Page 56 of Dreams
“I know. I’m awesome.”
Taylor’s phone chimed with a text message from Josh.
Will I see you at the ball?
She smiled as she ran her fingers over the keys.
You bet.
His reply came within seconds.
I want to dance with you all night.
She didn’t know how to respond to that, and before she got the chance, he’d sent another message.
I would have invited you to go with me, but the first part of the night is team stuff and I thought you’d have more fun if you went with your friends.
That explained what had been bugging her.
At least we’ll both be there.She sent back.
I’ll find you.
* * *
Cross the wide end over the small. Up into the loop. Down to the left. Around the back of the small end. Up to the center.
Josh could tie a tie in his sleep. He’d learned when he was five, a family rite of passage. A tie was a sign of a man. That’s what his father always told him. He’d grown up attending events where appearance was everything.
In his adult life, he wore a suit even more. To and from every game. The day he learned how to put on a tie was also the day he’d been measured for his first tailor-made suit.
He wasn’t an extravagant man. Even with his NHL salary, he didn’t drive an expensive sports car. He didn’t spend thousands of dollars at restaurants or on vacations. Josh preferred the simple - except when it came to his suits. Those were his big-ticket items. A preference his family ingrained in him at a young age.
For the ball, he’d chosen his Emporio Armani - black jacket, black shirt, and deep red tie. The fabric flexed comfortably as he crossed his arms over his chest, looking in the mirror. His hair was held in place by a stiff gel.
Hearing giggling from the living room, he walked out to find Mack sitting on the couch in his bold white suit, with a girl on either side of him.
“Josher!” Mack said upon seeing him. “Come meet your date.”
Josh choked on that. “My what?”
“You didn’t think we were going to this thing sans the company of some of God’s loveliest creatures, did you?”
Irritation welled in Josh, but he pushed it down. He didn’t want to hurt the feelings of either of these girls. One of the girls walked closer, her floor length silver gown swishing with the sway of her hips. “I’ve been really excited to meet you,” she said.
Josh let his anger go as he looked her in the eyes. Her voice was sweet and full of star struck awe. He didn’t consider himself a star, but he had some fans. “What’s your name?” he asked, taking in the rest of her appearance. Long dark hair was tied up into a high, sleek pony that grazed the bare skin of her back when it swayed.
Slightly angular eyes regarded him and a slow smile spread across her dark red lips.
“I’m Melinda. You can call me Mel.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Mel.” He tried to return her smile, but there was only one girl he wanted on his arm. He just hadn’t asked, and he suddenly wished he had. Part of him hadn’t wanted to pressure her into a date, because that’s what it would have been.
It’d been almost a week since they’d seen each other, but she’d been on his mind constantly. Text messages just weren’t enough when it came to her. The team played four games out west, but now that he was back, he wished everything could take a back seat to the sweet, slightly broken girl he’d never meant to fall for.
He was meant to be a friend. Help her in her move to Columbus. Sarah asked it of him and he’d do anything for her - even babysit her grieving best friend.
“This is Sadie.” Mack gestured to the girl who was now sitting in his lap in a tiny red dress.
