Page 54 of Cross-Checked

Frozen in place, not waiting to wake her up, I take a few minutes to study the light smattering of freckles dusting the tops of her cheeks, right under her eyes. I’m guessing they’re normally covered by makeup, but with the bright early morning light streaming in the windows, I can see them now, where last night’s low light hid them from me.

I’m trying to determine the best way to extricate myself from her embrace without waking her, so I can figure out what time it is and how soon I need to leave for morning skate, when I hear banging in the hallway.

“C’mon, McCabe, we don’t have time for this!” Walsh’s voice carries into AJ’s room.

I press my eyelids together.Fuck, this can’t be happening.

He bangs a few more times on the door across the hallway, which has AJ stirring. Holding a finger to her lips before she canspeak, I sit up, looking for my phone. It’s behind me, face down on the bed, where it must have landed after falling out of my pocket.

When I tap the screen, I have a dozen texts and two missed calls from Walsh. Fuck, I fell asleep and didn’t turn my ringer on last night, like I always do when I’m on the road in case there’s any kind of emergency with Abby.

I shoot off a quick text.

McCabe

Sorry. Went on an early morning run and lost track of time. Just got back. Give me two minutes. I’ll meet you downstairs.

Walsh

Fuck that. You’re already ten minutes late. I’m waiting at your door so I can make sure you get down to the bus.

Shit. I need him out of this hallway so I can get over to my room without him seeing me coming out of AJ’s room.

McCabe

Just go downstairs. I swear I’ll be two minutes behind you.

Walsh

Well you need to think up a better excuse by the time you get on that bus, especially after you were late to the plane last week.

I glance at AJ as she sits up next to me.

Fuck my life. I wouldn’t trade last night, and having her fall asleep in my arms, for anything. But why couldn’t I have remembered to set an alarm? Or even just woken up fifteen minutes ago?

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, in case Walsh is still in the hallway. “I overslept and the team is waiting for me to go to morning skate.”

“You’d better go, then.” Her words are kind, but emotionless. I can’t tell at all how she’s feeling. She doesn’t look worried that I’m late, or sad that I have to go. But she also doesn’t look like she regrets the conversation we had last night or the way we fell asleep together, so that’s a plus, I guess? God, I wish she was easier to read. The aspects of her personality that make her so good at her job are the same ones that make her impossible to figure out.

You don’t want to get close to her. You want to move to Nashville.

At this point, reminding myself of these things feels a little ridiculous. Yes, I want to live closer to my sister, but that doesn’t in any way, shape, or form, mean I don’t also want to let myself grow emotionally and physically closer to AJ.

In fact, I don’t wantanyboundaries between us at all. I want to know her inside and out. I want to be there for her like no one else ever has. I don’t even know what that looks like; I’ve never had that type of relationship with anyone. But I want to, with her.

“I know,” I say. But I make no move to get up.

“McCabe.Go. And when you get down to that bus, please have an excuse for being late that doesn’t involve accidentally falling asleep in my bed.” A small smile plays at the corner of her lips, and I’ve never felt so relieved in my life.

“I went on a run this morning and lost track of time. Got back to the hotel late.” I shrug. “Oops.”

She puts her hand on my lower back and pushes. “Hurry the hell up.”

“Fine,” I grumble, standing and then turning to look down at her. I bend to kiss the top of her head, then say, “Don’t think we’re not finishing that conversation from last night.”

She looks down at the floor. “There’s nothing left to say.”

Tilting her chin up so she’s looking at me, I take in the worry in her eyes. “Like hell there isn’t. But I have to go before I get fined for being late.” I couldn’t give a shit about the fine, but I do care about playing tonight and don’t want to be on Coach’s bad side.

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