Page 65 of Bagging the Blueliner
Tapping the button on the remote, I increased the volume, and we stopped talking, watching the last few minutes of the second period.
When the intermission report came on, I asked Hannah, “Why do you wear flip-flops to the rink?”
“Do you want the canned answer or the real one?”
“How about both?”
She sighed. “What I tell most people is that I run hot, but the truth is that I have foot claustrophobia.”
I looked at her in disbelief. “What? That’s not a real thing.”
“The hell it’s not,” she shot back. “When I wear closed-toe shoes, it’s like they are closing in on me, and I feel like they’re going to cut off my circulation.”
“You’re serious?”
“This is why I don’t tell many people. They don’t believe me,” she huffed.
“You know shoes don’t shrink like that,” I explained.
“Claustrophobia is mental. I know it’s all in my head, but I can’t make myself believe otherwise.”
I guess everyone had their issues.
We fell into silence again, watching as the game resumed at the beginning of the third period.
Hannah sipped her drink before asking, “Can I ask you a question?”
Smoothing the sweaty hair away from her forehead, I replied, “Sure.”
Her blue eyes met mine for a second, but she looked away before she spoke again. “That voicemail.” I groaned but didn’t say anything. “I get that you were drunk. But you were so angry. How long have you been attracted to me?”
Oh boy, here we go.
I didn’t want to lie to her, so the truth it was. “Since the day you marched up to me, all fired up to tell me that you hated my style of play.”
“What? No way, that was like ten years ago.” She stared at me wide-eyed in disbelief.
“Ten years and four months, to be exact.”
Hannah gasped. “Cal! You’re telling me you’ve been attracted to me the entire time we’ve known each other?”
“Pretty much.” I nodded.
“This doesn’t make any sense. We’re always fighting. You go out of your way to piss me off. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t do the same.”
“It was easier to make you hate me.” I shrugged.
“Why?”
“Come on, Hannah. We both know I’m breaking every rule there is by being here with you. If you hadn’t shown up half naked at the front door of my penthouse, we’d still be driving each other crazy. And not in bed.”
Hannah thought over my confession. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t need you to say anything. I’m here with you now. That’s all that matters.” I could see the wheels turning in her brain, trying to process what I’d just told her. “You should rest.”
“Are you staying?” she asked timidly.
“Do you want me to?”
