Page 74 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“I’m in the kitchen, Cade. My roomies aren’t here,” she calls out.

I walk into the kitchen to see Annie cooking by the stove. She has her hair in a loose bun on her head. She’s wearing a tank top and shorts. My mouth waters at the sight of her.

“Hey.” I walk up to her and kiss her cheek.

Her eyelashes fan over her cheeks as she gives me a bashful look. “Hi.”

“I got you something.” I pass her the reusable bag from the campus store.

“A present?” she asks, looking excited.

“Kind of.”

She stops cooking and takes the bag. She looks inside and pulls out my jersey.

“Thanks, Cade.”

“You’re welcome. Will you wear it to the game tonight?” I ask.

“If you want me to I will,” she replies. “Charlie and Ruby told me you might want me to wear your jersey. She said the guys like girls they are dating to wear it and since we are putting up appearances. . .”

“Annie, I’ve never bought my jersey for a girl before. If they were wearing my jersey it’s because they bought it themselves,” I clarify. I’m scared to add I want to claim her as mine and having her wear my jersey would just solidify the feeling.

“You want to stay for an early dinner? It’s nothing special, just some spaghetti Bolognese.” I feel like she is avoiding what is happening between us, and I understand. From the start this was supposed to be fake. But there is nothing fake about the way I feel. I know better than to push.

“Thanks, I’d love to stay.” I grin and take off my varsity jacket.

“It’s just about ready,” she says, stirring the sauce.

When she is done, we sit to eat. Everything always feels comfortable around Annie.

“I skipped lunch today. I was starving,” she says, swirling noodles on a fork.

“I was going to pick up takeout tonight since no one wanted to cook in the house because of game night,” I explain. “This is so much better.”

“Thanks.” She smiles. “So, explain to me how hockey works. I need to understand what’s going on.”

I start with the basics and move on from there. I explain my role as a defenseman. “I’d like to be a winger, but I secured my spot on the team as an enforcer, and it stuck. I had the same position in high school. It was the reason I was recruited.”

“I’ve seen you on skates, Cade. You’d be good in any role. Not that I know much about hockey but someone with your skill will succeed, no matter what. Why don’t you ask the coaches to change your position?”

“I’m graduating Riverside in the spring and entering the draft in June, unless a team makes an offer I can’t refuse. Problem is, I’m known for the role of enforcer. It’s hard to change things up at this point of the game.” I’ve gotten to thepoint I’m playing hockey because it’s all I know, but I’m not happy.

“Why?” Annie asks.

I lower my fork. “My whole childhood has been spent prepping me to be something I’m not. Now I feel stuck. I hate it,” I confess.

Annie reaches her hand across the table and gives mine a squeeze. “I’ve been feeling that way too. Daddy always figured I’d take over the farm one day. I’m an only child and we want to keep it in the family. I love the farm and animals so much. It’s why I took agricultural science so I could learn how to manage things properly,” she says.

“I hear a but in your tone.” I smirk.

“It’s not really a but. I want to live on the farm and raise my children there with the animals, but I also maybe want to go to veterinary school. I want to take care of the cows and horses. All the animals. I’d just rather be on the caring side than running the show.”

“I can see that about you,” I tell her. “I saw the connection you had with the cows. Especially Sally,” I joke.

My comment buys me a laugh. Seeing Annie smile because of me does something to my insides. The sound of her laughter is so warm.

“Look at us. It’s like we can’t sit down for a simple meal without getting deep.”

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