Page 84 of Facing the Line

There’s no doubt. I’ve fallen for Hadley, and one summer with her will never be enough.

Chapter

Thirty-Six

HADLEY

Hunter: Do you know how to get there today?

Hadley: Pretty sure we can follow a GPS, but I’ll text you if we have any questions.

Jonas and I join Hunter and Natalie and a handful of other players and family members in a tour group. I’m getting the vibe that Chicago is a lot like Boston. Both cities like their history. If there’s no need to build a new facility, why would they? If the old one’s not broken, there’s no need to change anything.

So until the walls cave in, I doubt they will replace AllState Arena. While Wrigley Field had a fun, old-timey vibe, this place is just… old. The wooden roof, the chipped linoleum, the faded paint on the walls all give off a faint air of neglect. But Hunter beams with pride, so I pretend to be more impressed than I am.

My knuckles brush against Jonas’s as we move with the group. I should snatch my hand away so no one notices anything, but I don’t. I crave his touch.

I couldn’t help myself last night. After throwing myself at him during the bonfire, I convinced him to sneak into my bedroom once everyone was asleep. The clock is ticking down to the end of our summer together, and I couldn’t stand to give up another night with him. To my surprise, he didn’t hesitate.

But now, he clears his throat and crosses his arms over his chest, shooting a look at my brother. As if he’s reminding me we need to behave in front of our audience. I tuck my hands into the pockets of my jean shorts so I can resist temptation.

After seeing the arena, we walk through the weight room and work-out facility. My mind flashes to the time Jonas snuck me into the athlete gym. The tension between us, how his wet shirt clung to his chest after we got caught in the rain. The kiss we shared once we got back to our apartment and the way my body was on fire.

“Hads, you okay?” He stands in the doorway, glancing back at me, and I startle. The rest of the group has left, but I was lost in my daydream.

“Oh, um, yeah, sorry.” I rush to catch up and stay by his side. “I got distracted.”

That’s an understatement. I hope I’m not blushing, giving away the train of my thoughts.

“You’re good.” He rests his fingertips on the small of my back. His touch is so light, there’s no way it’s truly burning through my tank top. But I feel the imprint nonetheless.

The next stop is the locker room. I wrinkle my nose. I’ve been inside countless locker rooms. No matter what skill level or how clean they are, the faint odor of gym socks and sweaty pads doesn’t go away.

Hunter stands proudly by his cubby, grinning. He runs his hand over his nameplate, and I’m filled with a rush of affection for him. Natalie is tucked against his side, gazing at him with heart eyes. He overcame so much adversity to make it here. His stride is smooth, no sign of a limp, and while he might try to play it cool, it’s obvious from his beaming smile he’s thrilled to be on this team.

Jonas and I wander over to them, and Joe claps Hunter on the shoulder. “This is awesome, man. You deserve it.”

Hunter shrugs, modest, but the corners of his mouth lift higher. Natalie pats his chest and her eyes glow.

I sneak a glance at Jonas. Is he thinking about his future? He’s majoring in nursing, sure, and that’s a good fallback plan. Nursing would wait. I know NHL-caliber talent when I see it, and he’ll have scouts knocking down his door this season. He could get signed and move anywhere he wants.

I’m distracted when an adorable family of four moves into my line of vision. Mom, Dad, and both kids all wear matching Wolves jerseys with the name Tremblay stitched across the back. The dad, carrying a little boy on his shoulders, looks up at his son and beams. They have the same blue eyes. Then he pats his name plate over his locker.

The mom swings her red hair, pulled back in a tidy braid, across her shoulder and nuzzles the baby strapped to her chest. “I’m so proud of you,” she says to her partner. Happiness practically oozes out of his pores as he steps closer and drops a kiss on her lips.

I think one of my ovaries explodes. My heart clenches as the love and acceptance flows between this couple. Does Jonas have a recessive redhead gene? Would his kids have red hair like his mom? Or would he have a little boy with his soulful brown eyes? My knees go weak at the thought.

Spending the weekend with Jonas’s family has been enlightening, on so many levels. I understand him better, but maybe I know myself more, too? A whole new world of possibilities has opened, and my preconceived notions have been flipped upside down.

I glance over at Hunter and Natalie, wrapped up in each other, practically delirious with joy. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns; their relationship is hard-fought. But they are amazing. It was a leap of faith for them to move to Chicago together—especially for Natalie to leave her family. But I’m so happy for them, so glad they have each other.

Would I do the same for Jonas? Follow him across the country?

I’m not sure where the thought comes from. But I look back at Jonas. He stares at me with naked affection and lust. Do I really want to give all this up at the end of the summer? He’ll be starting his senior year, then probably getting drafted with an NHL team and starting in the minors like Hunter. This will be his future.

Could I transfer to a college wherever he goes? A computer science degree doesn’t have to come from Harrison. Sure, they have a good program but not nationally ranked or anything.

What about London and a semester abroad? Visions of red phone booths, Harrods, the Tower Bridge, and Union Jacks dance before my eyes. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of, but could I bear to be apart from him for that long, if we stayed together? Long distance relationships suck. It would be easier to put it off and visit London later.

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