Page 35 of In Your Wildest Dreams
“Says the guy that hasn’t been out with one in…” Tyler trails off.
“I admit, it’s been a bit, but I’ve been a little preoccupied.”
Leo snickers. “And by preoccupied he means sitting around feeling sorry for himself while binge-watching Ted Lasso for the millionth time.”
“It’s the greatest show of our time!”
They all chuckle.
Something loosens in my chest, sitting here, going back and forth with my teammates. Fuck, I’ve missed this. Weeks of not traveling or practicing with them, and I’d forgotten how much this part of the game means to me. Playing hockey is my first love, but these guys are a close second.
“What are we going to do about Harmony and Kennedy?” Maverick asks.
“Harmony? You want to set him up with a girl named Harmony?” Jack scoffs.
“Didn’t you date a girl named Denim a few months ago?” Declan asks him.
“One date.” He cracks a smile. “And no, she did not wear denim on our date. In fact, she made it a point to let me know she never wears denim.”
“Riveting stuff. Hard to imagine why you only went out once,” Ty quips.
“I like the name Harmony,” Maverick says. “It’s very Zen. And Ash being all deep and shit, I thought he’d appreciate it.”
“I don’t care about names. Although admittedly I’d have a hard time telling people I was dating someone named Denim. But I can’t go on a date with two girls at the same time.”
“Meredith and Kennedy won’t be at Wild’s until eleven or so. They have some fashion event beforehand,” Jack says.
“Meredith isn’t coming to the game?” I ask him.
“Nah.” He shakes his head like it’s no big deal. Maybe it’s too soon for that kind of thing, what do I know. I’ve only met Jack’s newest girl once at the party he threw for her at his house. She seemed all right.
Mav crosses both tattooed arms over his chest. “Harmony already mentioned she had to get home early tonight for an early client meeting, so I think with some careful seating, we can pull this off.”
“I don’t know…” Even if I’m not the one that set up these meetings, it feels wrong to hang with two different women back-to-back.
“You gotta get back out there,” Jack insists. “What’s the harm in meeting one super cool chick and a random weird one that Maverick found for you?”
“She’s not weird!” Mav calls over his shoulder as he heads to the showers. “You’ll see.”
* * *
I watch the game from the press box. Despite Jack having a good night and some sloppy mistakes from Boston, we still end up short. It’s infuriating not being able to help my team out of this funk.
Wild’s is a short walk from the arena. I leave my truck and head over with the girls. As soon as we arrive, Dakota pulls me over to the bar to introduce me to Harmony.
She’s pretty. Long brown hair and big hazel eyes. I’m not sure what I expected her to be like exactly, but I know she’s different. I offer to buy her a drink and then we go over to a quiet table in the corner to talk.
“I love your tattoo.” She leans forward and touches the edge of my butterfly tattoo on my left bicep. “Does it have some special meaning?”
I hesitate and take a sip of my beer before responding, “Would you think less of me if I said no?”
“I have a random heart on my hip from spring break my freshman year of college, so I’m in no position to judge.”
“Any other tattoos?” I ask as I scan her visible skin in the tank top and jeans she’s wearing. I don’t see any, but she proceeds to give me a rundown of a few that are out of sight and then I show her the only other one I have.
From tattoos, we talk star signs, where we grew up, and a dozen other topics.
Maverick walks slowly behind the booth, eavesdropping on us where Harmony can’t see him, and gives me a thumbs up and a smile. Like I didn’t already feel like a kid being chaperoned.
