Page 43 of Offside and Off-Limits
“Do you and your kids like tomatoes on your salad?”
“Sure do.”
I push a board and knife over toward her and grab a couple of tomatoes from the bowl on the counter behind me. “Chop these babies right up.”
She runs some water, washing the tomatoes. “Can I be honest with you?”
“That depends on whether or not you’re planning on saying something nice,” I tease as I stir the mixture in the pot.
She smiles. “It’s nice.”
“Then throw that honesty right at me, Triple.”
She begins to slice the tomatoes. “You’re not the guy I thought you were.”
“That’s because I’m like a seven-layer dip, just with more emotional depth and less guacamole.”
“So what you’re saying is, you pair well with chips?” she asks, and I let out a laugh.
“Sure. Let’s go with that.”
“I’m embarrassed to admit that I thought you were all about flirting and having fun, without any other dip layers.”
“You see, that’s only my top layer.”
“So I’m beginning to learn.”
We share a look, and my belly does a weird somersault thing I’m definitely not talking to the guys about at practice tomorrow.
“I heard a rumor,” she begins.
“It’s all true. I am total boyfriend material.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Are you ever serious?”
I put down my knife and look at her. “What’s the rumor?”
“It was from my boss, actually. Veronica Reynolds. She toldme about how you had a thing with the New York City Blades owner’s daughter and nearly got traded when it went sour.”
Her words take me by surprise, but it’s the truth, so I say as much.
She blinks at me in shock. “You’re not going to deny it?”
“Of course not. Misty O’Mara, the owner’s daughter, approached me, being very explicit about wanting what she called a ‘no strings attached fling with the team’s playboy.’ Her words, not mine, though I'll admit, at the time, that reputation wasn't entirely undeserved. I thought we were both clear on the terms. I was young, stupid, and flattered by the attention.” I pause, catching Clara's eye. “Wisdom and hockey players don't always go hand in hand.”
“What happened?”
“She told me she wanted more than I was willing to give. She then went to her dad, telling him that I’d broken her heart.”
“Did you? Break her heart, I mean?”
“Nah. I think Misty was just angry with me that I ended it first. She moved on pretty fast, marrying another guy on the team before the year was out. I think it was more her ego that was broken than anything.”
“Wait. Misty Petrenko? Married to the Blades’s defenseman, Stepan Petrenko?”
“Look at you with your hockey knowledge.”
“More Instagram knowledge, if I’m honest. She’s got a big following. She’s beautiful.”
