Page 71 of Rookie Season
Jingle bells over the door tinkle brightly.
“We’re closing,” Sierra calls without turning around.
“Damn it. I was hoping to get a drink.”
Then she does turn. Her eyes widen in slow motion. “Ryan.”
The other patrons recognize me instantly and call my name. A few guys clap me on the back, and I nod and smile, but I’m focused on only one person.
I cross the room, stopping opposite the bar and taking in her outfit. “I like your sweater.”
“Thanks.”
There’s too much space between us.
I round the bar.
“What’re you…?”
I pull up right in front of her. “I’ve been into you for a long time.”
She bites her lip, looking up at me with wariness and maybe a sliver of hope.
It’s hard to stay focused when she’s so beautiful, but I need to say my piece.
“When last year happened, I thought that was it. That was my shot. And for sure you’d text me after we hooked up.” There’s a holler from behind me, one of the guys overhearing what I said. Shit, too late to take it back. “Then you didn’t, and I figured you needed time. Then we were on the road, and it was a month, and two months, and then it was too late.
“It’s not like I hit on you thinking I wanted more. Hell, I didn’t even hit on you thinking I wanted sex. It just happened. And because I liked you—more than I could admit—I didn’t want to be some asshole who texted you because I’m sure you have a million losers blowing up your phone…” I go to shove a hand through my hair and realize I’ve got my Santa hat on. “You obviously had my number because you’re in the group chats. So, I figured you forgot all about me.”
There’s silence behind me. The patrons must have left.
There’s mistletoe hanging over the bar.
“You’re kind of hard to forget, Ryan,” she says at last.
A smidgeon of hope blooms in my chest.
“Because you work at a bar with my jersey on the wall?” I ask.
She inhales. “Because every time the Kodiaks come in here, I look for you.”
“Awww,” erupts behind us.
She looks past me. “Pete! I mean it. We’re closing.”
“Come on, Sierra. This is better than the game!” he pleads, his friends nodding and clutching their hands together.
“Go,” she says firmly, pointing at the door.
They head outside, dragging their feet. She follows and shuts the door behind them.
They’re staring through the window when she returns to me, and I know she knows because she rolls her eyes.
“I know you’re afraid it’ll mess with your vibe to date a Kodiak, but I’ll do everything in my power to make your life better and not worse,” I say. “We can take it slow if that’s what you need, but we have to start somewhere. And I really want to go somewhere with you, Sierra.”
Her eyes flicker with vulnerability.
For a second, I wonder if she’s going to put distance between us, but she returns to the spot she was in before, inches in front of me.
