Page 16 of SlapShot Sweetheart

“Was he creepy?”

“I thought he was…”

“What did he look like?”

“Shortish-tall...”

“Shortish-tall? That makes literally no sense. Was he blondish-brown too?”

“You saw him too?”

“Theo! Are you lying to me? Did you put the note up there?”

“Did you want me to?” he blurted out, his eyes wide as he stared at her, swallowing and looking slightly alarmed. “Is that éclair on your shirt?”

“If you want to date a woman, try to refrain from pointing out her messes,” she grumbled and walked back inside, lifting her shirt slightly and sucking the remnants of the cream filling off the material. “Just come inside and shut the door,” she ordered easily over her shoulder. “I’m not sure how or why you are here, but hey – I guess you’re here if MM couldn’t bother to show his face.”

“I’m confused. Who is MM… and you sound upset.”

“I’m not feeling good, and MM is mymysterious man.”

“Ahhh…” Theo said simply, understanding. “Are you getting a cold? Too many eclairs?” Aimee gave him a flat look and pointed at the package of maxi pads on the dining room table that hadn’t made it to the bathroom yet.

“Oh.”

“Yeah – oh.”

They stood there looking at each other for a moment, and then she sighed, shrugging and hanging her head in defeat before looking at him. “I’m going to rejoin my heating pad and my kitties. If you want a soda or something, help yourself.”

Without a word, Theo disappeared into the kitchen and she almost said something smart at the sound of him opening cabinets and milling around nosily – yet kept quiet. She’d been rude, snapped at him, and cut him off repeatedly, yet he still came around and was still trying to talk to her. Maybe he’d been hit with a puck one too many times in the head, she thought silently and hesitated as her belly panged at the thought of him getting hurt.

“Should I feed the kittens?” Theo called out, and she felt like the biggest heel as she heard the two little moochers meowing pitifully at the intruder who had no idea that they had already been fed today. She still felt guilty, though, especially after shoving eclairs in her face and pouting. She was just so out of sorts, especially after seeing him a few hours ago.

“Sure,” she grumbled and heard his knowing chuckle as the kettle started to whistle. Flipping through the channels on the television, she happened to see his face scrolling and paused, shocked that he actually was some famous hockey player. For a moment, she thought maybe he might have been exaggerating or lying to her – but sure enough – there he was on the screen as bold as could be.

“Ugh,” Theo muttered, entering the room with a cup of hot tea and rolling his eyes. “Why do they insist on showing footage of me talking smack and looking intense? When there’s no sound, then I could be saying anything… and let me tell you, not all of us in the hockey league have clean mouths.” It was such a strange and outrageous thing to say that Aimee couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her, especially as she saw his snarky expression combined with the emphatic eye roll that looked so very dramatic. “Besides, we both know my good side is my left one.”

“Oh mercy…” she muttered, and this time it was her turn to roll her eyes as he smiled, handing her the cup. Leaning away,she sniffed at the cup warily and looked at him once more. “What’s that?”

“Arsenic.”

“You know that’s not funny.”

“Don’t be such a grump then when I know you are a sweetheart deep down inside… it might be located in the deepest trench on the ocean floor, but it’s still there.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Gee, you’re welcome,” he smirked and knelt before her as she accepted the tea. “My mother used to always swear by onion tea or hot ginger tea with a bit of lemon. It helps everything, and I always have it when I get a cold or feel bad.”

“Did you sayoniontea?”

“Yup. I could make you some… if you had onions.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Smart girl,” he chuckled, looking at her. “Drink up.”

“I’m concerned it might actually be arsenic. I’ve not been the nicest person lately.”

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