” Her lips even into a straight line. I’m almost off the hook, as I can see her brow lowering, but then the worst thing ever happens.

Bill walks up and parks a hand on my doorframe. “What’s interesting?”

The only thing worse than living with your mom as an adult is also living with your boss. Why didn’t I close and lock the door when I had the chance? I flick my attention to my bag, doing my best to not welcome more questions. “I’m going skiing this weekend with Axl and Sophie.”

“And Paisley.” Mom aims her question-mark eyebrow at Bill like I’m fourteen and this is my first date.

“Paisley.” Bill’s gaze cuts to me. Cue the interrogation in three, two—"Why does that name sound familiar?”

“She’s been working with the team for a few weeks.” I keep the comments focused on her professional life. “You hired her for PR.”

“I didn’t hire anyone.” His deer-in-the-headlights look flashes. “Oh, her! Yeah, she’s not my employee. She’s working for some magazine, and she’s here for a little over a month.”

“Right.”

“I’m glad you brought her up.” His hand drops off my doorframe, and he takes several long, unwelcome steps into the room. “Do you sense something is off about her?”

“Like what?” My T is extra sharp to send the strong hint that I really don’t care to discuss this with him.

“I don’t know.” He lifts his hand and scratches the middle of the bald spot on his head with his pointer finger. “I can’t place it, but something is strange about the way she’s always lurking around, taking photos—”

“Because that’s her job.” What is he even getting at? I grab another sweatshirt from my closet and some snow pants and stuff them into my bag.

Bill hums for a beat before adding, “Anyway, about Kaylee Bradworth.”

Disbelief floods my whole body, and I spin on my heel and face Bill. “What about her?”

“I invited her to the charity banquet to sit by us.”

I struggle not to scream at the top of my lungs, and somehow, miraculously I speak with an even tone. “Why would you do that?”

“You said you weren’t going to bring a date, and we had the seating. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to get to know someone.”

“You are—”

“An excellent matchmaker.” His smug smile fills in.

“That’s not at all what I was about to say.” I lower my gaze to the floor and focus on deep steady breaths. I’m going to have to increase my anxiety medication dosage if I continue to live with Bill much longer.

“It’s true. Just ask Sophie and Axl.” Pride shines through his expression. “They seem to be exceptionally happy.”

I can’t listen to this anymore.

I certainly can’t go on setups with Kaylee Bradbury or Bradworth or whatever her name is.

Not when I have my own . . .

My . . .

Paisley isn’t anything but a friend, but it matters because it’s my life. I make the decisions about my life. Not Bill Baker. I seriously need to look for an apartment as soon as I get back from this trip. Jotting that down in my inner to-do list.

“So, ah, be there by six for social hour, and maybe try some of my Old Spice I have in the bathroom.” His thumb angles behind him toward his bathroom and I cringe.

“I’m not using your cologne,” I grumble.

“The ladies love it.” His gaze slides to my mom. “Right, honey?”

“He’s not lying.” She smiles back, and all I want to do is melt into the floor. Again, I’m happy my mom is finally happy, but I can’t hear this.

“Stop.” I exaggeratedly place my hands over my ears.

“Fine.” Bill wraps an arm around my mom’s waist, both beaming out giant smiles. He holds up a finger with his free hand. “And tell me what this Paisley’s last name is. We need to know more about her.”

“You’re the one who gave her an office,” I grumble. “Maybe you should have asked her?”

“That’s right. I must have written it down somewhere.” His brows furrow together. “I’ll have to do some digging.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “What does it matter to you what her last name is?”

“Noah, we need to figure out who she really is.” Bill aims the most cryptic expression at me. “She might be a Palmer City Voltage fan, and we can’t have that.”

“I don’t know what you have against them.” I almost stutter at his ridiculousness. “We rarely even play them. They are in a different conference.”

“You’re right.” Bill wags his head, his lips rolling in tightly. “But I went to their games for years when I lived in Colorado. They win too much, especially for a team in such a small town. They have to be cheating, and if they aren’t, it’s just annoying.”

“We are a team in a small town.”

“It’s different,” he quips back. “Plus, they think they are so cool. Did you see what their owner did? He got them one of those fancy lightning machines, just like Tampa has.” He throws his head back, disgust oozing out of his expression. “Like, come on. What a showoff.”

I bite back a smirk, knowing full well that Bill is more jealous than anything. Now that he’s voiced what he’s jealous of, I can fully visualize Bill getting a lightning machine sometime soon. “Yeah, okay. I guess I’ll make sure to ask Paisley if she’s a Voltage fan.”

“Alright, honey.” My mom reaches out and gives me a side hug. “I’m headed to bed, but you have a nice trip.”

They finally leave my room and I turn back to my bag, doing a final scan. The only thing that’s missing are my anxiety meds. I slide my gaze back to my nightstand, and they are gone. Again.

Puck.

That stubborn dog.

I heave a heavy sigh. My anxiety ticks up thinking about how high my anxiety will be if I don’t have my meds, and I hurry down the hall. My mom’s door is already closed, and I don’t stop to knock, because they never let Puck sleep in there. Usually, he sleeps by the kitchen backdoor, and I scurry through the hall, and down the back staircase.

He’s right where I thought he’d be—sitting next to the door. One eye is closed, and the other eye is on the fridge as he patiently waits for Bill to come down for his midnight snack. He has everyone’s eating times memorized, and he doesn’t miss an opportunity to graze.

“Hey, Puck,” I whisper shout. “What’s in your mouth?” I drop to the floor in front of him, one palm on the marble floor, while the other hand digs into the side of his clenched teeth. His jaw snaps open, but nothing falls out. “Where are my meds?” I ask with a light-hearted teasing voice as I understand this is now a game he’s playing. “Did you hide them?”

He juts out his tongue, points his ears back, and smiles at me while wagging his stumpy tail.

“Okay, that’s fine if you want to play, but the games are over. I’m leaving town tomorrow, and I need them. Where did you put them?”

More tail wagging.

I swipe a hand through my hair. I can’t believe this is happening. I’m clearly stupid for not leaving the pills locked in the medicine cabinet. I used to do that, but there were so many days I would forget to take them. One time in particular was before a game, and I had a full-fledged panic attack while I was on the ice. My chest tightened and I couldn’t breathe. After that happened, I vowed to always keep them by my bed, so it is the first thing I see in the morning.

I’ll have to call my doctor in the morning to see if he can send a replacement prescription over to the pharmacy, but tomorrow is Saturday, and we are leaving early. He’s more than likely not going to be in until Monday.

My gaze drops to the side, as I overthink this, because that’s what I do.

It might be okay if I skip them for the weekend. It’s not like we are going to be doing anything stressful. I mainly need them for games. Yeah. I spin on my heel and head back upstairs to get some sleep. It’s not a big deal. I’ll get more on Monday when we are back in town.